The multi-award-winning chef Shane Osborn opened Arcane in Hong Kong as his first solo venture in November 2014. After becoming the first Australian Chef to achieve one and two Michelin stars at Pied-a-Terre in London, he brought his trained eye and vision to Central, reeling guests in to European dishes made with the finest produce from Japan, France, and the U.K. The restaurant has since won one Michelin star for its sharp techniques, sumptuous flavors, and unforgettable presentation, making its seasonal-forward daily specials, lunch menus, and a la carte offerings sought after.
Courtesy of Arcane.
In 2018, Osborn participated as a contestant on “The Final Table“—Netflix’s first-ever world-class cooking competition. It was an opportunity to sharpen his skills, and for the globe to get an insightful glimpse at his life in the kitchen.
In celebration of Hong Kong Art Week, Osborn shares with Whitewall his favorite spots in town to gain inspiration from, including the city’s wet market, a cooking community center, and more.
Courtesy of Arcane.
WHITEWALL: Where’s the best spot to find inspiration in Hong Kong?
SHANE OSBORN: I usually go to Hong Kong’s wet market twice a week to see which ingredients are in season. The market is a great source for all cooks to find inspiration, where you can find seasonal local produce and ingredients from all over Asia.
“The market is a great source for all cooks to find inspiration”
–Shane Osborn
Photo by David Thomas Holmberg, courtesy of Arcane.
WW: What’s the best off-the-beaten-path place to see art?
SO: Many of the streets in Sheung Wan and SoHo are adorned with fabulous street art and graffiti.
WW: What’s Hong Kong’s best-kept secret?
SO: Cooked Food community centers, where you can find local Cantonese specialties at very affordable prices. Sitting on a plastic chair, drinking a Blue Girl beer, surrounded by the hardworking class of Hong Kong people.
“Sitting on a plastic chair, drinking a Blue Girl beer…”
–Shane Osborn
Insider Shane Osborn’s Best of Hong Kong
1. Wet Market
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
“Of all the wet markets in the city, none offer as grand an entrance as the Chun Yeung Market. Hop on an eastbound tram heading towards the North Point tram terminus and, without warning, you’ll swing off the broad King’s Road onto a narrow street which is lined on either side with buzzy stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood. Experience the sights and sounds of old-school market business in full swing.” via Hong Kong Tourism Board
2. Street Art in Sheung Wan and SoHo
The mural of Bruce Lee by South Korean graffiti artist Xeva, Photo by @mini_miniimint.
“Sheung Wan is dotted with street art on practically every corner, but one of the most famous pieces features a Hong Kong icon: Bruce Lee. This mural of the martial arts legend on Tank Lane was created by South Korean graffiti artist Xeva using his signature mosaic style. Stroll around the area and you’ll come across French urban artist Hopare’s rendering of a mysterious woman casting a hypnotic stare.” via The HK Hub
3. Cooked Food Community Center
Courtesy of South China Morning Post.
“Hong Kong is home to one of the most dynamic food and beverage scenes in Asia, with 77 Michelin-star restaurants, the continent’s best bar and enough suave establishments serving picture-perfect dishes to keep one’s social media followers scrolling for a lifetime. Looking at the city through this lens—Instagram filter on, of course—it’s plain to see why at the other end of the dining spectrum, Hong Kong’s cooked-food centres, with their often mundane decor, dull-tiled floors and uniform tables and chairs, don’t tend to get the same kind of attention, especially among non-locals.” via South China Morning Post
