Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants names Asia’s Best Female Chef 2015

Vicky Lau, chef and owner of Tate Dining Room & Bar in Hong Kong, has been named Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2015, an award that is voted for by over 300 industry experts from across Asia who create the annual list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

She will be presented with her award at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony on 9th March 2015 at Capella Hotel, Singapore.

Accepting the award, Lau said: “As an independent chef working in a very competitive environment, being named Asia’s Best Female Chef is a validation of the hard work I’ve put in. Having grown up in Hong Kong and educated in the West, I feel my work is infused with a variety of culinary influences and I am honoured that the respected industry experts voting on this award appreciate and recognise my efforts.”

After graduating from New York University, Lau initially embarked on a career in advertising as a graphic designer. This education taught her how subtle visual cues can be used to provoke an audience’s response, a skill she would later employ in her cooking.

Sparked by her passion for culinary arts, Lau enrolled in classes at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Bangkok. Having changed career path, Lau honed her skills at the Michelin-starred Cépage in Hong Kong under the tutelage of chef Sebastien Lepinoy. 

In 2012, she opened Tate Dining Room & Bar serving French-inspired dishes with Asian influences. Her talent for visual artistry is reflected in the immaculate presentation, while her innate creativity and appreciation for gourmet cuisine is evident in the seasonal tasting menu. Inspired to create ‘Edible Stories’, each of Lau’s menus originate from a common theme and consist of elaborately designed dishes that stir the imagination with their rich imagery and intriguing play on flavours and textures.

William Drew, Group Editor of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, speaking about Lau said: “This award rewards her skill, imagination and artistry, and recognises the originality and verve that Vicky brings to Asia’s dining scene.”

Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef Award 

The Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef award celebrates the work of an exceptional female chef whose cooking excites the toughest of critics. The award is inspired by the life and achievements of Madame Clicquot who nearly 200 years ago set the standard for women in business. The winner reflects Madame Clicquot’s attributes of innovation, creativity and determination.

Watch Vicky Lau as she talks about her dishes: