Award honors HK chef

Chow May Chow, chef and owner of Little Bao in Hong Kong and Bangkok, has been named Asia's Best Female Chef 2017, an award that is part of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants program, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.

Chow will accept her award at a ceremony in February in Bangkok. More than 300 industry experts from across the region vote on the award, and they also create the annual list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.

Born in Canada, Chow spent her childhood in Hong Kong and the United States. After graduating with a degree in hotel management from Boston University, she returned to Hong Kong in 2008, honing her culinary skills at hotspots such as Bo Innovation and Yardbird, restaurants known for their innovative spin on Asian cuisines.

Little Bao began as a pop-up concept before finding a permanent space in Hong Kong's Soho district in 2013. Drawing influences from Chow's Chinese heritage and American upbringing, Little Bao offers an original take on classic Chinese comfort foods. Along with the signature burger-style bao, or steamed buns, the menu includes Chinese-inspired sharing plates in an adventurous, playful and creative style. Following the success of Little Bao Hong Kong, Chow opened in July a second outlet in Bangkok's popular Thong Lor district.

This year also saw the launch of Chow's Second Draft, a "Chinese gastropub". The cross-cultural dining concept celebrates Hong Kong's street food culture while showcasing Chow's creative take on traditional dishes