May Chow named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2017

May Chow, the chef at Little Bao in Hong Kong and Bangkok has been crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef as part of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants annual awards.

Canada-born Chow grew up in Hong Kong and the US and after graduating with a degree in Hotel Management from Boston, returned to Hong Kong and worked at Alvin Leung’s Bo Innovation and izakaya-style eatery, Yardbird.

Little Bao started as a pop-up, shining a light on traditional Chinese comfort food – the steamed ‘bao’ bun – with American influences and sharing plates.

It set up shop in Hong Kong’s Soho district in 2013 and the following its rapid success, Chow opened a second Little Bao in Bangkok’s Thong Lor.

Earlier this year, Chow also launched Second Draft, alongside the team behind Mong Kok’s TAP – The Ale Project which is Hong Kong’s answer to a local gastropub.

She will pick up her award at the fifth Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony on 21 February at the W Hotel in Bangkok.

Commenting on her win, Chow said: “I am very honoured to be named Asia’s Best Female Chef. I hope I can serve as a role model for other Asian female chefs, providing hope and opportunities for those who want to pursue their passions.”

Chow has also been a guest judge on MasterChef Asia and has represented Hong Kong at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Omnivore World Tour and Bordeaux Wine Festival.

2016’s Asia’s Best Female Chef was named as Margarita Fores from the Philippines.