THE ANSWERS WITH...MICHAEL CHOW
Robb Report Singapore|October 2024
The legend behind the restaurateur and what still inspires him after 85 years.
Justin Fenner
THE ANSWERS WITH...MICHAEL CHOW

“I HATE PEOPLE who drop names—and Lady Gaga agrees with me!” says Michael Chow, better known as Mr. Chow, the name of his global network of fine-dining temples. Joking aside, memories involving A-listers are always within reach for the restaurateur.

Chow was just 12 when he left his native Shanghai to attend boarding school in England. Both his mother and his father, a leading Beijing opera performer, fell victim to China’s Cultural Revolution. He wanted to be an artist but was told that Chinese men in the West faced a stark choice, “restaurant or laundry,” as he put it in last year’s HBO documentary aka Mr. Chow. He turned to acting, scoring roles in films including You Only Live Twice, before his entertainment-world contacts helped finance his first restaurant in London in 1968, when he set out to prove that Chinese cuisine could be as chic as anything found in Europe.

Soon, regulars included the likes of the Beatles and Jerry Hall, and within a decade the hot spot had outposts in New York—where Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat often dined—and Los Angeles (Jane Fonda and Marlon Brando were fans). The seventh Mr. Chow outlet opened in Riyadh late last year, and another is just about to open in Dubai. Now, at 85, M—as he is referred to in art circles—has returned to his original calling and believes waiting a lifetime to pursue his artistic dreams has made his work stronger. “To be a great painter, you need soul,” he says. “Otherwise, the painting is meaningless.”

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

この記事は Robb Report Singapore の October 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Robb Report Singapore の October 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

ROBB REPORT SINGAPOREのその他の記事すべて表示
Celebrating Traditions
Robb Report Singapore

Celebrating Traditions

Celebrations: Tradition Reimagined sees the Commune flagship showroom furnished with local artist Goh Beng Kwan's new collage works evoking the zeitgeist of the Lunar New Year.

time-read
1 min  |
January 2025
Resilient In The Extreme
Robb Report Singapore

Resilient In The Extreme

Here’s how some architects are tackling the challenges of climate change.

time-read
2 分  |
January 2025
Building Blocks
Robb Report Singapore

Building Blocks

CEO of retail investment start-up BigFundr, Quah Kay Beng, on starting small and thinking big.

time-read
3 分  |
January 2025
Food For Thought
Robb Report Singapore

Food For Thought

Didi Gan, co-founder and managing director of biosciences start-up N&E Innovations, on staying the course and making a real impact in the sustainability industry.

time-read
3 分  |
January 2025
The Woman Behind the Hermès Man
Robb Report Singapore

The Woman Behind the Hermès Man

For 36 years, Véronique Nichanian has supplied the exacting creative vision for the storied French house's menswear. Her secret: navigating the space between fashion and style.

time-read
7 分  |
January 2025
All Dressed Up, Everywhere To Go
Robb Report Singapore

All Dressed Up, Everywhere To Go

Drawer the Daytona—a small, slim dress watch is the discerning wristwear of the moment.

time-read
3 分  |
January 2025
Jewel In The Crown
Robb Report Singapore

Jewel In The Crown

Bvlgari’s Lvcea watch looks more radiant and sensual since its debut over a decade ago.

time-read
2 分  |
January 2025
Deeply Committed
Robb Report Singapore

Deeply Committed

More than a year after the Titan disaster, interest in deep-sea submersibles hasn't just returned-it has flourished.

time-read
2 分  |
January 2025
First Class On Four Wheels
Robb Report Singapore

First Class On Four Wheels

Recline in an oasis of relaxation or have a private business meeting on the go—the four-seater LM 500h from Lexus ticks all the boxes.

time-read
3 分  |
January 2025
Making Waves
Robb Report Singapore

Making Waves

Noam Bounekala, a 27-year-old upstart hotelier, turned a business-school idea into an impressive network of private villas. Next up? A Michelin star.

time-read
3 分  |
January 2025