Meet professional chef Matt Abergel. He runs Ronin and Yardbird — two restaurants in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district. We tag along with him for a day and speak about hard work and taking risks.

“When we came to Hong Kong we had no idea what we were getting into. That risk was the reward, that risk became the platform for us to work.”

Chef Matt holds a black insulated alexander zip tote while walking through a open air market
Chef Matt holds a black insulated alexander zip tote while walking through a open air market

“The skate shop concept idea, at that young age, it’s your first understanding of commerce, community, brand, identity, culture — all these things kind of interacting. So when we opened our first business, it was natural for us to take elements of that.”

 

 

a black/camo insulated alexander zip tote sits in front of a skateboarde leaning against a wall
a black/camo insulated alexander zip tote sits in front of a skateboarde leaning against a wall

“That passion inside of the hard work to do the same thing day in and day out and get better at it is something that really does exist here. Perfection is not the goal.”

 

 

Chef Matt fans a narrow charcoal grill in his restaurant's kitchen
Chef Matt fans a narrow charcoal grill in his restaurant's kitchen