Andy Allen's ASIAN ADVENTURE

The MasterChef Australia judge eats his way through Hong Kong - one memorable bite at a time

- Elaine Obran

When Australian food critic and television presenter Andy Allen found himself with only four days in the heart of Hong Kong, food was naturally at the forefront of his mind.

Despite the brevity of his trip and the marathon food experiences that lay ahead, the vibrant and inviting nature of the city meant it didn't take him long to immerse himself in the city's culinary melting pot.

As an experienced foodie, Allen was not afraid to navigate the broad spectrum of flavours and tastes - a unique gastronomic journey that thematically binds, just as much as separates, the city's legendary street food and Michelin-starred restaurants.

From the steamy alleyways where perfectly cooked duck is savoured, to world-famous haunts, Hong Kong exists as an accumulation of overlapping territories, marked by invisible borders and boundaries. It's a complicated, nuanced and ever-shifting landscape, with the power to draw you in for just four days and leave you with a lifetime of memories.

"We packed a lot in, and it was pretty intense," Allen says. "But you don't have to go over and spend three, four weeks in a place to really understand and immerse yourself in the culture - you can do so much in a week."

For the MasterChef Australia judge, this meant waking up and eating his way through the city, until the last flickers of sunlight touched the mountains, waterfront views and architectural elegance of Hong Kong - a city as revered for its culture as it is for its food.