#2: Athena Au

Hunanese spicy food 🥵🌶️🔥, Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO, Afrobeats 🔊🎶, and Hong Kong Airlines 🇭🇰🛫

ATHENA AU WEARS MANY HATS.

The 23-year-old is a Jakarta-born entrepreneur-restauranter hybrid. What does that mean, exactly? She’s the Co-Founder and COO of Tova, the city’s newest, up-and-coming members-only social club focused on “fostering authentic relationships” (the venture, she says, perfectly fuses her backgrounds in business and psychology right out of university). She also does marketing for Café Fifty.V — a specialty coffee and delights café in Wanchai, right alongside Hennessy Road. Café Fifty.V cooks up a killer tiramisu souffle pancake: “my absolute favorite … prepared to perfection,” says one reviewer. On Instagram, Athena also shares hyperrealistic colored pencil sketches for fun, and models as part of sci-fi-esque experimental videography. (Is she a model-artist too?) Here are her recommendations on THE CHOW:

Listening to Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO

I live in Discovery Bay. The commute to the island (where I work) is LONG. On the way to the office, podcasts really help me sharpen my mind. My co-founder and I often share episodes. And sometimes, when I’m getting ready in the morning and feel particularly intellectual, I’ll put on a podcast.

If I were to recommend one, it’d be Diary of a CEO. It’s an approachable, fun listen, and the host has such diverse guests — there was once an ex-CIA agent who created a business called Everyday Spy. And it’s not just about business either. It tackles a lot of things: everything from trauma, depression, relationships, health, communication. The podcast is very psychological with LOTS of life tips.

Buying plane tickets to Shanghai

I LOVE SHANGHAI. Visiting’s been on my bucket list for ages. I’ve had to postpone a trip there for a while, but I finally bought plane tickets two weeks ago! My mom is a huge Chinese drama fan; every time there’s a scene of the Shanghai skyline, she’ll call me over to look at the TV. Being there IRL definitely did not disappoint. It’s very much like Hong Kong in a lot of ways, but a lot calmer. Streets are empty, and it’s nice to have a stroll around. The city’s gorgeous too: their architecture really fuses European aesthetics with the modern Chinese skyscraper.

Eating spicy food from Hunan

Changsha is not a popular place to visit. It’s a second tier city, but it’s so modern. If you love spicy food, Changsha’s the place to go. And if you know me, you know I LOVE spicy food. The dishes there were right up my alley. I tried this stir-fried beef dish that had so much flavor—seasoned with a blend of spices, lots of chili, garlic, chives, and perilla leaves. Ugh so good.

Watching the 8PM lights show 🌃

One of my favorite activities in Hong Kong is spending time along the promenade by the water and admiring the skyline, especially during the 8 PM light show. It’s just therapeutic for me. The lights show uplifts my spirits regardless of my mood. Whether I’m feeling happy or down, that’s where I want to be. I really missed it while I was studying in the UK. Not sure how, but it just helps me stay centered (obviously essential).

AFROBEATS 🔊🎶🔊

I love Afrobeats. I really wish Hong Kong would play more Afrobeats. It really makes you move your waist like no other music genre. Some artists in the genre I can’t get enough of: Burna Boy, Fireboy DML, Ayra Starr, Soundz, Tyla, Tayc, Tems.

Flying Hong Kong Airlines 🇭🇰🛫

I’ve taken budget airlines before — renowned ones like RyanAir and WizzAir are not it. Hong Kong Airlines DOESN’T feel like a budget airline. And they give you food too! There’s just no TV (which can be a plus: no TV means more time for me to listen to podcasts).