i. Biography
Coming Up
Foodie Forks 2024 Rising Star Award, given in 2024, places William Lau in a phase where the work is already readable: Modern European fine dining, with Japanese influences, and a style built on restraint, precision, and control. The point is not display. It is the kind of cooking that keeps its structure visible and its details tight. William Lau first made his mark as Head Chef at WHISK in Hong Kong (2022–2024), where that approach had room to settle into place. A role like that asks for consistency, pace, and a steady standard of execution; it also gives a chef the conditions to define a voice. At WHISK in Hong Kong, Lau worked within the discipline of fine dining while keeping Japanese influence present in the background, shaping the foundation of the identity he carries now. Today, William is owner of MCR Chinese Restaurant. Ownership shifts the work beyond the pass and into the wider shape of service and room, putting Lau in a position of stewardship as well as cooking. It marks a move from executing within an established structure to carrying his sensibility across the full operation.
Where They Are Now
Modern European fine dining with Japanese influences is the frame now associated with Lau. Read plainly, it points to a kitchen language that values clarity, finesse, and balance. European form gives the food its composure; Japanese influence brings attention to detail and restraint. The result is cooking that is measured rather than crowded, with each element placed to carry weight.
Honors
Foodie Forks Rising Star Award (2024) is the recognition attached to William Lau. It signals attention from the trade at a moment when the work is becoming more distinct, and it marks a chef whose profile is still building while already being clearly defined. In that sense, the award reads less as a finish line than as evidence of momentum behind the cooking. Taken together, Lau’s path runs from the exacting demands of WHISK in Hong Kong (2022–2024) to ownership of MCR Chinese Restaurant, with Modern European fine dining with Japanese influences as the through-line. The progression is steady, not flashy: a move toward greater control, more responsibility, and a clearer articulation of method. With the Foodie Forks 2024 Rising Star Award in 2024, William Lau is positioned in a place where recognition and development are moving in step.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of William
What is William Lau's current role?
As of 2026, William Lau is Owner of MCR Chinese Restaurant.
Where did William Lau work before?
William Lau's earlier career included WHISK.
What recognition has William Lau received?
Foodie Forks Rising Star Award (2024).
