Amy Chow

My favorite traditional Chinese dish is … boiled dumplings.

Three things I would take to a deserted island would be … a book, a CD of artist Yo-Yo Ma and a friend. I couldn’t live without books and music.

My favorite musical artists are ... besides Yo-Yo Ma, I like New Age musician Yani, classical musician Chopin, jazz singer Diane Schuur and jazz musician Thelonious Monk.

When I was a child I wanted to be … a foreign correspondent.

The best and worst things about owning a restaurant are ... that I meet people and entertain my friends at my own restaurant. There are people who came here when they were babies and now they come with their own babies. The worst things are the long hours and that it can be destructive for family life.

The book I could read and reread is … “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse.

If I could move anywhere in the world, it would be ... Paris because I wouldn’t have to own a car; public transportation is great, just like in Taipei where I used to live. And, I can buy fresh vegetables and fruits from neighborhood shops. There are also fine arts, shows and fashions. I could spend my days with all these beautiful things.

If I could switch places with one person for a day, it would be … Melinda Gates because I want to know how she manages the world’s biggest charity funds.

If I could go back in time and do something differently ... I would study law.