Both a mother and a friend to her boys, Kwok enjoys seeing Soul Society's clientele widen over the years to include her children’s friends. She credits their restaurants' ageless appeal to the family’s close-knit relations.

"Mark and Brian bring fresh ideas to the table," acknowledges Michele. "It’s important to tap into the ideas of different generations." A creative to the core, Kwok is receptive to F&B trends and fresh concepts. Recently, the group engaged the help of celebrity chef Sapna Anand to develop new Indian dishes for SOULed Out’s fusion menu.

Outside of their nuclear family, the foursome say that their loyal customer base constitutes one huge extended family. The restaurant group prides itself on being part and parcel of their guests' birthday celebrations and memories of growing up. According to Kwok, a hospitable environment isn't so much about the venue, but the people who make it, from the chefs to the kitchen staff and the regulars turned friends.

This feature was originally published in the 2021 Tatler Dining Guide.