La Petite Cuisine Taipei: Justin Quek at Snappers, Singapore
0 Comments Published by andrea on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 11:01 AM.
Jasmine Jelly with Pomelo and Yoghurt SorbetFrench masterchef Justin Quek left the famed Les Amis in 2004 (after helming it for 9 years) to conquer the Taiwan market with the award-winning La Petite Cuisine in Taipei.
In a home-coming of sorts, and perhaps in conjunction with the promotion of his first cookbook, Justin Quek - Passion & Inspiration, the award-winning chef brought his entire team of staff from Taipei to host special meals at Snappers, Ritz Carlton for 3 days between 11 - 13 October 2006.
For those of you who are curious about all the fan-fare and hype, you will be glad that you did not spend $55+++ on the lunch. While the menu was interesting as it showcased Taiwanese produce, the meal failed to offer anything out of the ordinary. In fact, the taste and quality of the food were unremarkable, and not consistent. The combination of ingredients and sauces seemed to be at odds with each other as well for some of the dishes.
[L-R: Olive Loaf; Romaine Lettuce with King Oyster Mushroom in Autumn Dressing; Grilled Smoked Sirloin with Autumn Vegetables; Poached Ocean Fish in Ginger Nage and Fresh Herbs]
Does Justin Quek have a very distinctive style? None of the folks at our table had tried his food before. We'd read about his flair for that added Asian twist to traditional French food, yet the meal turned out to be rather pedestrian.
The only items that merit special mention were the Chefs' desserts. The Egg Surprise for being exceptional, and the Jasmine Jelly for having the potential to be exceptional. Both are imaginative concoctions, but the Jasmine Jelly had a weak flavour that did not go well with the pomelo and yoghurt sorbet. It is however, very pretty to look at, and can be a winner once the taste has been refined.
Egg Surprise - light milky almond foam on top, smooth hazelnut chocolate in the middle, and crunchy hazelnut bits at the bottom. A delightful play on form, function, taste and texture, served on a bed of sesame seeds.
Read a more detailed account of our lunch experience at CindyHeartLife.
For an indepth review of the gourmet dinner, check out Nibble & Scribble.
Details of the lunch and dinner menus can be found at Chubby Hubby's post on the event.
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