Chinese chef Chang Liu who has just turned 30 is the chef of a newly opened restaurant called Serica in Milan which aims to serve as a bridge between Chinese and Italian food. After three years working at the Michelin starred Yoji Tokojoshi which is known for Italian cuisine that is 'contaminated' with Japanese techniques, he has decided to open his own restaurant named Serica located in Milan, Italy. The young and talented Chinese chef has a range of experiences including at Daniel Boulud in Beijing, as well as an internship at Noma in 2014. The Chinese chef was also a finalist in Italy's Hell's Kitchen with Carlo Cracco. He won the Chinese San Pellegrino Young chef competition in 2016. He worked alongside Yoji Tokojoshi at his restaurant since 2015. The restaurant name is Serica after the ancient Latin name for the Silk Road which is the most important commercial road in human history that connected the Chinese Empire to Western Society through the exchange of goods, spices … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2018
Tom Kerridge on British cuisine: “We have no shackles, we can go wherever we want’
British chef Tom Kerridge believes that the UK food scene at the moment is a phenomenal place to be in. That is not just due to the rich heritage that exists but also thanks to diversity that has emerged after 50 to 60 years of immigration from over the world which has created a wonderfully rich and eclectic mix of backgrounds and diversity in the food scene. "You can get a Michelin star for Chinese, Indian, curry houses, Japanese. All of these ingredients can become amalgamated or mixed together and could grow into our own food scene. We don’t do just roast beef and fish and chips although that is kind of what I do here at the Tom Kerridge Bar and Grill in the Corinthia London, but from a young chef’s point of view, British food is eclectic and rich and diverse so it gives room to all sorts of possibilities. We have no shackles. We are free to go wherever we want and that is exciting,” he said. In the UK, Tom is more than a household name. He rose to fame for his pub and comfort … [Read more...]
Skiing, fine dining and wine in Austria this winter
For the first time ever, gourmet-skiing routes have been developed in five regions in Austria. Based on regional culinary traditions, they are designed to highlight the specialities of each region. The suggested routes combine leisurely skiing with getting to know both the ski resorts and the local cuisine. The regions are Salzburg Sportwelt, Schladming-Dachstein, Gastein, Grossarital and Hochkonig. From 16 to 23 March 2019, more than 20 hotels will be offering packages geared towards the theme of skiing and wine. For the whole week, wine tastings will be offered in the hotels and at the ski and wine huts. A special highlight will be the Highest Farmers' Market in the Alps where farmers and producers will service their products directly at market stalls found in the ski huts. Just like a true farmers' market in the valley, skiers will be able to purchase cheese, ham, sausages and schnapps directly from the producers as well as jams, honey and tea. Numerous gourmet programmes … [Read more...]
6 top chefs from Asia to cook in charity dinner at Hertog Jan
On Wednesday 19 December, just three days before the last service at Hertog Jan, 6 of Asia's top chefs will be guests of Gert De Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens and cook a dinner in aid of Music for Life. Together with Gert and the entire team of Hertog Jan, they will cook a special dinner that evening in aid of Music for Life 2019. Gert and Joachim announced the closure of their three Michelin star restaurant in Zedelgem on the outskirts of Brugge in January this year. They have decided to conclude the Hertog Jan chapter meaningfully. All the proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Alexine Clarysse Fund. For the evening, there are only 26 places available and these will be auctioned. This is a unique opportunity to experience a final dinner at Hertog Jan while at the same time supporting a charitable event. 2018 has been a very special year for Hertog Jan founders Gert de Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens. Later this month, on 22 December, they will close a chapter in … [Read more...]
Diogenes the Dog: A wine bar in London that goes against the grain
With a laser focused vision Sunny Hodge is determined to shake up the London wine scene. He has set the bar high, wanting to turn a former pub in Elephant and Castle into one of London's top destination wine bars and after just a few weeks open he believes he is on the right track. The son of an Olympian and commonwealth games silver medalist and a graduate of Mechanical Engineering he has a contrarian vision just like Diognes, a Greek cynic who inspired the name of the wine bar. “I want Diogenes The Dog to be a place where people come to try something new and different and that they cannot try anywhere else, a place that will attract wine drinkers, wine suppliers, winemakers and that gives you a unique wine experience and a truly unique evening,” Sunny told Food and Wine Gazette when we met him at the newly opened wine bar and shop. His objective is to turn the spot he shaped with his own bare hands from a dodgy boozer in Elephant and Castle into one of the top 5 wine bars in … [Read more...]