Justin Quek
Encyclopedia
Justin Quek is a Singaporean
chef
based in Shanghai
. He was born on 30 March 1962 in Singapore. His specialty is in French cuisine
. He is Singapore's most internationally-known chef and the first Asian chef invited to participate in Lufthansa's
Star Chefs program.
and his family business in the past was a fruit stall in Queen Street. His father died when he was seven. He has 11 other siblings and he attended Broadrick Secondary School
.
Quek had always wanted to travel. After his National Service
in Singapore, at 20 years old, Quek managed to get a job as a steward
. It was after two years as a seaman that lead him to his passion of cooking.
He then went on to learn the basics of cooking at the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Center (SHATEC) for one year. After his graduation in 1986, Quek continued his culinary training at The Oriental's hotels in Bangkok and Singapore under chef Bertrand Langlet, who encouraged him to go to France
to further his training.
In 1991, Quek used his life savings of $40,000, to travel to France to greatly improve his skills.
He returned to Singapore in 1992, taking the place of personal chef at the French Embassy, serving two high commissioner
s.
Quek then opened Les Amis at Shaw House, Singapore. In 2004, He left Les Amis to establish a new restaurant called La Petite Cuisine in Taipei
. He has since opened another French eatery La Platane, a fine-dining Chinese
restaurant Villa du Lac and a restaurant named Fountain. All three are located at Xintiandi
, Shanghai
. Sold all businesses in Shanghai in January 2009 . Opened Just In Bistro & Wine Bar, Taipei in April 2009, and one fine-dining French restaurant Justin's Signatures in Dec 2009. Consultant to Whisk, The Mira Hong Kong and The French Window, IFC Hong Kong.
In 2010, Quek opened Sky On 57 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, showcases a delectable array of Modern Asian Cuisine, delivered with warm Asian hospitality and a breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
based in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. He was born on 30 March 1962 in Singapore. His specialty is in French cuisine
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
. He is Singapore's most internationally-known chef and the first Asian chef invited to participate in Lufthansa's
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
Star Chefs program.
Biography
Quek is TeochewTeochew people
The Chaozhou people are Han people, native to the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province of China who speak the Teochew dialect. Today, most Teochew people live outside China in Southeast Asia especially in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They can also be found almost anywhere in the...
and his family business in the past was a fruit stall in Queen Street. His father died when he was seven. He has 11 other siblings and he attended Broadrick Secondary School
Broadrick Secondary School
Broadrick Secondary School is a government secondary school located in Mountbatten, Singapore. The school is located beside Dakota MRT station and it takes about 5 minutes to walk from the school to the station. The school offers a wide variety of CCAs which aims to nurture the students by...
.
Quek had always wanted to travel. After his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in Singapore, at 20 years old, Quek managed to get a job as a steward
Chief Steward
A chief steward is the senior unlicensed crew member working in the Steward's Department of a ship. Since there is no purser on most ships in the United States Merchant Marine, the steward is the senior person in the department, whence its name...
. It was after two years as a seaman that lead him to his passion of cooking.
He then went on to learn the basics of cooking at the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Center (SHATEC) for one year. After his graduation in 1986, Quek continued his culinary training at The Oriental's hotels in Bangkok and Singapore under chef Bertrand Langlet, who encouraged him to go to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to further his training.
In 1991, Quek used his life savings of $40,000, to travel to France to greatly improve his skills.
He returned to Singapore in 1992, taking the place of personal chef at the French Embassy, serving two high commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
s.
Quek then opened Les Amis at Shaw House, Singapore. In 2004, He left Les Amis to establish a new restaurant called La Petite Cuisine in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. He has since opened another French eatery La Platane, a fine-dining Chinese
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
restaurant Villa du Lac and a restaurant named Fountain. All three are located at Xintiandi
Xintiandi
Xintiandi is an affluent car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai, China. It is composed of an area of reconstituted traditional shikumen houses on narrow alleys, some adjoining houses which now serve as book stores, cafes and restaurants, and shopping malls. Most of the...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Sold all businesses in Shanghai in January 2009 . Opened Just In Bistro & Wine Bar, Taipei in April 2009, and one fine-dining French restaurant Justin's Signatures in Dec 2009. Consultant to Whisk, The Mira Hong Kong and The French Window, IFC Hong Kong.
In 2010, Quek opened Sky On 57 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, showcases a delectable array of Modern Asian Cuisine, delivered with warm Asian hospitality and a breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline.
Awards
- In 2001, Quek was conferred upon, the title of Best Chef of the Year at the inaugural World Gourmet Summit (WGS) Awards.
- In 2003 and 2004, Quek won the title of San Pellegrino Chef of the Year.
- In 2004, Quek received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Annual New World Food and Wine Festival.
- In 2005, Quek received the at-sunrice GlobalChef Award.
- In 2009, Quek received World Gourmet Summit Award of Excellence Hall of Fame Best chef.