#culinarymasters

One of the Asia’s renowned celebrity chefs, Justin Quek has long been making waves as a pioneer of Franco-Chinese cuisine and being one of the most influential chefs in the region. He is in charge of restaurants in Marina Bay Sands, one of the most iconic luxury hotels in Singapore. Over the years, Quek has served politicians and dignitaries such as former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Solaire has lined up several activities showcasing Chef Justin Quek as part of its Culinary Masters series. Enjoy a special Oasis Afternoon Tea set designed by Chef Justin Quek, featuring a unique display of sweet and savory creations perfectly paired with tea of your choice. This is available from September 20 to September 25 at Oasis from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM for P2,288+ for two persons.

Red Lantern offers an Eat-All-You-Can Dim Sum Lunch from September 21 to 25. Indulge in a delectable dim sum lunch featuring Chef Justin Quek's exciting dim sum dishes from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM for P1,888+ per person. Two seatings are available on September 24 and 25 with the first seating at 11:30 AM, and the second seating at 1:30 PM.

The highlight of the week will be the exclusive Wine Pairing Dinner at Red Lantern from September 20 to 24 at 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This is a dinner event series to remember as Chef Justin Quek presents his unique pairings of the finest wines paired with exquisite Chinese cuisine held in Red Lantern’s private VIP dining rooms.

My husband and I attended last night’s opening Wine Pairing Dinner which showcases Chef Justin Quek’s magnificent French-Chinese cuisine. Seats are very limited so it is best to make your reservations as early as possible.

We started with these two appetizers that truly tickled our palates. The Smoked Mackerel Parfait with superior Oscietra caviar has a creamy texture that is balanced by the salty caviar. There’s also the Drunken Clams Huang Jiu with lime cream and superior Oscietra caviar. This one has a powerful kick that will really jumpstart your flavorful adventure.

All courses are paired with their respective wines that are curated to complement each dish. The Allan Scott Marlborough & Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2021 has a light and smooth blend to open up our wine session.

The Wine Pairing Dinner comes with three main courses. First is the Japanese Amadai Fillet that comes with pan-roasted crispy scale and tomato and herbs fondue. The fish is very tender plus the very crispy skin gives it a unique presentation.

This was paired with the Fleur de Lotus from Josmeyer, Alsace, France. I really liked these white wines with their subtle flavors and they are very easy to drink with your dishes.

One of my favorites that evening was the main course consisting of Truffle Abalone, Salted Pork Belly, and Xiao Long Bao. These heavenly bite-sized items taste so good, each one with its distinct properties and highlights.

I enjoyed eating the Braised 10 Heads Abalone and Truffle Xiao Long Bao. My only complaint was that I wanted to have a few more pieces since I am accustomed to eating a whole basket of XLB for myself. These were served with a glass of Schloss Vollrads Reisling white wine from Germany.

Our third main course was this beautiful duo of beef. The Nam Yu Braised Angus Beef and the Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Beef are served on top of mashed potatoes with oriental greens.

So which one is the better beef? It really depends on your preference. The Angus beef gives more flavors, while the wagyu beef really stands out with its tenderness and juiciness. I simply enjoyed finishing both.

The beef course was paired with Malbec “du Clos” 2018 from Cahors, France, a perfectly balanced red wine to savor this occasion.

Chinese lauriats come with rice or noodles at the end, so our Wine Pairing Dinner also had an excellent noodle dish served after the main courses. The Wok-Fried Live Lobster Hokkien Noodle has a generous serving of lobster meat to go along with “hawker-style” hokkien noodles.

We also had some desserts including the Homemade Mignardines with lemon tart, limoncello sabayon, and crispy meringues. There was also a bonus financier almond cake and a durian puff pastry to end our exciting journey.

Guests can also savor the delectable creations of a world-class master chef with special a la carte or set menus designed by Chef Justin Quek exclusively for Solaire Culinary Masters. These are available from September 20 to September 24 at Red Lantern at 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM. A la Carte items start at P788+ while Set Menus are P6,888+ and P8,888+. Optional wine pairing is also available at P1,988+.

I would like to thank Cherry Velarde for inviting us to join this wonderful wine dinner as well as Lynch Imbat for hosting our small group that evening. The Chef Justin Quek Wine Pairing Dinner is available for P10,888+ per person with only a few seats remaining. For inquiries and reservations, visit www.solaireresort.com/chef-justinquek or call +632 8888-8888.

Chef Justin Quek at Solaire

Solaire Resort & Casino, 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Paranaque

8888-8888