Far East Organization launches Chef X, an initiative that provides home-based chefs and private dining chefs with a sandbox to operate their own full-fledged commercial restaurant within Clarke Quay Central mall for four or eight weeks. From 26 April 2024, each resident chef will serve out of a professionally designed F&B space fitted with commercial-grade kitchen equipment, with a dining area that can accommodate up to 24 diners.
Said Ms Deborah Tan, Director of the Retail Business Group at Far East Organization, “Staying true to our vision of Inspiring Better Lives, Far East Organization is expanding our support from our successful Baker X programme for home-based bakers to Chef X. This is a new retail innovation initiated for home-based chefs to experience what it would entail for them to run a restaurant at a commercial space within a mall at minimal risk. Besides providing a fully fitted-out kitchen and restaurant space to these home-based chefs, we have also designed a mentorship programme to help our home chefs learn the skills of operating a restaurant that seats up to 24 diners, which a home-based environment cannot offer. We are excited to be able to play a part in their learning journey.”
Each resident chef, who will helm the restaurant for four or eight weeks, will showcase their culinary skills and individual styles, cooking at the unit for dine-in customers, with the option of takeaway. The current line-up will see a rotating roster of four home chefs, cuisines ranging from heartwarming food inspired by grandmother’s kitchen and Korean kimchi-based dishes, to Japanese bentos and a seven-course omakase.
Apart from physical resources, resident chefs will be offered guidance from a mentor chef. They can look forward to receiving advice and tips – from menu planning, food presentation and recipe refinements, to business and human resource management, from Chef Isaac Tan, Head of Culinary & Product Innovations for Commonwealth Concepts (CWC), the F&B joint venture between Commonwealth Capital and Far East Organization. An industry veteran who has led dining institutions such as Bedrock Bar & Grill since its inception in 2008, Chef Isaac Tan currently steers 12 distinct brands under the group, including Fat Cow, Kinki Restaurant + Bar, and The Marmalade Pantry.
Upcoming Resident Chef Benjamin Lai, a private dining chef operating ooomahmee, is looking forward to his upcoming stint in December, “I have always dreamt of opening a brick-and-mortar outlet to share food that I love with others, but I am often daunted by the unknown. Chef X will be a great learning ground for me. It will provide me invaluable support such as mentorship, marketing assistance, and a well-equipped space. It also helps me put in place a plan to fulfil my aspiration.”
Chef X will be located at level three of Clarke Quay Central mall.
