Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

9 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Meet the Chef: A Q&A with Lee Kok Hua, Chef de Cuisine at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi What is your career background and what initially inspired you to get into the hospitality industry? Growing up in Malaysia, I was surrounded by a family of cooks so food was an important part of my life from a very early age. I started working as an apprentice cook when I was 15 years old, learning the basics of wok cooking and how to create the unique balance of flavours that is so important in Chinese cuisine. I joined Hakkasan in 2003 as a Senior Sous Chef at the original restaurant in London. At that time, the restaurant had already won a Michelin star under Head Chef Tong Chee Hwee, which it still maintains to this day. Having the opportunity to work with such a formidable chef was an honour and I learnt so much from him about presenting complex flavoured Cantonese dishes with a modern flair and how to bring a freshness and vitality to Chinese food. In 2010, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the kitchen team for Hakkasan Abu Dhabi at Emirates Palace, the company’s first venture into the Middle East. How would you describe your cooking style? My cooking style is very rooted in my Asian heritage and reflects Hakkasan’s philosophy of using traditional methods to create modern authentic dishes. I love to work with new flavours and combinations. We are constantly reviewing our dishes and overall menu to ensure that we have the perfect balance of freshness and flavour. You can see from our menu that there is a strong emphasis on good quality ingredients and it’s important to treat them with respect to enhance the various flavours, colours and textures to let them shine on the plate. What are you like with your team in the kitchen? Hakkasan’s success has been built on excellence, setting the standard for Chinese cuisine the world over. There’s a level of expectation – from myself, the team and our guests – which can only be realised if every one of us engages in our jobs with passion and ownership. What is your signature dish? Although Hakkasan is internationally distinguished, we recognise the importance of reflecting local market demands and palate. That’s why, in addition to many of Hakkasan’s classic signature dishes, you will also see a number of dishes on our menu which have been created especially for Abu Dhabi. Canadian lobster with Supreme stock Charcoal grilled silver cod in spicy honey sauce