In February, The Library in The Ritz Carlton, Kuala Lumpur featured a culinary concept designed by YTL Corporate Executive Chef, Wai Look Chow, and inspired by Two Friends – One Cuisine, the award-winning cookbook he wrote with his close friend, Michelin-starred chef Johann Lafer. The Peak meets both chefs as they reminisce over their 15-year friendship and how they have grown individually and collectively from it.
What was the inspiration behind the menu?
Chef Wai Look Chow (CW): Through our relationship with one another, we have built a very strong cuisine together. That is how we keep in touch with each other, through our food. The inspiration is very much the relationship.
Fusing Asian and European cuisines together is not quite common. How did you know what would work?
CW: For us, I think Chef Johann would agree, we always add a little extra something to the meal. If we were to reconstruct the way we work together, it would be artistic. Say we have a plain white paper to start with. If Chef Johann produces something in green, I will then come up with a complementary light green to match. It sparks together and that is when we know we have matched.
When you both began cooking together, did you have a specific goal or did you just see where the meal would take you?
Chef Johann Lafer (CJ): We go to the market together. This morning, we went to buy the fresh fruits that were used for today’s dessert. Buying local produce together is a big part of it.
This story is from the March 2019 edition of The PEAK Malaysia.
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This story is from the March 2019 edition of The PEAK Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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