intimate
nostalgic
interactive
...the food is nourishing, healing, but also playful.
He recalls a dinner at an Italian restaurant during his first trip to New York City with a group of his culinary peers. What stuck out in his mind was a memory of the table beside them ordering dessert, which involved a server throwing a wafer on the table, shattering as it hit the plate and surprising everyone at the table. He forgot what he ate that meal, but remembers to this day how amazing it was that food could generate surprise and emotion.
Having always enjoyed working and creating with his hands, Chef Ken saw creating with ceramics as an opportunity to extend the experience.
The vessels become part of the experience, the textures, the colours.
They hide surprises, adding a new dimension. Creating the dish is an opportunity to be creative, but serving food on plates designed for the dish adds a more personal layer.
The stories come from his travels, his wanderings through art galleries and museums in London and Hong Kong, his connections with culinary mentors and peers.
He learns the secrets of holes in the walls and Michelin-starred restaurants, the timeworn techniques from conversations had while cooking for people across continents.
These are the stories that inspire your k.Dinners experience.
k.Dinners is always evolving and changing, reflecting Chef Ken's ever-changing view of the world.
Today, his plates center on the revival of old traditions, rediscovering generations of family recipes and cherished techniques from his Taishan and Hakka heritage.
Food connects us to our history, to our present, but also can connect us to our future, such as when we meet new friends at k.Dinners.
© 2023 by chef ken yau inc
PHOTO CREDITS Craig Bagol, Thomas Bollmann, Johann Co