KEE Club appoints new chef

Hong Kong’s members-only KEE Club has acquired ex-French Laundry chef, Bjoern Alexander.

Chef Bjoern Alexander

Alexander’s new menus at KEE Club will include Japanese and German influences, which draw on his experiences working in Berlin and Japan.

“People don’t realise that German and Japanese cooking actually share many similar traits such as discipline, structure, organisation in the kitchen and use of local, seasonal products,” said Alexander. “Which is why it has always been fairly easy for me to assimilate into the Japanese kitchen.”

Alexander has also spent time in the kitchens at the Michelin-starred Jimbocho Den, the Burj al-Arab and the renowned French Laundry in California under Thomas Keller. He then moved to Hong Kong to work in the Mira Hotel at WHISK.

For his launch, Chef Bjoern will be presenting two menus – Tradition versus Revolution. The Tradition menu will comprise of European comfort food, such as spaghetti with bottarga and garlic, while the Revolution menu will shine a light on different countries’ cuisines via a gastronomic tour of some best-known dishes.

“Every menu will take inspiration from German or Austrian dishes and through combining it with the ingredients or techniques of the chosen country, guests will have a chance to try some very unique ingredients,” said Alexander.

As part of its 15th anniversary celebrations and to introduce Alexander, KEE Club is opening its doors to non-members with a one-time access code, KEYtoKEE until January 31.

KEE is a private members club founded in 2001 by Christian Rhomberg and his wife, Maria Kee in Hong Kong’s Central and won the Asia Pacific Private Members Club of the Year 2011 at Quintessentially Awards.