Celebrity Chef Jacques Kagi Named Culinary Director at CulinArt 1862
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 18 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Swiss-Hong Kong celebrity chef Jacques Kagi has taken on a new role as culinary director at CulinArt 1862, a premium Western restaurant located at the Towngas flagship store in Causeway Bay . Best known to Hong Kong audiences as a judge on TVB's popular program 'Beautiful Cooking,' Kagi brings decades of international culinary experience to the position, which he also combines with a role as spokesperson for open-flame cooking . The appointment marks his return to a high-profile restaurant position after stepping back from the industry to focus on family following the deaths of both his parents from cancer .
Key Points
- Kagi trained professionally in Switzerland and Britain, then refined his skills at prestigious Hong Kong establishments including The Peninsula's Gaddi's, Conrad Hong Kong's Nicolini's, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Derby Room .
- The new 'East Meets West' tasting menu is priced at HK$788 per person plus service charge and is available during dinner service from 6pm to 11pm .
- Signature dishes include lobster bisque with Foshan yi mein noodles, Sichuan cured pork wrapped around garlic sprouts with Hokkaido scallops, and Iberico pork char siu smoked with apple wood and glazed with Canadian maple syrup .
- Kagi recruited his former culinary student Ray, who trained in Britain, to serve as the restaurant's head chef, creating a collaborative partnership built on prior mentor-student rapport .
- The chef sources specialty ingredients from across China, including yi mein from Foshan for its pasta-like texture and small-batch cured pork from a Sichuan producer, demonstrating his commitment to local sourcing .
Why It Matters
Kagi's career trajectory reflects broader shifts in Hong Kong's fine dining scene, where internationally trained chefs are increasingly incorporating Chinese regional ingredients and culinary traditions into Western frameworks . His personal story also highlights how family tragedy can reshape professional priorities, with his decision to abandon his private kitchen business for parenthood offering a counter-narrative to the relentless careerism often associated with celebrity chef culture .
Kagi's career trajectory reflects broader shifts in Hong Kong's fine dining scene, where internationally trained chefs are increasingly incorporating Chinese regional ingredients and culinary traditions into Western frameworks . His personal story also highlights how family tragedy can reshape professional priorities, with his decision to abandon his private kitchen business for parenthood offering a counter-narrative to the relentless careerism often associated with celebrity chef culture .