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Illustrious names, impressive credentials. Get to know the talents gracing Solaire Resort soon for an unforgettable dining event
For many passionate gourmands, there’s a distinct yearning and satisfaction in putting a face to the name—or rather discovering the brilliant masterminds behind each inventive plate or establishment. This time around, we’re privileged to introduce three for an exciting and imminent occasion. Hailing from their Michelin-starred kitchens in Rome, Fukuoka, and Chengdu, three powerhouse chefs are making their way to Manila for an exclusive culinary experience at none other than Solaire Resort this March 13-17. Culminating in a luxurious brunch buffet on the 17th, this fantastic collaboration marks the premier destination resort’s 11th anniversary in a truly memorable way.
Read more: Savour the stars: 3 Michelin takeovers happening at Solaire Resort this March 13-17
Before you witness their artistry and flair at Solaire’s Finestra, Yakumi, and Red Lantern, dive into the backgrounds of illustrious chefs Cristina Bowerman, Takeshi Fukuyama, and Xu Fan below:
Cristina Bowerman
Above Chef Cristina Bowerman
Chef Cristina Bowerman
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This Italian chef’s journey to helming Rome’s acclaimed Glass Hostaria wasn’t exactly a straight shot. Brought up in a globally oriented family who frequently travelled together, Bowerman studied foreign languages at school and pursued law at university. A brief spell working at a law firm followed—until her fascination with travel drew her to the U.S.A. Her exposure to various cuisines while living in America was what truly sparked her love of food. After completing a course at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Texas, she trained under many key mentors, including Puerto Rican chef Egil Valentin who instilled in her a love of both traditional and modern cooking techniques.
Returning to Italy in 2004, she became the head chef of two other restaurants before landing the top post at Glass Hostaria, a modern gem that is nearly as lauded for its design as it is for its food. Located amidst the historic alleyways of the Trastevere district, the restaurant showcases Bowerman’s brazen approach to Italian cuisine, constantly presenting a new and unique approach to classic ingredients and dishes. It is also through her creativity and innovation that Glass Hostaria earned its first Michelin star in 2010, and that it sustains the distinction and renown to this day.
Takeshi ‘Goh’ Fukuyama
Above Takeshi Fukuyama
Takeshi Fukuyama
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Fresh out of high school, Fukuyama charted a unique course for himself when he took the plunge into the world of French cuisine. After training at Île-de-France and Mercury Cafe in Fukuoka, he would go on to establish La Maison de la Nature Goh in 2002, blending his penchant for the cuisine with the flavours and techniques of his homeland. Celebrated for its imaginative French-Japanese omakase, the restaurant consistently featured in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2002 and earned its Michelin star in 2019.
While La Maison de la Nature Goh bade farewell in October 2022, Fukuyama has since kept himself busy. Besides working on chef collaborations across Japan and in Macau, he has introduced two new dining ventures, namely Goh and GohGan. The former is what he often refers to as “the new Goh”, in reference to his former restaurant, as it similarly offers an omakase-style tasting menu but trades the counter for a sharing table to facilitate interactions among diners. GohGan, on the other hand, is a restaurant he runs alongside Indian-born celebrity chef Gaggan Anand. Here, they serve an a la carte menu that harmoniously binds French, Indian and Japanese influences.
Xu Fan
Above Chef Xu Fan
Chef Xu Fan
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Immersed in the art of Sichuan-style cooking since 1991, chef Xu Fan is considered a master and maestro of the cuisine. This Chengdu native is the head chef and founder of Xu’s Cuisine, a restaurant chain whose first outpost in the central Chinese city boasts a Michelin star. The restaurant has been in business for over a decade and has garnered multiple recognitions since, counting itself among China’s top 50 restaurants for six consecutive years and being named the Black Pearl 1 Diamond restaurant for five successive years.
At Xu’s Cuisine, his creations traverse the creative to traditional, offering novel Sichuan dishes with a few regional offerings.
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Catch these chefs and their culinary takeovers at Solaire Resort from March 13-16, plus the brunch buffets on March 17. Check out solaireresort.com for more information and call +632 8888 8888 for reservations.
Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
