Don’t be fooled by imitations, there is only one Chef Jack Lee. Call him what you want, he even answers to Captain Jack or even Kangaroo Jack. His name aside, one thing remains the same; Taste, consistency and innovation in the kitchen. We spent the day with Chef Jack where we experienced a taste of the finer things in life; traditional dishes with an Escoffier twist as interpreted through the eyes of Mad Jack.
We entered the inner sanctum of a beautiful Beverly Hills estate that is also a private & priceless art gallery. The walls were filled with beautiful works of art. As we went through the art filled rooms and corridors we finally set foot into the center of this home of creativity. There it was the hub, the hearth known as the kitchen. It was fitting that the Culinary artist Chef Jack Lee was in his art studio creating excerpts from some of his diverse culinary portfolios.
Unlike many chefs, Jack Lee creates food as an artist creates a portfolio or body of work. He gets his inspiration from the world around him and then begins the process of creating a body of work around a specific theme much like many well known traditional artists before him. The inspiration that created Monet’s Garden series or Picasso’s portraits of women. Weegees Naked City and Warhol’s Series of Marilyn Monroe and then there’s Jack Lee’s Portfolio of food inspired by life events. He calls his portfolios “Tasting Collections”.
Chef Jack Lee uses food to tell a story, to represent how his clients feel and to personify who they are through his experience of them. He takes these experiences and translates them onto the plate. A few years ago Jack went through jaw surgery where he lost his sense of taste. Jack was not going to go down without a fight and wasn’t going to let this get the best of him. It took him a year and a half to recover his sense of taste and retrain his palate. During his recovery he came up with the idea of his 6th tasting collection called “My True Colors” where he used food and colors to describe his thoughts and feelings through his toughest period after his surgery and his journey back to the culinary world.
It was just such an inspiration that led him to create the $100 Egg-roll. He was inspired by the opulence and abundance that surrounded him. It was an homage to the re-launch of his new concept after his jaw surgery. He debuted it at a celebrity fundraiser in Brentwood.
His goal was to add some “bling bling to this modern delicacy that is a staple at Chinese restaurants throughout America.” By using the most expensive seasonal ingredients available to he successfully made the ultimate egg-roll. He sourced Maine lobster, seasonal French truffles, the best caviar and gold leaf. He uses taro root instead of Napa cabbage to keep the roll fresh and crisp. He makes a raspberry sauce using lobster stock and then pairs it with a glass of Dom Pérignon champagne.
We were also lucky to have the opportunity to sample some of the creations from other Taste Collections such as,
The Lobster Martini that Jack has nicknamed “Happy Juice”
Lobster broth, Lemongrass, Grey Goose Vodka with a Salmon Scallop Lollipop
Prime Rib Bánh mì
Not your average Bánh mì – Prime Rib, Hudson Valley Foie Gras instead of aioli and a soy scallion dipping sauce.
Escargot with an artisan farmers market garlic pesto
Chilean Sea bass, one of Chef Jack’s signature dishes
Infused w Banzai Sake, scallions and ginger – served w Green Tea Soba noodles, Scallions, soy sauce and garnished with Salmon roe.
So it was a feast for the eyes, palate and all the other senses combined. Chef Jack Lee is a true artist who is among the ranks of the finest chefs around. He is one to watch in the coming years as he will certainly climb to ultimate notoriety. We are looking forward to his upcoming Taste Collections inspired by Sake, Tequila interpreted by his travels around the world. Cheers to Chef Jack Lee for taking the time out of his busy Chinoise Catering schedule to show us all a “Taste of the Good-Life.”
Article co-written by Adam Rubenstein & Rico Mandel for VivaLAfoodies.com
Photography provided by Rico Mandel for Mizenplace & The Culinary Image
Video produced, edited and provided by Amelia Yokel
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