Singapore’s fine dining scene doesn’t get many nights where two executive chefs share the same kitchen, but that’s exactly what unfolded at 黑珍珠 The Black Pearl on 30 June and 1 July. For two evenings only, Chef Choi Hyun Seok of CHOI. joined the restaurant’s own Executive Chef Dee Chan for a collaborative eight-course menu that paired Korean creativity with contemporary Cantonese craft.
The event, themed “Seoul Meets Contemporary ‘Yue'”, brought together two very different culinary backgrounds under one roof. Chef Choi is known to many from his appearance on Season 1 of Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars and his bold, experimental style, while Chef Dee has spent years refining his take on Cantonese cuisine at 黑珍珠 The Black Pearl. Put the two together for a four-hands dinner and you get a menu built on genuine collaboration.
Fully Booked Before the Doors Even Opened
Seats for the two-night event were snapped up well in advance, and by the time 30 June rolled around, both evenings were completely sold out. Part of the draw was Chef Choi himself, a familiar face to anyone who followed his run on Culinary Class Wars, and part of it was simple curiosity about how his style would sit alongside Chef Dee’s more classical approach.
What Was on the Table
Across eight courses, guests moved between Chef Choi’s inventive Korean-inspired plates and Chef Dee’s polished Cantonese dishes.
Each dish carried a clear signature from its chef, yet the meal read like one continuous story instead of two tasting menus stitched together. This is no easy feat to achieve, yet it was evident in how effortlessly each course unfolded into the next.
The setting did its part too. Perched above the city, 黑珍珠 The Black Pearl’s rooftop gave diners a skyline view to go with the food, and that backdrop turned an already special menu into a proper occasion. It’s a small detail on paper, but one that elevates the entire dining experience once you’re seated at the table.
More Collaborations on the Horizon
If this event proved anything, it’s that Singapore diners have a real appetite for nights like this one. This event marks the beginning of what will be an ongoing series of culinary collaborations at 黑珍珠 The Black Pearl. We invite you to follow us on social media and join our GAIA Rewards programme to be among the first to receive news of future events.
Make a reservation today to experience the next chapter in contemporary Cantonese dining at 黑珍珠 The Black Pearl.