Spotlight: Kitchen Maestro

Chef Gilles Marx shares with us about his premiere collaboration with Chef Olivier Oddos

Chef Gilles Marx of AMUZ’S successful collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Olivier Oddos

From february 6 to 9, AMUZ Gourmet Restaurant in Jakarta held an exceptional dining event with French Michelinstarred Chef Olivier Oddos from the Tokyo-based Chez Olivier restaurant. To celebrate the event and for more details, we had an exclusive tête-à-tête with the Chef Founder of AMUZ, Gilles Marx.

Could you tell us the highlights of this event? On February 6, we hosted a six-course champagne pairing dinner for the members of Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne. Chef Olivier’s culinary creation was paired with Champagne Jacquesson, a very special and boutique champagne brand. On the February 7 and 8, the restaurant was open for the public for a ladies’ lunch, with a special seven-course four-hand wine-pairing dinner prepared by Chef Olivier and me. Finally, on February 9, we held a joint cooking class at Culinaria Modena.

What was the cooking class like, and why did you decide to do it at Culinaria Modena? Both of us demonstrated three dishes: first, Hokkaido Scallops Sushi and Crab Meat, Yuzu Lime, Cider Vinegar Juice and Chioggia Beet; second, Steamed Barramundi Back, Squid Ink Risotto, Arugula- Ginger Emulsion; and third, Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Hibiscus Macerated Exotic Fruits, Pistachio Sables and Red Berries Sorbet. We demonstrated with hands-on cooking, so people could participate, and there was a tasting session afterward. Culinaria Modena is well-equipped: it has a demo kitchen and live stations for cooking classes, so we decided to do it there.

Did you create a special menu only for the event? Yes—every day, we served different one-off dishes, with the main theme of French cuisine with a little bit of a Japanese touch. We mostly used Chef Olivier’s recipes, because I think my clients have tasted my dishes many times and it is good to introduce something new. We also used premium products that are imported directly from France and Japan.

How long does it take to prepare for an event like this? It took us about a month to prepare everything—which is quite a short time, but we managed to pull it off successfully thanks to our partners and suppliers. We received lots of positive responses, and our restaurant was fully booked during the event. Considering the enthusiasm of the participants, I am planning to regularly hold more events like this in the future.