Curiosity Breeds Creativity

Meet the culinary master in charge of the kitchen at Jeff’s Cellar

Even as a child, Lee Chong Boon, or Chef Boon as he is popularly known, was enthralled by our nation’s culinary heritage. He was impressed by how Malaysian cuisine effectively blended flavours from many different cultures together, creating something truly magical.

Therefore, there was little surprise when Lee decided to become a chef. He began his career as a kitchen helper at a restaurant in his hometown of Ipoh and worked his way up the ranks, joining Shangrila Singapore in 2005. His tenacity and hard work impressed its resident Italian chef who imparted onto him his bountiful knowledge of European cuisine.

Chef Boon returned to Ipoh in 2016 and was hired as executive chef at Malaysia’s first luxury natural wellness getaway, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat.

Its signature restaurant Jeff’s Cellar is an acclaimed fine dining destination located in the depths of a 260-milion-year-old cave and showcases a regularly rotating degustation menu of farm-to-table delights alongside a carefully curated wine menu.

Here, his gourmet creations draw inspiration from his spectacular surroundings - the limestone hills that are preserved in their natural state, the lush tropical rainforests, and the bubbling waters of the geothermal hot springs. They help to inject a unique spin into his food.

According to Chef Boon, being a chef is similar to being an artist as both are passionate about creating extraordinary works using simple ingredients. He believes the path to success is through being open to new experiences and never saying no to any challenges.

“We must always be curious,” he asserts, “because this is the best way for us to learn. We should never let fear of the unknown stop us from pursuing our passion. Every unique creation is a culmination of the things we see and the experiences we gain.”