Kalel Chan

The young corporate chef shares the dishes he can't live without, among many others.

Kalel Chan
30, corporate chef for Raintree Restaurants

"When I was in college. I didn’t know na gusto ko maging chef. After graduating, I tried working as a Front Office in a hotel. After nine days, sabi ko this isn’t me. So I resigned, did catering on the side, and then a friend invited me to work in M Café. I started there. I took up HRIM in La Salle but at that time, experimental stage pa ang school when it comes to culinary. We had lots of cooking classes but no formal culinary training. When I trained in M Café, I said, this is me."

What do you love about cooking?
You become innovative and creative. I love the pressure. Hindi redundant ang life in the kitchen. Everyday we have stories to tell.

What are you looking forward to this Christmas?
Being busy, having functions in the restaurants I handle. I’ll be working this Christmas in M Café, Chelsea, MoMo, and Mr. Jones.

First cooking gig: M Cafe. I started as a Line cook. It's either I grill, do the entrée or preparation or butchering.

If not a chef, I would have been…: I don’t know. At first I wanted to work for a hotel. But when I did that for nine days, I didn’t like it.

What I’m really excited about in the food world NOW: You have to catch up with the trends. Madaming competition. You always have to think kung paano ka magiging iba sa kanila. I’m excited to catch up with the trends and put my own twist to them.

Childhood food memory: Until now my mom does a very good kare-kare and my dad, adobo. They inspire me.

Dream home kitchen décor: Industrial

Favorite off-hours hangout: In the restaurant I work in. In M Café, have a couple of drinks to make me relax.

What I learned in the kitchen the hard way: I was in the kitchen, with six hot pressure burners, I improperly wrapped the pan holder with towel so I burned my fingers. Then I got chili flakes, put it on my food then wiped the perspiration on my eyes so my eyes got burned too. But I didn’t have time to react so I had to continue with what I was doing.

Favorite restaurant: I don’t stick to one restaurant. I try different restaurants each time so I end up not having a favorite. The last resto I really liked though is Menato, a Korean restaurant in Ortigas, near Astoria. Many Korean restaurants are not inviting to eat in but I tried it anyway and I liked it.

Favorite comfort food: Adobo because it has the Pinoy taste, swet sour and salty, all combined in one dish.

What’s always in my fridge: What my parents cooked. Leftovers. When I go home late at night, I just heat them then eat.

Food I can’t live without: Noodles. Mami. Beef wonton.

The last thing I ate today and where: Pinakbet. My mom and dad cooked it earlier and I got to eat their pinakbet.

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