The Chef Who REINVENTED BRITISH CUISINE - 2 Michelin Star Restaurant Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Today you will meet a chef setting a course in unchartered territory, and he is on a mission to change the way we think about British food. That chef is Devon’s own Kirk Westaway.
Welcome back to Singapore. Our restaurant for today is JAAN by Kirk Westaway. It's located on the 70th floor of the 5 star Swissotel the Stamford. So if you think British food is bad, meet the Chef changing it all.
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Instagram - / alexandertheguest
My name is Alexander. I’m the co-owner of a ONE Michelin star restaurant, and I’m on a mission - to find inspiration in gastronomy. I love fine dining, good wine and sharing what I know with other people.
Check out my restaurant:
/ 42restaurant
This video quality is actually insane! He doesn’t just review the food, he goes into extreme detail about the restaurant’s history, service, and style!
that is what is unique about him i think he gives another fresh perspective because he is a restaurant owner himself
Even surprised that hes not even 1m subs yet the first time i watched him
Totally agree I love this channel. He has such heart and enthusiasm. It is infectious.
Thank you Alexander for celebrating the sommelier and giving her the space to express her journey in her own words. Respect 🙏🏼
That sommelier brought a tear to my eye. She went above & beyond just to try & understand. I wish i could go there just to meet her
i’ve never had a neuron reaction to click so fast
Us
Us*
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I think it's too easy to just blame WW2. My grandparents (born in the early 1900s) would boil tinned peas, make custard from powder and largely survive on white sliced bread and potatoes. The tradition of eating locally-sourced and unprocessed food was lost during industrialisation and there was little knowledge about nutrition.
Interesting and true. Maybe social standing would make a difference? Wonder what the toffs were eating back then
@@dajay2k they were eating french/other european food afaik, the european ties of queen victoria really made that the trend amongst the rich class
It’s a shame considering how good a lot of our natural produce, meat, dairy, seafood actually is.
Maybe it was more than WWII, but I do know that rationing continued for around a decade after the end of WWII. Britain was completely bankrupt and so were the people. I don't think it was until the decades later tbh that we stopped being poor.
One of the best things about your channel is that you talk about the history of the restaurant and the people that are key and delivering the experience to you. The little clip that you put in about the sommelier was fantastic and really tells a lot about you as a storyteller. You are an amazing storyteller and the suits Divine! You deliver your stories with heart and enthusiasm!
The Chateau Montelena was crafted by Mike Grgich who owned Grgich hills winery in Napa. He passed away this year at the age of 100!
Exactly ! 👏👏👏
Mike was the winemaker at Montelena that time.
The original Grgic winery where from Mike (Miljenko) departed can be found in Trstenik, peninsula Peljesac, Croatia. Worth a visit.
The ABSOLUTE BEST show reviewing fine dining. Your editing should be the standard for all others. SO wonderfully descriptive and informative. I hope to one day have the resources to visit just a few of these places. THANK YOU ALEXANDER!
Haha, look at Alexander smile while pointing that Krug Ambassador's sign!
Just like how popeye love spinach Alex loves his krug 😂
I saw That 😃👍...
Love the Filipino Sommelier!!!! 🔥❤️ everything and anything can be learned if you work hard enough and focus well! Hats off to the crew!
Common Filipino L
Kirk is such a great chef and person! Definitely an example for the new generation! Great video like always!!
Man it is really impressive that you manage to give us one of these a week, the production quality is always top notch
I can’t get over how excited I am every time you post! I stop what I’m doing and try to watch right away! It is so fun living vicariously through you! Thank you, thank you!❤
As someone from Devon, I never knew we had another Michelin-starred chef. As far as everyone knows, we only have Michael Caine (a 1*).
It would be nice if Kirk did some promotion in Devon
As a Singaporean, this is one of my husband’s and mine’s favourite restaurants! 😍
I love how often you take moments to highlight the staff at these places and let them shine.
I like the new things you put in your video. The teasing about what's to come and the sommelier interview. Very nice.
Hope this channel blows up, love the videos as always!
For the record, despite all the memes, British food is honestly pretty good if you're actually aware of what we'vw created.
I'm not about to suggest we come close to France, Italy, Portugal, India, Japan, etc but there are some gems (it's a lot more than just baked beans and fish n chips).
Sommelier monologue was great!
The sommelier shows the amount of work these reviews take. You need genuine curiosity, and a lot of questions asked (to many different people) to capture a story that good and that human. Shows how much Alexander cares about the review. This was my first time watching his videos and it won't be the last.
Thank you for posting such class reviews. I will never be able to eat at any of these places, I'm just a cook...lol. But with you I get to live this amazing moments with you, a worthy guide. So thank you.
Alexander is always so stylish! These videos are such a pleasure tu listen to and to watch.
It's an audio-visual delight to watch his videos.
Your video is not only entertaining and informative, but also a pleasurable experience (like the restaurants you review)! Thanks
If there's a channel that truly deserves millions of subscrivers is this one. I keep spreading word of mouth whenever it's possible because we all deserve these moments of love,passion,dedication,respect,attention that Alexander gives us with his videos. Once again, brilliant ,brilliant video and godly outfit!
Your channel is a recent discovery for me, and I can't stop watching your videos. Incredible production, great delivery, and awesome content.
I've been watching your videos now since you've started this and have barely missed a video. I just finished my studies so until now, I did not have the financial possibilities to eat in these restaurants myself. I love good food and your videos really taught me a lot about food in general and sparked my curiosity for fine dining with every single video more. I can't wait to visit all these restaurants one day. Thank you so much for this channel, I hope we get to meet one day!
James Hoffman has an excellent video on decolonizing flavour descriptors I recommend for folks interested in the trouble the sommelier encountered here.
This was such a heartwarming one, thank you for lightening my spirit today Alex. I wish I get the opportunity to experience such a restaurant in my lifetime!
Nice, Kirk and I went to the same college and he's from down the road from where I grew up! Glad to see a Devon lad doing so well, especially with English Cuisine :)
Great video as always!
I knew I was in for a good video when I knew exactly which restaurant this was before I clicked on it. Its one of my favourite restaurants in Singapore too! Great video as always Alexander!😊
Thanks Alexander this is so special to me chef I enjoy this channel so much
Another slam dunk. Just checked costs of flights to sing. Also genuinely how are
Krug not sponsoring these reviews!?
I am watching your videos since the starting of this channel and I am seeing a great progress and there will be a small gift from me to you in next month, All the best Alexander
Always entertaining. Your camera shots of the food are absolutely beautiful works of art.
Thank you for the destinations I would get arrested going to. Also, I must say I generally watch your videos at least twice.
This is better production than most TV shows. Top quality content. Subbed.
Fab video…London has 16000 restaurants. ..Sheffield covers all types of cuisine. The future of British cooking is bright.
🤔 it has been since the 90's- 00's ,10's
London is culinary capital in the world. I went to New York 6 years ago expecting great things and was disappointed.
@@djpeekay25Not very many here in New York worth bragging about. I feel like it’s dominated by fast food and plain American food. Disappointing is correct.
If you want amazing American restaurants, you should go to California
Awesome as always! Thank you
Great video as always however, a couple of corrections are in order. Cheddar is in Somerset, not Devon and the photo of Exeter College is incorrect. That’s Exeter College, Oxford University, a very different institution from the Exeter College that Chef Westaway studied at for his GNVQ.
I live in the United States, I Would give My Left Nut for a Wheel of Clothbound Cheddar from Somerset!!!
Another phenomenal restaurant and presentation by Alexander! Bravo❤
I love this channel, i have been with it since a few years, the content and production value is amazing. Alex is even starting to pull me over from Bollinger to Krug! 😆
I think this is my favorite video so far! It looked like you really enjoyed your time.
Oh, I would SO love to go to this restaurant after seeing this video and your description. Just amazing...
Alexander The Guest I am enjoying watching your videos. You are an excellent source for educating on fine dining and gastronomy. I find your mannerisms both Elegant and Gentlemanly yet down to earth very polite and very professional. To me these are excellent qualities for a distinguished Gentleman such as yourself to embody. Subsequently you have a likeable magnetic character which I find draws me to watching your content and peaks my curiosity regarding your opinions on the places you visit and the food you sample that positively influences my opinions regarding these famous and esteemed establishments without myself having to be there in person. So my good man your knowledge and experience within the culinary world far supersedes my own which would not be a difficult task as I am far less knowledgeable on such matters but am no less appreciative to learn and absorb from you. So I humbly thank you for all that you share on this platform with us. I have therefore a humble request of you. Well two requests actually. Would you be able and willing to do a review on The Waterside Inn and order as a dish their Canard a la Presse as I would very much like to hear what your honest opinions are both of this establishment and their famed dish Canard a la Presse. My second request for you would be to review the dish lièvre à la royale that I may know your true thoughts and opinions regarding this dish. Perhaps this is where your knowledge and experience may prove to be beneficial for I do not know which Michelin starred restaurant serves this dish. What I can tell you with certainty is that both these dishes Canard a la Presse and lièvre à la royale are from the French repertoire of culinary quisine.And I believe both these dishes either originated with and or were perfected by the legendary Escoffier a name in which I’m sure you are well familiar and needs no introduction for anyone vaguely intimate with the Fine French culinary arts. I believe one of your best bets in finding where this dish may be served would be the also legendary Michel Roux Junior yet another name that needs no introduction regarding fine French dining. If you cannot review either or both of these dishes for whatever reason then let no burden be upon you. I simply ask for your opinion and expertise out of sheer curiosity and my instincts tell me that you may just be the right man for the job. Regardless as to whether you can or cannot for whatever reason review these dishes again let no pressure or stress or burden be upon you I simply and humbly ask due to your shared passion of fine food.I wish you every good grace and every success in your life and in your culinary adventures. With humility and sincerity you have my thanks.
Getting that molten cheese look with the foam is the first practical foam application.
Thanks for bringing us along !
I can't explain it but you very very nearly bring flavor through my phone. Thank you for the adventure
Always a pleasure
Being a huge fan of Kirk and was hoping one day this would happen, and there I saw title.
Great video, and even better suit! Those lapels! Wow! ❤👌🏽
Really love the content man. But would love to see you cover some of the really influential restaurants around the world that don't have more than one star, or even some with no stars. Like River Cafe London, St John, Eksted in stockholm etc. For me would be interesting to see how you review important restaurants that are not part of huge hotels.
The videos keep getting better in places and quality
Another amazing episode, thanks.
Absolutely LOVE this channel. So happy you’re visiting California I can’t wait to see your reviews of the restaurants out there. NYC is my personal stomping grounds and would looove to see you eat at some of the restaurants out here. From the ultra luxe per Se (since you’re presumably visiting French laundry in California you may not be so inclined) to the fun vibe of kochi there are so many different Michelin starred experiences here on the east coast! Not to mention some of the spots we have in dc such as pineapple and pearls (I’d be VERY curious to hear your opinion of this very fun 2 Michelin starred spot) and the Inn at Little Washington! I’d love to hear your opinions on americas east coast Michelin starred spots. But make sure you stop at some of the more interesting one and two stars out here because having experienced many of the Michelin rated spots I can confidently say in America the one and two star spots tend to be pretty fun!
i love eating taco bell and watching this pretending. I have an exquisitely defrosted ground-beef smudge, surrounded by just the right amount of "soggy" lettuce, gently drenched in a 70% plastic cheese, encased in a delicately ripped tortilla. And topped off by the perfect portion of saliva, excreted by the minimum-wage employee in the kitchen. Perfection.
Superb content, expert and passionate. Thank you very much.
Great review! Tempting me to go back once again....
Fabulous as always.
Yours is my favorite show!!!!!! Great informative series!!!!!!
Amazing video production as always, keep it up!
10:55 love that they have AA Bondy playing at the restaurant
Love all the videos verry cool keep up the perfect work why not try flocon de sel in megeve France !!
Thanks Alexander!
I love sweetbreads but it is very hard to find a restaurant that serves them. In fact, where I live, in Central Queensland, Australia, I can forget it. I hope to make it to the big city soon and on my list are brains, sweet breads, escargot and various other goodies. I do miss good food! Love your videos!!
Perfect. Just in time to watch for mt own lunch too.
Go to a place called Turnips Borough in Enland, altough it's closing soon but I recommend it very much,it's a concept of where a protein is matched to vegetables.
krug sponsors, "this could be trouble" - man, you are so relatable, i love you, Alexander :D
Hello Alexander, when can you come visit Spain and its restaurants? I recommend Jordi Cruz's Abbot and Clan Roca's Celler.
I wish you could do a review on that!
thanks for the video!!!!!
New upload! Let's Go!
I love your videos Alexander, and watched every single one of them; but for me, the editing is so sharp and quick and the tempo so high, that I watch them at 0,75 speed. Hope you don't mind. More to enjoy this way, too! 😊
13:27 very nice pronounciation of chateau Beychevelle, where it should sound like bay. Even french often misspronounce it. You definitly know your Bordeaux !
If you ever find yourself in The Netherlands you should go to “De Lindehof” in the village of Nuenen. It’s a 2 Michelin starred restaurant that serves a mixture of french and surinam cuisine. They also got 18/20 in 2024 by Gault Millau.
Seriously where do you get your suits from ? I’m getting obsessed. Every single piece of fabric you’re wearing is marvellous 🤩 please reveal it to the world your secret
Who is your tailor ? Specifically, the creator of the blue jacket worn in this footage ? Also, where is your knitted tie from ? Many thanks x
Can't wait to hit this place when in Singapore.
Have added JAAN by Kirk Westaway to the map of eatlect. This is the third restaurant Alexander reviewed in Singapore. The two others are Odette and Zén.
Hi Alexander, I would be really intrigued to hear what you have to say regarding the Hotel de Ville in Crissier, Switzerland (just next to Lausanne). Thanks!
wonderful convo with the somm 🇵🇭
Always brilliant.
man, love this guy so much
I would be absolutely shit-faced drinking the amount of wine that Alex does at dinner.
Interesting review and dishes
That is one man who can transform anything in gold
Review Dewakan in Kuala Lumpur!
KL is one of the most underrated Southeast Asian food cities that has historically been omitted (mostly self inflicted) from the fine dining scene. It’s only now finally getting more serious since the launch of the Michelin guide 2 years ago
Great place - I visited recently. FYI the photo is of Exeter College (at Oxford University), not of Oxford College in Devon.
Singapore is a nice city. Small city. I lived in Asia for years. I actually prefer Hong Kong. I lived there for four years. Was good to see you in Asia once again.
Small mistake: the picture you put for Exeter college is the one from Exeter college, part of Oxford University, whereas I believe he attended Exeter College in Devon
Yeah, I was going to say.
That all looks outstanding
Hi Alexander, I just love your glasses. Can you share the brand of your glasses you are wearing here with the green .
Brand and model as well if at all possible
Proud to see an actual Filipino sommelier ❤ one day ill be able to try this restaurant ❤
Filipina
Having been to many Michelin starred restaurants in Singapore to be only regularly disappointed, Alexander's glowing recommendation has actually made me want to try Jaan again. I have not been back after an expensive but mediocre experience many years ago. I really enjoyed The Ledbury in London more than decade ago when it was a rising two star restaurant so I'm favourably disposed to modern British food. Hopefully, Jaan will compare favourably.
Alexander why not check out the restaurants in Edinburgh, there are a few with Michealin stars now.
impossible to watch your genius videos without eating :D
Wow, looks so nice.
Singapore is amazing in so many different ways…
I can see the the day when this guys rewards are as relevant as sought after by chefs as Michelin he is full of knowledge and passion just love these maybe end of year give us your top 20 be interesting keep up top work sir 👍
The idea that this is "British" seems a bit strange to me. Haute cuisine has become very much globalized. Excellent, often rare ingredients, elevated technique, complex presentations, superb service, and beautiful plating and ambiance seem universal at such high-end restaurants, wherever they are. There were a number of cheeses specifically from Britain, but the dish he described as "most British" included lemon and caviar; neither ingredient is British. If you had told me this was a French restaurant, I would have accepted it just as readily. I don't mean this as a criticism. The food looks fantastic and I hope they get their third Michelin star soon.
This was the comment I was searching for. I have no problem calling this "elevated British," but realistically, it's French-adjacent haute cuisine that's served everywhere.
Without the cheese biscuits it doesn't seem very British 😂
Excellent video! What do you think of Chateau Mpntelena 2004 ( and whatever else vintages you tasted)? In 1976 it upstaged Domaine Roulot. These days I would prefer Domaine Roulot yet I didn't taste Montelena for God knows how long so your opinion is greatly appreciated :) !
This Chef really Impresses me with the combination of flavors he uses. And coming from Me That is Saying Something...
Fantastic movie on Chateau Montelena's win called Bottle Shock. Only Hollywood movie I know of on a winery.