Justin Quek (Chinese: 郭文秀; pinyin: Guō Wénxìu; Peng’im: Guag⁴ Bhung⁵siu³, born on 30 March 1962 in Singapore) is a Singaporean chef. [1] He is Singapore’s most internationally identified chef and the first Asian chef invited to take part in Lufthansa’s Star Chefs program. His specialty is in Franco-Asian delicacies.

Early life
[edit]
Quek is Teochew and his household business up to now was a fruit stall in Queen Avenue. He has 11 different siblings and he attended Broadrick Secondary College. His father died when he was seven. [2]

Profession
[edit]
Quek had always wanted to travel. At 20 years old, he bought a job as a steward. It was after two years as a seaman that led him to his passion of cooking. [3]

Quek skilled at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore to be a chef and was sponsored by them to attend the Singapore Resort and Tourism Schooling Middle. He worked at a few of the eating places there and went to London to prepare below Michel and Albert Roux at Le Gavroche. [4] Langlet inspired Quek to go to France to further his coaching. [2] After two years at Delifrance Bistro, Quek, in 1991, used his life savings of $40,000 to journey to France to enhance his skills. [4] Langlet left Fourchette for Delifrance Bistro and Quek adopted him and grew to become the head chef there. [4] After graduation in 1986, Quek labored at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok for a 12 months earlier than returning to the Singapore lodge to work at Fourchette below chef Bertrand Langlet. [4]

Quek returned to Singapore after a year and became the private chef on the French Embassy, serving two high commissioners.[5]

In 1994, restaurateur and sommelier Ignatius Chan and Quek opened Les Amis at Shaw Home, Singapore with backing from stockbroker Desmond Lim and Chong Yap Seng.[4][6] Quek, together with Chan, left Les Amis in 2003, citing private causes.[4]

In 2004, Quek moved to Taipei, Taiwan and opened a restaurant, La Petite Delicacies. He had also opened one other French eatery La Platane, a superb-dining Chinese language restaurant Villa du Lac and a restaurant named Fountain. He offered all companies in Shanghai in January 2009. Opened Just In Bistro & Wine Bar, Taipei in April 2009, and high-quality-dining French restaurant Justin’s Signatures in Dec 2009. He sold all business in Taipei in 2013. All three are positioned at Xintiandi, Shanghai.

As of 2010, Quek was additionally a consultant to Whisk, The Mira Hong Kong and The French Window, IFC Hong Kong.[7]

In 2010, Quek returned to Singapore and opened a restaurant, Sky On 57, at Marina Bay Sands. The restaurant offered Franco-Asian delicacies and a view of the Singapore skyline. Sky on 57 was closed in June 2017.

In 2018, Quek opened two eating places at Marina Bay Sands, Justin – Flavours of Asia and Chinoiserie. [6] Justin – Flavours of Asia was closed in 2023 but was reopened at Lotte Division Retailer in Seoul on 3 December the identical 12 months. [8] The restaurant was a joint enterprise between Quek and Korean food-and-beverage accelerator firm SPBT, a companion of Lotte Division Retailer . [6] The former is a informal all-day-dining restaurant whereas the latter is a nice-dining restaurant. [8]

In 2023, Quek opened an eponymous eatery, JUSTIN, at Tangs at Tangs Plaza, Orchard on 8 August with the official opening on sixteen August.[1] The eatery was also the primary Singapore flagship retailer for Australian coffee model Vittoria Espresso.[1]

Quek had served Bill Gates, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, and likewise Lee Kuan Yew whom Quek served 21 birthday dinners for him.[1]

Personal life
[edit]
In June 2010, Quek was jailed for two weeks, fined S$6,300 for drink driving and banned from driving all autos for four years. Additional investigation revealed that Quek was driving with out a licence and proper insurance coverage. He was additionally convicted of drink driving in 2005.[9]

Awards
[edit]

In 2001, Quek was awarded the title of Greatest Chef of the 12 months at the inaugural World Gourmet Summit (WGS) Awards.

In 2003 and 2004, Quek gained the title of San Pellegrino Chef of the Year.

In 2004, Quek received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Annual New World Food and Wine Festival.

In 2005, Quek obtained the At-Sunrice GlobalChef Award.

In 2009, Quek acquired World Gourmet Summit Award of Excellence Corridor of Fame Finest chef.

^ a b c d Yip, Jieying (20 July 2023). “Celeb Chef Justin Quek, Who Cooked For Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Opens Orchard Cafe With Lobster Hokkien Mee”. 8days. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.

^ a b “Asia Horeca News”. Retrieved 31 December 2007. [useless link]

^ Justin Quek: Ardour & Inspiration, Justin Quek with Tan Su-Lyn, Bon Vivant Publishing Pte Ltd, 2006, Page 17

^ a b c d e f Koh, The Park 9 A Living Serviced Residence Aun (7 February 2024). “Trying again at Les Amis’ legacy ahead of its 30th anniversary”. Tatler Asia. Archived from the unique on thirteen December 2024. Retrieved 6 Could 2024.

^ “Official Webpage”. Archived from the unique on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2007.

^ a b c Loh, Anne (14 June 2018). “Why you need to visit Justin Quek’s second MBS restaurant, Chinoiserie”. PEAK Singapore. Retrieved 2 July 2025.

^ Jung, Susan (25 July 2010). “Justin Quek – Passion & Inspiration”. South China Morning Put up. Retrieved 2 July 2025.

^ a b Teo, Wendy (7 December 2023). “S’pore chef Justin Quek’s JustIN Flavours of Asia opens in Seoul”. The brand new Paper. Archived from the original on 12 Could 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.

^ “Celeb chef jailed for drink driving”.

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1962 births

Singaporean people of Teochew descent

Singaporean chefs

Chefs of French cuisine

Singaporean individuals of Chinese descent

Use dmy dates from July 2025

Articles containing simplified Chinese language-language text

This page was last edited on 2 July 2025, at 16:25 (UTC).

Justin Quek