Former Hakkasan chef returns to London with Gouqi
The name Tong Chee Hwee isn’t particularly well known outside very particular culinary circles.
That’s about to change, however, with the launch of Gouqi.
Chef Tong is the former Group Executive of the Hakkasan Group, where he helped the group earn seven Michelin stars over his 18 years. And, with the launch of Gouqi, he appears to be setting the bar even higher.
Gouqi, a new high-end, fine dining Chinese restaurant, is set to open in St James’s this month, and is Tong Chee Hwee’s first return to the London restaurant scene since 2019. Think premium produce sourced from around the globe, and a menu that showcases flavours, techniques, ingredients, and dishes drawn from across China – served on chinaware that’s been custom made for each dish.
A “Live Seafood” menu promises Norwegian King Crab, Canadian Crab, Gillardeau Oysters, Scottish Lobster, Diver Scallops and Diver Razor Clams, while ‘Supreme Seafood’ dishes includes Whole South African Kippin Abalone (20 Heads), braised with Japanese Sea Cucumber or South African Fish Maw. Meanwhile, other dishes will include Peking Duck with Oscietra Caviar because, well, caviar, which will be served three ways and carved table side, Slow Cooked A4 Wagyu with Chef’s Special Sauce, and Eight Treasure Crispy Chicken with Foie Gras, a level of decadence that requires 24 hour advanced pre-order.
You’ll also find some exceptional tea, such as Emperor’s Golden Eyebrow – a Gouqi exclusive, of which only 2kg is produced per year – and Jin Jun Mei, an exquisite black tea, hand rolled entirely from tender spring buds by Master Wen in the protected forests of the Wuyishan, that requires over 100,000 buds for one precious kilo alone.
Gouqi can be found at 25-34 Cockspur Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 5BN. For bookings and more information, you can check right here…