From a distance, the man with the chef hat seems serious, probably a bit on the stern side, and people often think that he’s quite the snob — but right away, they also have the impression that he is a man of substance.
A culinary phenomenon, Chef Joachim Felber has been around the world and will now helm the kitchen of Quest Hotel and Conference Center-Clark, Pampanga in concocting great cuisines for guests.
Felber will be the man behind the sumptuous food offerings of the hotel and its outlets, namely Café Mequeni, Charley’s Bar and the Mequeni Deli. His resume, detailing over 37 years in the industry, is nothing but exceptional. He has been the executive chef of more than 25 top hotels around the world and, most notably, was part of the opening staff of the world famous Burj Al Arab (Arabian Tower) in Dubai, dubbed by many as “the world’s only seven-star hotel”.
“Chef Joachim is a great addition to the Quest Hotel family. We take pride in the fact that we have a world-class and seasoned chef to lead the team,” says Ric Lopez, Hotel Manager of Quest Clark.
While he had had many experiences abroad to bring a vast array of cuisines from different cultures, traditions, and countries, Chef Joachim still believes in the old fashioned way of cooking.
“I still believe that Asian should be Asian and Italian should be Italian. I believe in the traditional cooking of food from different countries, because like culture they should be shared as is and should be taken with respect to their origins.”
“Doing fusions is okay, like many young chefs are doing today, but to me, that is just the way I look at it,” the chef adds.
From humble beginnings
The young Joachim grew up in a working middle-class family in Switzerland. Raised in a house of experienced hoteliers, it was second nature for him to be of service to others, consistently looking out for ways to please people.
“My grandmother loved to cook, I grew up with her most of my life… we had a garden where we grew tomatoes to everything. So, it was natural for me growing up to be able to cook — I loved doing it,” expressed the chef.
Traveling was also one of the motivations of Felber — to see the world and do what he does best. He shares that there was never a doubt in his mind that cooking was a lifetime commitment. He even considers it a marriage.
“You have to have the passion, the skills we can teach and all the rest, but if you do not have passion you are not going to succeed. I love what I do and I wouldn’t want to go on a career without cooking, I was asked to take up F&B, well of course it’s part of it, but my place is the kitchen really.”
Come to the Quest Hotel and meet the man behind the food. Experience his passion through the newest gastronomic adventure here in Pampanga.
For inquiries, you may contact the hotel’s Sales and Marketing Department at +63 (045) 599-8000. You can also visit the hotel website at clark.questhotels.com or follow updates on Facebook at facebook.com/questhotelclark.
I would like to send a proposal about cooking oil.