Who’s up for a gastronomic journey? Little Farms takes our taste buds on a trip with their Around the World Food Journey as we join them for some Sexy Tapas fun with Chef Koen. Previously here earlier this year for another successful pop-up, Chef Koen Vesses is back to ignite our taste buds with his culinary mastery and tantalise us with a Spanish fiesta.
Hailing from Holland and cooking since he was 12, Chef Koen has perfected his skills across Paris, Dubai and Italy, as well as closer to home in restaurants in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh.
Teaming up with Little Farms has given him access to the best and freshest ingredients, allowing him to weave his magic into his culinary creations.
Effervescent and charismatic, Chef Koen frequently flits in and out of his kitchen to check that his guests are enjoying the food. He reiterates that every dish is made with love. It shows. Despite overseeing the food and the packed eatery, Chef Koen is so attentive and friendly, he would make you feel like you’re the only guest there.
During our meal, my partner and I overheard Chef Koen telling another table that the Explosive Smoked Akaroa Salmon Bites ($16) were highly recommended, so of course we had to try it. Highly recommended was an understatement. Chef Koen shared that it’s his mother’s recipe. If so, she is a genius and I would love to shake her hand. It was so good we promptly ordered another serving. As the name suggests, these bites burst in your mouth, its creamy centre going so well with the New Zealand salmon, hand-reared in a small family owned business that’s been running for 30 years. Try some here.
I also completely fell in love with the Apricot Arugula Affair, a salad that came with generously large and juicy apricots. I’ve never had fresh apricots, just the dried version which seems to be more common. These make me never want to have the dried ones again. Their sweet juiciness complemented the peppery bitterness of the arugula and rich and tangy goat cheese.
The Gambas Al Ajillo was a flavour bomb, made with fresh and firm Selva Sustainable Tiger Prawns in a mouth-watering garlic chilli sauce. This was another dish I wouldn’t mind having another serving of if I wasn’t so stuffed. The Spanish Jamon Iberico Party was served simply on a slice of toasted tomato bread, where its sweet, nutty earthiness was allowed to really shine.
I didn’t expect to enjoy the Paella Valenciana as much as I did. Made with happy, free range Bostock Bros Organic Chicken, these chickens spend their days among apple trees and live in specially designed spacious French chalets. While I cannot say if this enhanced the taste and texture of their meat, it did give me peace of mind to know that no chemicals, antibiotics, hormones and genetic modification were involved. The Paella turned out undeniably delicious. I found myself reaching for spoon after spoon, especially when Chef Koen came to show us the best part – he scraped up the crispy charred rice that stuck to the pan and mixed it in, promptly blowing my mind.
Dessert was light and refreshing, a perfect end to a perfect meal. The Basil Sorbet was a delight with the tartness of the Lemon Creme and medley of fresh berries. At the start of the meal, Chef Koen told us he was here to make us happy. I can safely say he did so flawlessly. My only gripe is that since this is a pop-up, I won’t be able to have these dishes as often as I’d like to. Even though the ingredients are readily available in Little Farms, the culinary skill and amiability of Chef Koen is not.
Here are other Around the World events you can look out for:
