A contender has emerged for Kilo Under Pressure: we are thrilled to announce that amateur chef Oliver Budgen will helm the Kilo Kallang kitchen on Thursday, 5th May.
Oliver does not have any experience working in a professional kitchen — unless you count waiting tables as a student, or volunteering at a burrito stand for charity — so Under Pressure will be a first for him. Originally from London, Oliver used to work in the charity sector, and his current day job is in account management for a technology PR and Communications firm. He spends his free time developing his culinary techniques, and proclaims himself to be “pretty flash” with his knife skills. “I’ve been practicing rock and tap chopping since I was 14, and can now dice an onion in about 6 seconds — without crying!” Cuisine-wise, Oliver grew up in a family of vegetarians and was taught to treat vegetables with as much respect as meat, which has translated into his food: stripped-down Mediterranean, inspired by Southern France, Southern Italy and Greece.
Come 5th May, Oliver will take over the Kilo Kallang kitchen to whip up a 4-course menu for guests, and he is already bracing himself for the challenge that is to come. “My ultimate dream is to open a restaurant of my own,” he says. “But I know that the abyss between a cook and a chef is vast, and many have failed by not appreciating this distinction as well as the commitment, passion and business acumen that a successful restaurant requires. I think the Kilo Under Pressure experience would be my chance to see if I really do have what it takes to make the leap into my own enterprise.”
Oliver’s stint in the Kilo kitchen will get the ball rolling for a roster of 6 other chosen home cooks, with subsequent Under Pressure sessions scheduled to take place once every month from May onwards. Dubbed the ‘Lucky 7’, each chef, including Oliver, brings their own unique take and palate to the table, and each chef will meet with the pressure and heat of a professional kitchen for the very first time. We can’t guarantee that it’ll always be smooth sailing, but we know there’s bound to be lots of fun, a bit of drama, and plenty of good food and company.
Spots are filling up fast, but if you’d like to join us, drop us an email at reservations@kilokitchen.com with the subject ‘Reservation for Under Pressure’.
Visit the events page here for more updates.
Kilo Under Pressure
Date: Thursday, 5th May 2016
Venue: Kilo Kallang, 66 Kampong Bugis, Level M, Singapore 338987
Cost: $65++ per pax for a 4-course menu
Reservations: reservations@kilokitchen.com or call 6467 3987 after 430PM