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Food and Drinks
Lifestyle100 Top Tables

Dish in focus: Roasted yellow chicken at Clarence

French tradition and local flavours shine in Clarence’s roasted yellow chicken, prepared by the restaurant’s chef de cuisine Ka Kei Wong

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Roasted half yellow chicken with corn fricassee and baby gem lettuce. Photo: Clarence
Grace Brewer
Clarence, perched on the 25th floor of Central’s H Code, is a refined French dining destination led by chef de cuisine Ka Kei Wong, whose decade of experience across Michelin-star kitchens in Europe and Asia informs his approach of blending classic French technique with local, seasonal ingredients. Under the direction of acclaimed chef Olivier Elzer, Clarence offers a fresh take on traditional French fare with subtle Asian influences. The roasted yellow chicken is one example of this philosophy.

Wong selects locally prized three-yellow chicken and begins preparation a day in advance. The legs are deboned and mixed into a mousse with herbs, spices and a rare Chinese white corn, a discovery that became a cornerstone of the dish. This mousse is layered between whole chicken thighs, then vacuum-sealed, steamed and pressed overnight to maintain a compact, elegant shape.

Clarence’s new chef de cuisine is Belgian-born Ka Kei Wong. Photo: Clarence
Clarence’s new chef de cuisine is Belgian-born Ka Kei Wong. Photo: Clarence
Wong credits chef Olivier Elzer with inspiring this reinvention of the classic chicken course at Clarence: “Whole-roast chicken is such a French classic. If you look at the great French restaurants, you’ll always find a signature roasted yellow chicken. I wanted ours to echo that tradition but with a fresher, seasonal, local touch.”

“I took inspiration from the structure of a French stew – meat and vegetables – but gave it a contemporary twist,” he says.

On the day, the thighs are pan-seared to a golden crust while the crown is roasted whole, carved and plated with a refreshing corn fricassee made from both yellow sweetcorn and white Chinese milk-popped sweet corn.

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