Owner of Alina Restaurant
~ Bringing true Japanese cuisine to Sint Maarten ~
Alina opened its doors just a few weeks ago. The mastermind behind the restaurant is Chef Ken Lin, who aims to bring our island traditional Japanese flavours made with fresh, local ingredients.
Ken grew up in a family of chefs, who still inspires his cuisine today. After receiving extensive training and experience, Ken started working for an international restaurateur-company based in London. His role was to open restaurants all over the world, making sure every detail was perfect from staff to atmosphere to menu. For eight years, he travelled the world – from Tapei to Tokyo, Moscow to London, Sweden to Mauritius establishing successful businesses.
Looking for a new adventure, Ken turned his sights to the Caribbean when he was offered the opportunity to open a Japanese restaurant for CuisinArt. “Although I am a city boy, I fell in love with the lifestyle of the Caribbean,” Ken explained. He quickly established himself as a sought-after chef on the luxury island, and opened his own eatery, while also working as a private chef for numerous clients.
How did Ken end up on Sint Maarten? Here’s his story.
Sounds like you were doing well on Anguilla; what changed?
Hurricane Irma came around! My “market” on Anguilla was severely damaged. I started thinking about other options. I visited St. Maarten often and had already thought about opening up a restaurant here. Irma gave me that extra push to embark on a new adventure.
What do you like about Sint Maarten?
St. Maarten is a unique island. I have visited many islands in the region, but none have such an interesting international community as St. Maarten. Besides that, it provides an opportunity for my daughters to embrace different cultures and learn new languages. Also, I have always enjoyed challenges and I welcome the challenge to cook for the wide variety of taste buds I am sure the island has.
What inspired your restaurant Alina?
I always had the dream to have my own space. I also noticed that Sint Maarten does have a lot of Japanese inspired restaurants, but most do not serve actual traditional Japanese cuisine. Alina will! My two daughters, Alice and Nina, inspired the name of the restaurant. They are one and four years old, and I guess you can say that I work for them now.
Why do you think dining at Alina is special?
At Alina, we aim to use as many fresh and local ingredients as we can get to make sure you get the full flavour and health benefits. I know the history and story behind all of my ingredients and choose them carefully to relay a tasty message to you. We also invite our guests to be part of the creative process. You can sit at our bar and sip on sake, while you watch us make the sushi or meal of your choice. Guests should always feel free to ask questions, whether it's about our intricate dishes, several choices of sake, or traditions behind the cuisine. My main priority is that my guests leave my establishment satisfied. Yes, you can expect great Japanese style food and drinks; BUT dining should also be about having an exciting personal experience as well.
When I walk into your restaurant, what should I try first?
After you are seated, we would first recommend the daily special ceviche, which is always made with the freshest locally bought seafood available. As you wait for your main course, you should try at least one of our seven sake-flavours. You can order a variety of fusion sushi rolls and dishes; or as the chef, I’d also love if persons tried our Tokyo-style Nigiri. It might seem like a simple dish, utilizing fresh fish and rice, but we marinate the ingredients in a number of special ways. You will not be disappointed!
If you could have dinner with three persons dead or alive, who would you invite and what would you serve them?
1. My grandmother. She would cook for me when I was little and I remember every meal being delicious. She is one of the persons who inspired me to become a chef. I'd love to cook her one of her own dishes and see if she is impressed with the skills I have today.
2. Chef Yao. He was my first real teacher in the kitchen. I was 16 then. He taught me that cooking is about more than just putting ingredients together. He taught me the importance of knowing the history and culture behind your ingredients – the importance of telling a story and communicating with those you cook for. That is what makes a great chef. I am curious to see what he’d think about the dishes I am creating today.
3. My family. They are most important to me. Honestly, I don’t cook often for them, as I enjoy trying the food at other restaurants during our free time together. When I do cook for them, I make dishes that are close to my heart – ones that my family made for me when I was young.
Alina Restaurant – Sushi and Sake Bar is open Tuesday-Sunday for dinner from 6:00pm onwards. Alina is located in Simpson Bay near the Simpson Bay Marina. Call 1 (721) 587-8858 or surf to www.facebook.com/chefkenlin for more information.
