International burger maestro takes a stint behind the grill at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur

Having been credited with kick-starting Parisians’ love affair with gourmet burgers, burger maestro Kristin Frederick will take a turn as a guest chef at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur’s Gastro Sentral from 16 to 20 October 2019.

The California-born Frederick came to fame as she revolutionised France’s first food truck concept through Le Camion Qui Fume (The Smoking Truck) in 2011. Her homage to the great American luncheonette experience quickly became the chic new way to eat in Paris, sparking long-hour queues for her burgers filled with succulent caramelised meat patties in char-grilled bun complete with iceberg lettuce, mayo, extra pickles and signature ‘secret sauces’.

More than a burger flipper, Frederick had initially come to Paris to study at the famed Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management, one of the world’s top culinary schools. After graduation, she went on to work for Chef Jean-Pierre Vigato at the two Michelin-starred Apicius in Paris. After a few years, Frederick literally took to the street in a city that, at that time, had no ‘street food’ scenes with her elevated burgers that feature prime meats, crispy frites, high-quality ingredients, and the perfect pillow-feel burger bun.

For her first appearance in Kuala Lumpur, Frederick has drawn up a gourmet burger menu that includes her famous BBQ Beef Burger with onion ring, pastrami and cheddar; Truffle Burger with provolone, caramelised onions, fresh truffle, truffle mayo; Shroom Swiss with gruyère, caramelised onions, and roasted garlic aioli; and Lamb Herb Sauce with a lamb patty, harissa, pickled onions and herb yoghurt sauce. She has also included a few Asian variations especially for this visit, including Beef Teriyaki (with grilled pineapple, provolone and teriyaki sauce), Beef Kimchi (provolone cheese, kimchi and fried egg), Grilled Chicken Satay (peanut sauce, Asian slaw and chilli) and Extra Spicy Chilli Beef (cheese, x-hot chilli con carne, salad, tomato and onion). All burgers are served with homemade fries.