Chef Quiel Mallari

Chef At Home in Queenstown

With over ten years of culinary experience, I began my journey in Manila and have since continued to refine my craft in New Zealand. My style is rooted in balance-bringing together East and West in a way that feels thoughtful, modern, and approachable.

Influenced by my Filipino heritage and its strong sense of hospitality, I cook with warmth and intention. I love blending familiar flavours with fresh ideas, drawing from Asian traditions while embracing refined Western techniques.

My food is considered expressive but grounded designed to feel relaxed, generous, and enjoyable, while still carrying a sense of detail and care in every plate.

At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to create dining experiences that feel welcoming, memorable, and genuinely satisfying from start to finish.

For me, cooking is...

my way of nourishing others and crafting unforgettable dining experiences that bring people together and hopefully bring a smile to my guest.

I learned to cook at...

Curiosity led me to cooking. I trained in Manila, worked overseas, and continue refining my skills here in New Zealand.

A cooking secret...

Let ingredients shine, understand each guest's needs, and create personalised, memorable dining experiences.

My menus

The Shared Table

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

Beef Chimichurri Skewer Grilled beef with peppers and chimichurri

Prawn Verrine Shrimp with avocado and feta in a jar

Cured Salmon Cucumber Cured salmon on cucumber with light dressing

Vogel, Smoked Salmon Tartare, Soy Caviar

NZ Natural oyster, green apple granita, cucumber

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Charred Cucumber & Zucchini Carpaccio, Pine Nuts, Parmesan, Olive Oil

Beetroot, Coconut yoghurt, walnut, soft herbs, seed crisp

Carrots, Beets , Honey & Orange Marmalade, Pickle Onion

Fish Crudo Raw fish with almond sauce, apple, cucumber, and toasted almonds

Kinilaw Salmon, Orange, Strawberry, Avocado, Rice Paper

Seared Scallops Scallops with polenta, brown butter, and sage

Tuna Tartare Crisp Tuna with sushi rice, nori crisp, and sriracha mayo

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef Cheek Ragu, Rigatoni, Basil

Beef Eye Fillet Beef fillet with potato pave, mushrooms, and pepper sauce

Lamb Rump Lamb rump with pea purée, broccolini, and rosemary jus

White Pork Ragu, Pancetta, Handkerchief Pasta, Lemon Butter Sauce

Market Fish, Miso & Sake Butter Sauce, Spinach, Crispy Leeks

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio & Date Truffle, Chocolate Paper

Tiramisu, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Espresso

"Trust the Chef" Menu

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

Bruschetta, Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Cherry Tomato

Filo, Goat Cheese, Honey, Thyme, Blueberry

Sourdough, Lemon, Ricotta, Peach, Honey, Thyme

Vogel, Smoked Salmon Tartare, Soy Caviar

Smoked Salmon, Garlic Chive, Cream cheese, Blinis

NZ Oyster, Thai Caramel Mignonette

Beef Tataki Rolls, Pickle Carrot, Cucumber, Sesame, Ponzu Sauce

Cream Cheese, Black Garlic Salami, Tomato Chutney, Tart & Balsamic Pearls

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Butternut Squash Rissoto, Parmesan

Carrots, Beets , Honey & Orange Marmalade, Pickle Onion

Kinilaw Salmon, Orange, Strawberry, Avocado, Rice Paper

Stuffed Tomato, Goat Cheese, Basil, Rosemary, Pinenuts , Pesto

Tofu & Mushroom, Guanciale GochuGlaze, Parmesan

Charred Cucumber & Zucchini Carpaccio, Pine Nuts, Parmesan, Olive Oil

Sesame Salmon, Warm Asian Salad, Soy Ginger Vinaigrette

Seared Tuna Taco , Honey & Lime, Creamy Sriracha Sauce

NZ Beef Tartare, Sesame Paper, Soy Cured Egg Yolk

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

White Pork Ragu, Pancetta, Handkerchief Pasta, Lemon Butter Sauce

Beef Cheek Ragu, Rigatoni, Basil

Chicken Ballotine, Mushroom Duxelle, Kumara Puree, Caper Butter Sauce

Market Fish, Miso & Sake Butter Sauce, Spinach, Crispy Leeks

Filipino Pork hock, Pineapple Ginger Glaze, Sesame & Chili Toyo Rice

Eye Fillet, Garlic Whiskey Cream Sauce, Roasted potato, Chimichurri

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Espresso

Apple & Pear Oat Crumble, Vanilla Ice Cream, White Chocolate Bark, Walnut Praline

Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio & Date Truffle, Chocolate Paper

Lemon Meringue, Kiwi, Lemon Curd, Almond Crumble, Yoghurt Pannacotta

The Private Table Series

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Vogel, Smoked Salmon Tartare, Soy Caviar

Beef Chimichurri Skewer Grilled beef with peppers and chimichurri

Bruschetta, Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Cherry Tomato

NZ Oyster, Thai Caramel Mignonette

Pear & Brie Toast Sourdough with pear, brie, thyme, and honey

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Tuna Tartare Crisp Tuna with sushi rice, nori crisp, and sriracha mayo

White Pork Ragu, Pancetta, Handkerchief Pasta, Lemon Butter Sauce

Sesame Salmon, Warm Asian Salad, Soy Ginger Vinaigrette

Fish Crudo Raw fish with almond sauce, apple, cucumber, and toasted almonds

Scallops with creamy polenta, brown butter, and crispy sage

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Viet Shaking Beef, Filipino Garlic Rice, Banana Blossom Kinilaw

Tofu & Mushroom, Guanciale GochuGlaze, Parmesan

Filipino Pork hock, Pineapple Ginger Glaze, Sesame & Chili Toyo Rice

Honey Lemon Salmon Salmon with honey lemon glaze, roast potatoes, and charred broccolini

Market Fish, Miso & Sake Butter Sauce, Spinach, Crispy Leeks

Lamb Shank, Parsnip & Carrots, Broccolini, Mash Potato

DESSERT

All inclusive

Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio & Date Truffle, Chocolate Paper

The Intimate Table

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Vogel, Smoked Salmon Tartare, Soy Caviar

Smoked Salmon, Garlic Chive, Cream cheese, Blinis

Sourdough, Lemon, Ricotta, Peach, Honey, Thyme

Bruschetta, Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Cherry Tomato

Seared Tuna Taco , Honey & Lime, Creamy Sriracha Sauce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Stuffed Tomato, Goat Cheese, Basil, Rosemary, Pinenuts , Pesto

Beef Tataki Rolls, Pickle Carrot, Cucumber, Sesame, Ponzu Sauce

Butternut Squash Rissoto, Parmesan

Charred Cucumber & Zucchini Carpaccio, Pine Nuts, Parmesan, Olive Oil

Mushroom Arancini, Pomodoro sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sesame Salmon, Warm Asian Salad, Soy Ginger Vinaigrette

Beef Cheek Ragu, Pappardelle, Basil

Market Fish, Miso & Sake Butter Sauce, Spinach, Crispy Leeks

Lamb Shank, Parsnip & Carrots, Broccolini, Mash Potato

Tofu & Mushroom, Guanciale GochuGlaze, Parmesan

Viet Shaking Beef, Filipino Garlic Rice, Banana Blossom Kinilaw

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Apple & Pear Oat Crumble, Vanilla Ice Cream, White Chocolate Bark, Walnut Praline

Dark Chocolate Mousse, Pistachio & Date Truffle, Chocolate Paper

Show me more

Chef Quiel's reviews

4.78

•

42 services

Quiel was so helpful and easy to deal with from the start! Nothing was too hard and he accommodated whatever we needed. On the day he was very friendly and the presentation was beautiful. The food itself was incredible, every course was a highlight and it’s hard to pick a favourite. I would highly recommend Quiel to anyone needing a private chef in Queenstown!!

Chef Quiel was amazing in every detail. From the first contact to finalising the menu, to the ease of contact and speed of replies he was so easy and quick to deal with. The food he presented/cooked was more than we expected. The flavours absolutely blew us away and the whole family loved every single dish that we were given. The kitchen was even cleaner that what we left for him. Such a memorable night.

Our expectations when it comes to great food and service are pretty high and I am so pleased to report that Chef Q met and exceeded all of them. There was good communication about the menu and Chef Q worked with us to explore additions to our menu that were hard to source. He was punctual with arrival and all prep and the whole dining process was seamless. All dishes were incredible and the presentation and service were just excellent. Highly recommend engaging Chef Q if you are in Queenstown and are looking for a unique and memorable experience.

We had the absolute pleasure of hiring Chef Quiel as a private chef during a family trip to Queenstown for my dad’s 60th, and it was a standout experience from start to finish. He curated an incredible menu that felt thoughtful and perfectly suited to the occasion, and the sheer amount of food was so generous. Every dish was of exceptional quality, beautifully prepared, and genuinely delicious. It made the celebration feel really special and effortless. Couldn’t recommend him more highly.

Chef Q, thank you for an unforgettable evening. You and Marie created something truly special for us, an experience we’ll be talking about for years to come. We would go as far as saying it was the best meal we’ve ever had in our lives! Every dish was perfect in its own way. Familiar favourites elevated with incredible care, balance, and flavour. From the risotto and arancini balls to the bruschetta and chimichurri, everything felt close to home yet executed at such a high level. Even the oysters, which we would normally never eat raw, were a delightful surprise and a real highlight of the evening. With seven beautifully prepared dishes, each thoughtfully portioned, we were left completely full and more than satisfied. It was clear how much attention and passion went into every element of the meal. This dinner meant even more to us as it was a celebration of our marriage, and you both made it an extra special night we’ll always cherish. We truly hope to return and do it all again for a future anniversary. Thank you again for such an incredible experience, Nick & Vic ????

ChefQ did a fantastic job for our private dinner at home. It was a special occasion for our family and not only did he recognise that, he delivered a fabulous experience. It was a wonderful evening for us and he did an excellent job of bringing both great food and non-intrusive service. Thoroughly recommend ChefQ

We had Chef Q come to a house we rented and make dinner for 6 of us. 5 stars is not enough! Q was amazing!! From creating the menu all the way thru to the clean up, Q was a pleasure to work with. But what stands out the most is the quality and flavor of the food he created.

Outstanding Experience! We had the absolute pleasure of hiring Quiel and his team for Greg’s epic birthday celebration in New Zealand, and it truly made the night unforgettable. From the very first dish (oysters) to the final course, every plate was a masterpiece—beautifully presented, perfectly balanced, and bursting with flavor. The professionalism and passion his team brought into our home was second to none. Not only was the food exceptional, but the warmth, attention to detail, and seamless service created such a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere for all of us. Guests are still raving about the menu and how special the evening felt. Quiel turned a milestone birthday into an extraordinary culinary experience that we’ll be talking about for years. If you’re considering hiring a private chef in NZ, don’t hesitate—this is five-star dining at its finest, right in the comfort of your own space.

Chef Quiel was fantastic. All the food was delicious, especially the Pork Hock and oysters! He was friendly, and incredibly accommodating. He made it a truly memorable start to our holiday in Queenstown.