Chef Nathan Besson Gets Ready To Shake Up DC Restaurant

At DC Restaurant, a quiet shift in the kitchen sees Chef Nathan Besson join Chef Darren Chin, two distinct voices shaping one evolving menu.

Something new is brewing at one-Michelin-starred DC Restaurant—and it comes with a fresh face in the kitchen. Chef-owner Darren Chin has tapped Chef Nathan Besson as the restaurant’s new Chef de Cuisine.

Chef Nathan’s journey reads like a well-stamped passport. He got his start at Brasserie Thoumieux under Jean‑François Piège, before heading to Hong Kong, where he sharpened his instincts at some of the city’s most talked-about kitchens—Belon with Daniel Calvert, Arcane with Shane Osborn, Tate Dining Room with Vicky Lau, and Épure alongside Aven Lau. Somewhere along the way, he picked up a lasting respect for Chinese flavours that now weaves through his cooking.

Meanwhile, Chef Darren continues to steer the ship across his restaurants—DC Restaurant, Bref, and Gai. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate with time spent in some of France’s tougher kitchens, he’s known for folding French technique into Asian flavours, with a soft spot for Northern Thai influences rooted in his Chiang Mai heritage.

At DC Restaurant, the cooking stays grounded in what’s in season and worth talking about—less butter-heavy bravado, more curiosity on the plate. Think lighter, plant-forward sauces, fewer heavy reductions, and a menu that leans into produce without losing its edge. For now, things hold steady—but with Chef Nathan in the mix, it’s only a matter of time before something new lands on the table.

DC Restaurant