These five finalists will compete for the Ecexutive Chef of the Year 2012 in the Hotelier Middle East Awards to be held on October 31 at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC.
Below you will find extracts and testimonials from the shortlisted nominations for each of the five candidates...
Thirumalai Murugan, Hilton Fujairah Resort
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About Thirumalai
Chef Thirumalai Murugan is not an average Executive Chef, with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Diploma in Catering & Hotel Management; he brings with him a scientific astute blended with an hotelier’s passion to our kitchen operations. Chef Murugan has 16 years of culinary experience having worked with Ambassador Hotel in Chennai, Emirates Towers in Dubai, Hilton Kuwait Resort, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. He also trained in Verre by Gordon Ramsay at Hilton Dubai Creek, Park Lane Hilton London, Gordon Ramsay at Claridges London, Galvin at Windows and Galvin at Bistros London. Murugan, leading up to his Executive Chef title at Hilton Fujairah Resort in March 2011. In his role, Murugan handles day-to-day operations for all the kitchens, which serve the hotel’s 4 restaurants & bars, room service and conference & events. He is hailed as a mentor first and then a master by the 21 chefs and 11 stewards that serve under him. Chef Murugan was an instrumental support even before he joined Hilton Fujairah, while working with Hilton Jumeirah as Senior Sous Chef, he lead the Fujairah Kitchen team for prestigious Marine & Oil Ball charity event on 20th Jan 2011, organised by Angel Appeal mission to seafarers.
Above and beyond the call of duty…
Boasting a soft-spoken personality, Chef Murugan has been instrumental in a flurry of kitchen achievements, driven to no end by his strong support of making things better, rewarding efforts and assuring that he develops a winning team. Once Murugan took over as Executive Chef, he conscientiously developed the confidence of many of the chefs and encouraged them to take part in regional as well as international culinary competitions. Chef Murugan, being a very pragmatic Chef as well as eco-friendly, noticed that all the cartoon waste boxes and used oils went in the garbage, and which we pay money to clear the garbage. He encourages recycling and show the responsibility to the community organised with Union paper mill to collect empty boxes, papers and we received AED 6,000 per year. He is also one of the main driving forces behind Fujairah’s very first culinary competition supported by Emirates Culinary Guild on 9th September 2012.
Testimonials for Thirumalai
“It has been almost seven months since joining F&B team of Hilton Fujairah Resort and after working with Chef Murugan this period it seem like we are working together since many years. From the first moment I felt that next to me I have before an Executive Chef a man of word, an excellent communicator and a professional with very good sense of diplomacy. His management style it is detail oriented, very good listening skills that enabled him to be very close to the team. He is not only Executive Chef but his portfolio of knowledge enable him to give a hint or an advice in any situation occurred. It is a Chef with good sense of creativity, very good training skills and working experience that make him jump into the operation and under his supervision and leadership, bring a event to the maximum of guest satisfaction, if not beyond. Always he likes the extra mile when comes to the guest satisfaction and most of all he born with that quality skill of developing people and their career. It is a blessing to have him as colleague in my F&B team.” George Lacob food & beverage manager.
"Chef Murugan, the culinary magician! Murugan is always ready with his bag of tricks and treats, be they in the form of conjuring up a delightful spread or mesmerizing us with his lean food cost or his sleight of hand with the limited resources at his disposal. Murugan is constantly keeping us on our toes in terms of assisting him and the other properties with the best of contracts and vendors. His input is a very critical and much appreciated part of our contract decision process, as his evaluation is very thorough and honest. Always a stickler for quality of product & service, and always providing & open to creative alternatives. A Caterer award would definitely be well deserved and create a superb role model for the ones in the making!” Muhammad Ilyas Bhatti, regional manager - supply management, Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean, Hilton Worldwide.
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Oct 22, 2012 , Singapore
I had been regularly staying at Hilton Fujairah Resort Hotel by virtue of my work at Fujairah since 2009. Each stay is for about 10 nights and with monthly visits, I began referring to it as my second home. But then, the distinction between house and home is the type of people therein. Chef Murug...
Oct 20, 2012 , United Arab Emirates
Chef Murugan is very dedicated and sincere chef. It was a pleasure that we worked together in Hilton Kuwait since preopening. Chef Murugan posses the skills that not only to satisfy the guest taste buds and also which creates experiences and memorable moment. Chef Murugan is role model to others...