The recently-opened Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat has named a new Head of Culinary, who brings over 20 years of premium culinary experience to this seafront property.

Sinju Varghese has an illustrious 20-year career where he worked in international hotels and palaces including The Grand Intercontinental, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, One & Only Royal Mirage, The Fairmont, Sheikh Zaed Road, Emirates Palace Kempinski and The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Club Resort & Spa, among others.

After achieving his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management, Culinary and Food Science, Varghese began his career as a chef in Kerala, India.

He has worked under Michelin-star chefs and won awards such as Best Young Chef of the Year from Time Out Abu Dhabi and Chef of the Year 2014 from What’s On Abu Dhabi. Under his leadership, restaurants have collected Best Restaurant awards from 2012 – 2019.

Before joining Anantara, his last role was as Executive Chef for an elite island resort in the Middle East. In this role, Sinju successfully restructured the kitchen, optimising efficiency and elevating the culinary offerings of the resort. His creative vision and strategic acumen have been lauded throughout the industry.

Prior to this, Sinju spearheaded F&B operations for a major UNWI ruling family in the UAE, showcasing his versatility in catering to diverse culinary preferences, including dietary constraints and bespoke meal plans, which contributes to him being an excellent choice at Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat.

Rachid Bakas, General Manager, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sinju Varghese to Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat. His proven track record of excellent in gastronomy, coupled with his visionary leadership, aligns perfect with our commitment to delivering exceptional dining experiences in our exclusive retreat.

“We look forward to witnessing the innovative concepts and standards he will add to this recent addition to the Anantara portfolio in the UAE.” – TradeArabia News Service