Novotel Samui Resort Chaweng Beach Kandaburi has announced the appointment of its new Executive Chef, Stefano Leone.
Given the great influx of Europeans and Australians visiting Koh Samui throughout the year, the hotel saw the need of revamping its international food menu. Hence, it invited chef Stefano to lead this change maintaining the hotel restaurants’ Thai soul, albeit offering a wider range of international dishes with a Mediterranean twist.
Another relevant change he is conducting in the resort’s Food & Beverage outlets is elevating their quality standards through ingredients, which are now 60 percent sourced locally and 40 percent seasonally imported from all over the world.
Chef Stefano has developed a career of 25 years in gastronomy, having worked from 4- and 5-star hotels in Canada to a Relais & Châteaux property in Bermuda, and from city hotels in Egypt and Indonesia to several beach resorts in Africa and Asia.
He admits being a big fan of Thai cuisine: “I love the fact it’s full of flavors and fresh seasonal produce, such as some of my favorites: red and green curry, lemongrass, kaffir lime, the crispy fresh Som Tam with green papaya or green mango and soft-shell crab, as well as fresh seafood.”
His favorite type of cuisine is one that is “simple and with a natural balance, such as Provencal and Tuscan, which are seasonal and rustic, and with a long cultural tradition.” And this is exactly what he will bring to the hotel’s restaurants in the coming months:
Tom Yam Thai: Located on the hillside, specializes in authentic Thai cuisine and offers daily sukiyaki to its clients. Open daily 6–10:30 p.m.- Palm Court: Also located on the hillside, offers Asian and international breakfast (6–10 a.m.) as well as casual lunch by the pool (11 a.m.–6 p.m.).
- Beach Pool Bar: Located by the swimming pool and overlooking the beach, it offers happy hours (buy one-get one) from 12–1 p.m. and 4–6 p.m.
- Beach Restaurant & Bar: Located right by the beach, it offers Thai and international cuisine for breakfast (6–10 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and dinner (6–10 p.m.).
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), “Chaweng and Lamai are Koh Samui’s most beautiful and most popular beaches,” being Chaweng—where Novotel is located—better for couples, solo female travelers, and families. Just five minutes away from Chaweng downtown, offering a wide array of restaurants with different cuisines, chef Stefano’s appointment not only contributes to upgrading the hotel guests’ experience but also that of the foodie scene in town.
When not cooking, chef Stefano enjoys ski racing, mountain hiking, and swimming, “which bring me a good balance in life.”
More info: www.novotel-samui-resort-chaweng.com
