Executive Chef and Director of Food &Beverage at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali.
E: Describe your typical day in a sentence.
Ian: Hectic, full of surprises and always something new.
E: So how did you come to be the Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage for Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali?
I: I was looking to move on from my position in Vietnam and my contact in Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali offered me a job. I thought why not as I had worked in Bali before at W Seminyak and loved the island and its people, so it was a no brainer to be honest
E: What’s the toughest part of your job?
I: Finding the right people for the job. Staffing can be a real issue in Bali with so many new hotels.
E: And what makes you smile at work?
I: Seeing young staff learning new skills and watching them develop themselves, and of course our happy guests.
E: What motivates you?
I: You are always striving for excellence, pushing yourself and your staff to create new dishes or new events is hard work but thoroughly enjoyable. If things are not running as per plan, being man enough to say let’s leave this idea and move on is good.
E: Would things fall apart if you weren’t around?
I: Certainly not, I am writing these answers in Saigon, Vietnam, and have full trust in all my staff and have no issues leaving them to run the show.
E: Who in your team deserves more recognition and why?
I: Stewarding, who as we know have the hardest job in any food and beverage operation, doing the not so glamorous jobs and just getting on with things. Regina, my secretary, I think for obvious reasons, she is taking care of everything in my department.
E: Why should people choose Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali to dine?
I: We cook meals with great fresh produce in all our food and beverage venues, we have unobtrusive service and, of course, the Balinese smile to go along with these key attributes.
E: Away from work, what’s your favourite place to eat?
I: Many places, but my favorite would be Morning Glory in Hoi An, Vietnam!
E: How do you unwind?
I: Lots of exercise and relaxing with my mates and family.
E: Finally, any advice for those looking to break into the industry?
I: Work hard, be humble, always listen whether it is a good or bad thing to learn.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali
Jalan Wanagiri No. 1, Jimbaran
Bali 80362, Indonesia
T: (+62) 3614725777
