Taste of country on menu as chef arrives from Dubai
Dad moves to top job – and doesn’t mind rain
A globe- trotting chef has swapped the intense heat of Dubai for the British countryside.
Alfonso Salvaggio has been appointed Tudor Park’s new executive head chef at the Marriott Hotel and Country Club.
The 41-year-old said he and his young family couldn’t be happier – even with the weather.
He said: “It is so fantastic to be able to walk outside and enjoy this beautiful countryside and fresh air.
“I bought my daughters – Giulia, five, and Fiona, three – umbrellas for the first time in their lives and they are even loving the outdoors when it rains as they have never experienced it before.”
Catering is in Mr Salvaggio’s genes – his parents owned a successful Italian restaurant in his home country of Belgium.
Working alongside his Italian father inspired him to become a chef and after catering college, he worked in various fine dining eateries in Belgium before returning to his parents’ restaurant for five years.
He then caught the travel bug and worked in four and five star hotels in Brussels, China and Romania before his 18-month stint in the Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira Hotel where he was executive head chef overseeing seven outlets.
His travels, combined with Italian family connections, have strong influences on Mr Salvaggio’s cooking which he hopes to bring to his new role.
“I think guests at Tudor Park will see Asian, Balkan and Italian flavours coming through some of my dishes which I hope they will enjoy,” he adds.
He now heads up a 13-strong team of chefs who create dishes for Tudor Park’s Conical Grill restaurant, Mezzanine and Zest Bar. Another bonus to his new Ashford Road, Bearsted, base, is seasonal produce that’s fresh and doesn’t have to be flown in.
As well as catering for up to 250 people at any one time at business banquets, golf events, private functions and around 50 weddings a year, he will also be overseeing new menus for Mezz bar and Zest arriving this summer.