Intercontinental Hotels Group secures celebrity chef for Dubai debut

Pierre Gagnaire is arguably France's - and one of the world's - most brilliant and daring chefs. Beginning his career in St. Etienne, where he was awarded three Michelin Stars, Gagnaire challenged the conventions of classic French cooking by introducing a surprising blend of flavours, tastes and tangs.

The list of Gagnaire's achievements is impressive to say the least, and he is as popular with his peers as his food is with those lucky enough to dine in one of his restaurants.
'Balzac', his three-star Michelin restaurant in Paris, is considered to be one of the finest in France, specialising in 'Modern French' cuisine. This year Balzac made its mark on the global stage when it was named third best restaurant in the world in the S.Pellegrino 'World's 50 Best Restaurants' awards. First published by Restaurant magazine in 2002, the esteemed top 50 list is internationally recognised as the most credible indicator of the best places to eat on Earth.

Gagnaire is also behind the success of the renowned 'Sketch' in London. In 2005, both eateries were ranked in the top 20 in the world and in 2006 Pierre Gagnaire himself was ranked as the number three chef in the world. 2006 was also the year his new concept restaurant, 'Pierre', opened in Hong Kong.

Gagnaire is something of a legend in chef terms, responsible for coining the cooking term molecular gastronomy. And despite an established reputation as a master of his distinct art he is currently enjoying a burst of renewed success. It is off the back of this success that he introduces his craft to the Middle East with 'Reflets', meaning reflections in English, Gagnaire's signature restaurant opening at InterContinental Dubai Festival City towards the end of the year.

Renowned for his instinct, curiosity and intelligent confidence in cooking, Gagnaire has worked closely with the Paris-based restaurant design team Christian Ghion to create a restaurant that entirely reflects his individual style. He will be a regular presence at the hotel, a rare thing among celebrity chefs these days and, come grand opening day, Gagnaire will officially be cooking himself.

Bringing someone like Gagnaire to Dubai is just one example of why InterContinental Hotels & Resorts boasts a long and successful history of offering the best in food, design and overall customer experience at all of its properties all over the world. Priding itself on an 'in the know' approach to hospitality, the addition of Gagnaire will only enhance this expertise and knowledge and inspire other hotels in the group to build on the F&B know-how that exists globally.

Tom Meyer, Area General Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group, Dubai Festival City, explains,

"Bringing Gagnaire to Dubai is a real coup and we look forward to supporting his impending success story in the Middle East. When the hotel launches later this year and Gagnaire opens the door to 'Reflets by Pierre Gagnaire', the world will be eager to taste what this extraordinary chef is cooking up for both Dubai residents and our hotel guests at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City hotel."

'Reflets by Pierre Gagnaire' will showcase the unique way in which Gagnaire works. His style is inimitable and it has been said that his cuisine can only be grasped with "the intelligence of the senses, requiring curiosity and an open mind." His focus and dedication will astonish everyone, as he designs menus with intriguing combinations.

Gagnaire declares the restaurant's décor will create a favourable climate for "communing with the dishes", and the menu will boast specialties that he calls "multi-sensory hits". Not the name of his creations but the types of feelings he wishes to evoke. Gagnaire is certainly a character and one that the Middle East's upscale food scene has been waiting for.

While the name Pierre Gagnaire brings an air of excitement for food enthusiasts, the idea of bringing in a world-renowned chef to headline a restaurant in a hotel isn't a new one for the hotel group. In fact, it has been a partnership that has often worked - InterContinental Hotels Group has become a leading expert in this field.

The most recent restaurant opening in conjunction with a world-renowned name was with former River Café chef, Theo Randall's and his restaurant at the InterContinental London Park Lane. Randall's outlet is taking the capital city by storm after making slow cooking trendy. InterContinental London Park Lane is proving a huge hit with the UK capital's discerning food lovers in search of exquisite cuisine.

"The restaurant will become one of the major food and beverage attractions of the hotel and is sure to prove a popular dining venue for both our in-house guests as well as international food-lovers. 'Reflets by Pierre Gagnaire' will be a natural extension of the up-scale facilities on offer throughout the Dubai Festival City destination," added Meyer.

The benefits of working with a hotel brand such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts for a chef of Gagnaire's stature is the hospitality know-how and infrastructure that gives chefs like him the freedom to concentrate on what they do best. Of course coming to Dubai will also boost Gagnaire's global reputation by giving him the opportunity to create a truly unbelievable culinary experience for an audience that has yet to experience "the music of his menu".

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts aim to exceed expectations and to satisfy every guest by giving them what they expect and more - limitless expertise and that extra something special. The magic of 'Reflets by Pierre Gagnaire' combined with the extensive facilities at all of the group's hotels within Dubai Festival City will ensure it will be a unique place to enjoy the master's culinary genius.