Speciality Chef Christopher Yip returns to the Asia Live! Restaurant at the Doha Marriott Hotel

"We are delighted to re-introduce our valued guests to Chef Christopher," says John S. Louie, Director of Operations, "It is a great asset to get his talents, expertise, dedication and creativity back to Asia Live!. Having previously worked and opened Asia Live! in 2000, he knows the high expectations of our guests and with his recent stints in Bahrain, the Caribbean, and Hong Kong, he will bring new experiences and tastes to the menu of Asia Live!. This strengthens our culinary team and our strategy to bring skilled chefs of different styles and worldwide excellence to our outstanding specialty restaurants."

Chef Christopher brings back more than 22 years of experience to Doha Marriott's culinary team while he held various positions in 5 star hotels throughout Asia and the Middle East.

As a native from Hong Kong, China, who loves it hot and spicy Chef Christopher praises his mother for giving him his love to food and he looks back fondly to the days he cooked at her side. "My love to prepare great food from raw materials and to turn it into special viands comes only from my mother," he said, "She taught me to be creative and to trust my instincts to make all food special and a feast of all senses."

Chef Christopher started his hospitality career as a Wok Cook in 1986 at Hilton Hong Kong's Eagle's Nest Chinese Restaurant. From 1990 to 2000 he worked in various hotel restaurants in Asia until he fist joined the Doha Marriott Hotel as Chinese Speciality Chef to open up the Asia Live! Restaurant. He stayed with the team for three years until he moved to the Caribbean Island where he joined the Marriott St Kitts Resort & Royal Beach Casino as Chef in-charge of the Blue Seafood Restaurant. In 2004 he came back to Asia Live! with lot's of additional experiences and ideas which he implemented very soon. After two years he was looking for new challenges and joined the Gulf Hotel Bahrain as Chinese Master Chef of the China Garden Restaurant. During this time he was part of a successful TV Show and taught the people how to use flour dough to make Dragon Beard Candies.

All guests may be sure to be delighted in Chef Christopher's unique dishes that integrate the flavors and nuances of the cuisines he has experienced near and far.

"I am bringing regional foods into my menus and have many ideas for new menu introductions and special food promotions for the next few months,"

explains Chef Christopher, exited to be back in the culinary team of the Doha Marriott Hotel which he loves and missed a lot.

Chef Christopher is married; his wife also comes from China, KeiFeng City. In his free time he loves to go for swimming or shopping at the Souk or fish market where he always gets inspired by the different cultures and ingredients he sees and constantly thinks of new ways to combine them in innovative dishes. Also he is keen on studying Chinese and Japanese cook books, reading Chinese comics and Taiwan love stories or listening to the songs of his favorite singer Sarah Brightman. And of course he also cooks for his wife at home, preferable Szechuan cuisine.

In 2004 and 2005 Asia Live! won the Qatar Today Restaurant Awards in the category 'Best Far Eastern Cuisine' under the leadership of Chef Christopher. "These awards were a result of over 5 months of enthusiastic voting by the readers of the magazine, diners, and food connoisseurs, and I trust that all food lovers are still as passionate as they used to be and it is my aim to win this award again this year", expressed Chef Christopher and encourages all guests to participate in the Qatar Today Restaurant Award voting process.

The wooden carving structure, bamboo wall, straw mat ceiling with Chinese Palace Lantern hanging on, and the lacquered finishing, all this brings the beautiful Far East architectural to the specialty restaurant. But the attractive thing is not only the beautiful architectural, but the exotic foods which are produced from the sushi counter, Teppanyaki grill and open a la carte show kitchen as well as the special and very personal service which makes all guests not be a customer, but a very welcomed friend.