InterContinental Hotels Group has roped in seven celebrity chefs as culinary
ambassadors for its hotels across Asia, Middle East and Africa. By Anand Holla

At a time when nothing less than gourmet will please the discerning foodie, seven top international chefs representing a wide variety of cuisines whipping up their finest dishes may be hard to resist.
To present a repertoire of unique signature dishes for guests dining in InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) hotels across Asia, Middle East and Africa, seven celebrated chefs have been appointed IHG Culinary Ambassadors.
Joining the bandwagon, Crowne Plaza Doha The Business Park, part of IHG, has introduced an impressive assortment of new recipes to its menu at Aramede Restaurant – the hotel’s all-day dining.
Offering diners the chance to taste some sensational cuisines, the chefs cover a diverse spread. Modern Indian by Vikas Khanna (August 17 to August 30), Modern Australian by Ross Lusted (August 31 to September 13), Modern Thai by Ian Kittichai (September 14 to September 27), Singaporean Chinese by Sam Leong (September 20 to October 11), Japanese by Takagi Kazuo (October 12 to October 25), Bakery with our Kitchen Team by Dean Brettschneider & Co (October 26 to November 1), and Rustic Italian by Theo Randall (November 2 to November 15).
Through this month, the featured Culinary Ambassador at Crowne Plaza Doha is the award-winning, Michelin-starred chef, food writer, and humanitarian, Vikas Khanna. “From August 17 to August 30, guests can expect to taste delectable delights from MasterChef Vikas Khanna,” the hotel says. Khanna’s trademark dishes will be recreated by the hotel’s culinary team and will be served at Aramede.
Khanna’s culinary journey started in Amritsar, India, where he learned the intricacies of Indian cuisine from his grandmother. His extensive TV appearances include Martha Stewart Show and he is also the host of MasterChef India. His restaurant in New York, Junoon, was awarded a Michelin star. Vikas leads a number of humanitarian causes and in recognition of this, he was invited to cook for US President Barack Obama.
Crowne Plaza Doha The Business Park Executive Chef Dominique Morin and his team will re-create Chef Khana’s special dishes including Chicken Tikka Mirza Hansu, 7-spice Lamb and Creamy Coconut Sea Bass Moilee.
“We strive to ensure dining with us is a great experience and that we offer our guests and customers exciting culinary experiences. The IHG Culinary Panel gives us the opportunity to take our guests on a journey of new tastes with a number of special dishes from these internationally celebrated chefs,” says Executive Chef Morin.
“Our culinary team have benefited enormously from this programme as they learn from the Culinary Ambassadors to create each dish to taste as if they were prepared by the chefs themselves. It’s also a journey for us to discover these new dishes and we look forward to serving them to our valued guests,” added Morin. For inquiries and reservations, call 44087788.
Chef Ross Lusted crafts his unique cuisine by using the best seasonal ingredients. At his restaurant The Bridge Room in Sydney, the menu includes dishes inspired from Europe and Asia, some cooked over charcoal and slow smoked in the Japanese Robata style. Lusted was awarded Chef of the Year by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Award-winning chef, author and television personality, Ian Kittichai is known to push the boundaries of cuisines and conventions through his range of restaurants, cookbooks, events and consultancies around the globe. Kittichai is best known for his influence on Thai cuisine and “his unique approach to classic flavours and ingredients with varied cooking techniques.”
With 26 years of culinary expertise and innovation behind him, Chef Sam Leong has come to be known as Singapore’s very own celebrity chef.
Unlike most Japanese chefs, Chef Takagi Kazuo made a late start – he entered the culinary world at 23. But his talent, dedication, and passion, scripted his rise. His specialisation in Kyoto Cuisine reflects “the season and unfold cultural tales.” British-born Chef Theo Randall specialises in Italian cuisine and runs one of London’s finest Italian restaurants, the award-winning Theo Randall at the InterContinental.

SUPER SEVEN:  IHG Culinary Ambassadors, from left, Sam Leong, Ross Lusted, Ian Kittichai (seated), Takagi Kazuo, Theo Randall (seated), Vikas Khanna and Dean Brettschneider.