Fairmont The Palm, Dubai, has hired new chef de cuisine, Romain Van Durmen, from Belgium.
With more than 10 years’ experience, Romain will manage The Chef’s Palette, an interactive cooking experience for groups and individuals, hosted in the resort’s dedicated cooking studio.
Fairmont The Palm executive chef Alain Gobeil commented: “I am thrilled to have another talented chef join our culinary team. Chef Romain’s experience and knowledge within the kitchen will add a new dimension to The Chefs Palette, where we will be launching a series of new, regular and interactive cooking classes for guests and residents to enjoy.”
Chef Romain is fluent in English and French with a degree in Hospitality Administration and Management from L’Institut provincial D’enseignement Secondaire in Tournai, Belgium.
He began his culinary career with a series of internships in two-Michelin starred restaurants in Belgium, Le Château Du Mylord and Sea Grill by Chef Yves Mattagne.
He has held roles as chef de partie at Luxury Brasserie in Belgium, chef de partie at Zaranda, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Mallorca, Spain, and sous chef at La Petite Madeleine in Belgium.
In 2011, he opened his own catering service, Rendez-Vous Chez Vous, servicing a range of clientele, from private homes to large company events.
Romain first moved to Dubai in 2014 as chef de cuisine at Café Belge and Sunken Garden where he managed a team of 16 chefs for three years.
