Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THE kitchen is really buzzing at Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain following the arrival of Aussie culinary king Kim Gates.
Smart and witty, he is the new executive chef and since his appointment in January he's been quite busy making his mark.
A career spanning 27 years with 14 hotels, Chef Gates' appointment to Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain is due to his rich experience at many of the world's most outstanding restaurants and hotels.
He has been executive chef at a number of five star hotels including the Swissotel Krasnye Holmy, Russia, Kurumba Maldives and Sheraton Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.
Chef Gates' introduction to the world of fine food began when he was still at school and worked part-time on the weekends at a small restaurant near his home.
As he studied further he was soon attracted to the hotel industry and quickly discovered what a hectic future of world-wide travel he had in store.
After launching his career as an apprentice chef in Australia in 1981 he graduated to work with such renowned names in the hospitality industry as Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast, Sheraton Darwin, Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, Radisson SAS Sochi Russia, Le Meridien Port Vila - Vanuatu, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach - Dubai, Kurumba Maldives - Republic of Maldives and Swissotel Krasnye Holmy - Moscow, Russia.
Chef Gates remains as excited today as when he first started because he believes there is always "something new to see and learn" in the culinary side of the hotel industry.
He explained: "Trends are constantly changing and the creative dining experience is always developing as palates become more sophisticated. This is what makes my profession as a chef so rewarding."
Chef Gates' passion for perfection and zealousness towards the profession, coupled with his outstanding career, has won him many awards along the way.
He has been honoured with the Gold Plate Award for the Best Fine Dining (Sheraton Darwin in 1993) and won team medals - 02 Gold, 04 Silver and 03 Bronze in the Maldives Salon Culinaire 2006. In addition, Chef Gates has been involved in the Opening of Radisson SAS Sochi, Russia and the re-opening of Kurumba Maldives in February 2004.
He also has the benefit of having served numerous world leaders including President Boris Yeltsin in 1995, Kuchma in 1995, Gayoum from 2001to 2005, George Bush in 2005 and Bill Clinton (twice), as well as three prime ministers - Mohamed Mahathir of Malaysia, Atal Behari Vajpayee of India, Recep Erdogan of Turkey - and the royal family of Qatar, amongst others.
Chef Gates is delighted to be a part of the Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain team and added: "It is a delightful experience to work with a five star chain such as Mšvenpick that has a strong emphasis on hospitality excellence."
All set to change the foodscape of Bahrain, Chef Gates plans to bring in a new look and taste to the cuisine at Silk's restaurant. New menus which will have a "funky and exciting new look" are on the agenda.
He said: "My goal is to provide our visitors and guests with a fresh new dining experience in Bahrain. Silk's Restaurant will soon feature a modern dining experience, which will highlight Asian Fusion Cuisine. It will also feature some great Australian products too."
Famous for its gourmand, dining at Mšvenpick is a memorable experience and the management at the hotel is delighted to have him on board.
Jan Kaiser, GM, Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain, said: "Chef Gates brings with him culinary expertise that has been appreciated worldwide, thus making him an exceptional addition to our team.
"We are pleased to showcase his gastronomic talents and look forward to new experiences and innovations that will surely add to the culinary popularity of Mšvenpick Hotel."
Though he has not had much spare time to see the kingdom, Chef Gates likes Bahrain for its "pleasant, relaxed atmosphere and its friendly people".
Given the fact that being a chef is a hectic job, he has been successfully managing to balance his professional and personal life.
He said: "Life in a hotel kitchen means long hours and when I get free time, it is best spent with my three-year-old son and wife."
Besides cooking up dishes, Chef Gates is enthusiastic about travelling, surfing, motorbikes, as well as visiting vineyards.
When quizzed about his de-stressing methods, he quickly replied: "Stay in a good hotel, which I am!"
The award-winning chef shares one of his favourite recipes with GulfWeekly readers this week.
