ALILA JABAL AKHDAR WELCOMES AWARD WINNING EXECUTIVE CHEF ALEX ENSOR
29th December 2016 - Alila Jabal Akhdar is thrilled to welcome the arrival of star-studded Chef, Alex Ensor, who will be bringing his culinary skills to the kitchen in Juniper restaurant as their new Executive Chef.
With over 20 years experience in many reputable establishments across the southern hemisphere in Australia, New Zealand and Jakarta, Chef Alex has made a name for himself in the culinary world with his success and winning an extensive list of awards.
Coming into Alila Jabal Akhdar right after his 2-year tenure at Alila Jakarta, Chef Alex started out his career back in 1997 in New Zealand, his home country, working at the Huka Lodge in Taupo and has since travelled and worked through Australia and Jakarta. He continued to build his career at award-winning restaurants such as Sydney’s Level 41 (winner of 21 Best Restaurant Awards), Guillaume @ Bennelong (winner of three hats SMH 3 stars in Gourmet Traveler), Jakarta’s SHY fine-dining restaurant, Buddha Bar and wowed the well-heeled at Alila Jakarta.
Having worked alongside master chefs, Guillaume Brahimi and Dietmar Sawyere, Chef Alex took his heightened skills and went on to receive his first Hat Award and feature in Australian Gourmet Pages. Chef Alex has over the years maintained his image in the public eye by doing various guest chef dinners around the world and receiving coverage in food magazines and press reviews as well as some TV shows!
“I am thoroughly excited to be starting at Alila Jabal Akhdar Oman. It’s an amazing opportunity to be working on top of the world! I look forward to creating new menus with the fresh, local mountain produce, to further elevate the culinary experience which Alila Jabal Akhdar has become famous for” commented Chef Alex Ensor. “I am proud to be on the Alila team and I am eager to showcase the artisanship which brand Alila is known for in Oman and the rest of the world."
For reservations, email: jabalakhdar@alilahotels.com OR call: +968 2534 4200 / +968 99104204
About Alila Jabal Akhdar
Jabal Akhdar, meaning “The Green Mountain” in Arabic, is part of the Al Hajar mountain range, one of Oman’s most spectacular regions. Perched here 2,000 metres above sea level, Alila Jabal Akhdar overlooks a dramatic gorge, surrounded by awe-inspiring views of the Al Hajar Mountains. This Oman resort is the perfect base for exploring the region’s magnificent landscape of rugged, untouched beauty while experiencing the height of sumptuous comfort. Favoured amongst hotels in Nizwa, the resort is a haven for adventure travellers, nature lovers and those seeking a retreat from the desert heat.
Accolades
- Best Hospitality Design Hotels by Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Award 2016
- Conde Nast GOLD LIST Editors’ Choice - 2015 & 2016
- The Best Honeymoon Hotel in Middle East - Condé Nast Traveller Middle East 2015
- The Hot List – Condé Nast Traveller Middle East 2015
- Silver Certification for Environmental Practices 2015 - LEED Green Building Council
- The World’s Best Hotel – Conde Nast Traveler USA 2014
- Hospitality Project of the Year – Construction Week Awards 2014
- The 12 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings in 2014 – CNN 2014
- The Fantastic Five – Conde Nast Bride Annual Honeymoon Guide 2014
- Six of the Best: In-Suite Plunge Pool – The Sydney Morning Herald Traveler 2014
- Green Landscape Award – OER Oman Green Awards & Summit 2014
- Sustainable Project of the Year – Construction Week Oman Awards 2014
- Best Project Design – Dosier Construction Awards and Summit 2013
About Omran
Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) drives the investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The company is the master developer of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects, delivering some of the nation’s most visionary and iconic destinations. As the leading executive government arm for tourism development, Omran has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard, due to our core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors. Importantly, by working in close collaboration with the local communities, as well as the public and private sector, sustainability is built into every project. The company’s portfolio of projects, asset management expertise and investment experience embraces the unique aspects of Oman’s culture and heritage, while safeguarding the natural beauty of the country for the future generations.
ABOUT ALILA
Surprisingly Different
The hallmark of Alila is the combination of innovative design and luxury in unique locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, crafted artisanship, personalised hospitality, and bespoke learning journeys. Alila means “Surprise” in Sanskrit, which suitably describes the refreshing character of our properties and impressions of our guests when they stay with us. In support of sustainable tourism, Alila hotels adopt EarthCheck operating standards, integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of their environments. To stay at any of Alila's hotels & resorts is to embark on a destination experience – be it in recreating the flavours of the local cuisine, enhancing your well-being through ancient healing arts or the thrill of adventure sports, you will re-discover the luxury of living at Alila. For more information visit www.alilahotels.com, follow us on Instagram @AlilaHotels or like us on Facebook.
ABOUT TWO ROADS HOSPITALITY
Created in September 2016, Two Roads Hospitality is an international lifestyle company encompassing an unrivaled collection of distinctive properties, passionate people, and remarkable experiences around the globe. The company is named for the newly-merged Commune and Destination Hotels, bringing together over 40 years of combined expertise exclusively dedicated to the boutique and lifestyle space. Comprised of Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels, Destination Hotels, tommie and Alila Hotels & Resorts, the company is the leading operator of independent and lifestyle hotels with almost 100 properties in eight countries and growing, also boasting an extensive roster of award-winning restaurants and bars, stunning vacation residences, world-class golf courses, and indigenous spa and wellness offerings. For more information on Two Roads Hospitality, visit www.tworoadshotels.com, follow us on Twitter @TwoRoadsHotels, or like us on Facebook.
ABOUT DISCOVERY PROGRAMME
DISCOVERY is about making travel unforgettable. The eight million members of the programme receive recognition and rewards across 550 hotels, resorts, palaces and spas. Local Experiences, the innovative rewards of the DISCOVERY programme, are unique, authentic experiences, which are curated by each hotel to give a taste of local traditions and culture. Members also receive stay benefits, such as complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades and enhanced personal recognition as they move through the membership levels, each and every time they stay within the portfolio. For more information visit www.discoveryloyalty.com