The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi has announced the appointment of Renzo Martin Reyes Reyes as chef de cuisine of Buddha-Bar Beach Abu Dhabi.
Hailing from Peru, Chef Renzo has over 12 years of experience managing kitchen teams, openings and developing menus in Peru, Panama, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE.
“I have been on a very exciting adventure for more than 11 years, and I’m very grateful to gastronomy that has allowed me to work in different countries across the globe” says Chef Reyes.
“I’m definitely a food enthusiast, and I really enjoy learning about the manifestations of each culture through it. My favorite is Nikkei cuisine, which is the best example of cultural manifestation, even more so, a union of two cultures that are so varied from each other – Peruvian and Japanese. I’m thrilled to be able to share my vision of cooking and part of my culture.”
Following his education, Chef Reyes embarked on a culinary adventure which saw him develop a passion and appreciation for food, an understanding of the culture of food and how people respond to different flavors and tastes. His journey took him across the South American continent from his home in Lima, Peru to Dominican Republic and Panama City.
His admiration for the Peruvian cuisine along with respect for ingredients and the traditions, saw him excel in many roles including – being a sous chef at a restaurant debuting in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; a Peruvian-Nikkei menu developer in Russia, head chef of Buddha Bar Beach in Bodrum, Turkey which saw him open the first season for the venue and Head Chef at Buddha Bar, Astana, Kazakhstan.
