Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas Welcomes Executive Chef Lucas Leonardi Varin
Brings over a decade of experience from some of the best restaurants and luxury resorts.
Koh Samui, May 21th, 2021: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas announces the arrival of Lucas Leonardi Varin as the resort's new Executive Chef to lead all food and beverage operations. Brazilian born and hailing from Sao Paulo Lucas brings over a decade of experience in delighting diners, top celebrities and guests from some of the best restaurants and luxury resorts globally including France, the Caribbean, Luxembourg, Australia, Japan, the Maldives and Thailand.
With an experiential culinary education serving high-class cuisine in luxury destinations to A-listers and VIPs alike, Lucas will be elevating the Japanese menu at Yukinoya, Koh Phangan's first Teppanyaki restaurant along with lending his Michelin-star techniques to Anantara Rasananda's, The Bistro @ The Beach al fresco beachfront restaurant. His understanding of international flavours and a flair for presentation will ensure the resort's restaurants will be an unmissable destination for all visitors to this laid back luxe island.
Lucas started his culinary journey at the age of twenty-two in France at the renowned 4* hotel Relais Chateaux"Cazaudehore"in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and later the famous 2* Michelin Star restaurant"Lucas Carlton"under the guidance of world-famous Chef Alain Senderens in Paris. After stints in the Caribbean and Australia he moved to Thailand as Executive Chef of the 5* Kanda Residences in Koh Samui. It was here that his passion for Thai cooking started.
Taking that knowledge to the Maldives working at the 5* Amilla Fushi and Lux Resort, Lucas cooked for some of the world's best-known celebrities including singers Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Noel Gallagher and Rita Ora along with actors including Oscar winner Adrian Brody, Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne.
"I have had a passion for cooking since I was a little boy, my mother and grand-mother passed down their love of cooking to me," explains Chef Lucas."Visiting over forty countries gave me the opportunity to learn different techniques, discover new ingredients and dishes as well as speak different languages. When I moved to Thailand in 2015, it was my dream to learn the secrets of Thai herbs, spices and intense flavours. I've also learned to speak Thai, one of the most positive points of my journey in the Land of Smiles."
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About Anantara:
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the worlds most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.
From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 35 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and South America. The brands premier vacation ownership programme, Anantara Vacation Club, extends the opportunity to own a share in the Anantara experience with a portfolio of 8 luxurious Club Resorts as well as travel privileges at partner resorts and hotels worldwide.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts Spas, please visit www.anantara.com. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels
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