CLARK FREEPORT—Clark Marriott, the home of the three highest-rated restaurants in Luzon, have just unveiled two new heads of the kitchen.
Executive Chef Robert Czeschka and Executive Chinese Chef Lucas Zhou met the Philippine press for the first time at the five-star hotel’s Grand Ballroom on June 7, Wednesday.
The chefs also teased a “new menu” which, according to Clark Marriott General Manager Goeran Soelter, is a must-try.
Czeschka, who hails from Vienna, Austria, is no stranger to the camera as the creative culinarian has appeared as a judge on Iron Chef Thailand. He also touts more than 20 years of hospitality across the globe, from the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok, Thailand and the Nam Hai, Hoi An in Vietnam to Hilton Berlin in Germany.
“It never ceases to amaze me how Smoki Moto, Wu Xing and Goji [Kitchen+Bar] have climbed all the way to the top in such a short time,” Czeschka said.
“I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I plan to turn into reality very soon, so I hope you all pay us a visit in the next coming months,” he added.
Zhou, on the other hand, arrived fresh from the shores of the St. Regis Maldives where he served as Asian Chef de Cuisine for more than three years. He also spearheaded culinary teams in Sheraton Hotel Shanghai, Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel and more.
“[I’ve traveled] the world looking for different incredible flavors to fuse with beloved dishes from my home country,” the chef from the Jiangsu Province said.
“Now [I’ve come] to the Philippines – to Pampanga, the Culinary Capital [of the Philippines] for a new adventure, so I hope you like my food,” he added.
According to Tripadvisor, Clark Marriott is the number 1 out of more than 5,000 places to stay in Luzon.
Additionally, the hotel’s restaurants, namely Smoki Moto, Goji Kitchen+Bar, and Wu Xing, have secured the top three positions amongst over 10,000 restaurants in all of Luzon. The achievement is a testament to Clark Marriott’s unrivaled exceptional service and positive reviews from satisfied guests.
According to Soelter, the arrival of Czeschka and Zhou comes at an opportune time as the hotel is celebrating its 5th anniversary in September.
“I have no doubt that the two [Czeschka and Zhou] will be an excellent addition to the family, especially now that travel is back. I can tell you that 2023 is going to be a blast for sure,” he said.