MARRIOTT BUZZ NO. 14 - 2018

10 E X C L U S I V E NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF STEPHEN MCGARRIE ARRIVES WITH A FEAST OF EXPERTISE C omprehensively educated in the German and French culinary arts, a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and accredited Master Chef, he first plied his trade under the tutelage of his uncle, who was an executive chef in his native Germany. There, McGarrie was in his own words “introduced to the world of cooking,” and in Germany he realized his culinary aspirations and “caught the travel bug.” He speaks most glowingly of his lengthy spell working with Michelin-starred Chef Harald Wohlfahrt as one of his key career-defining experiences. He looks back favorably on the path that brought him here saying; “I really love to travel, that’s my passion and my job has given me an opportunity to go around the world and experience different cultures in the best way, through their cuisines.” Chef McGarrie’s philosophy is grounded in sourcing high quality, fresh and local ingredients farm-to-table, which he terms “the basis of great cuisine.” He stresses on the importance of “understanding the food you are preparing. I really try and source all organic, because you will find absolutely amazing organic produce in Egypt.” Chef McGarrie stresses that he “inspects the food at the loading dock each morning, and if it’s not good I send it back out,” he also is a firm believer in “supporting the local farmers here” something he is demonstrably “really enthusiastic about.” Emphasizing time management as a key characteristic of great chefs, he reminisces; “this industry is so fast paced it seems like only yesterday that I first started, that’s why time management, especially as a chef, is extremely important.” Another insightful axiom he offers is that “customers eat with their eyes. If you’ve got good crockery, a nice table layout and ambience, enthusiastic and helpful staff - and you’ll find these in Egypt - that is literally half the job, the food is the rest.” The Cairo Marriott has welcomed with great pleasure the acclaimed Master Chef Stephen McGarrie as our new Executive Chef. Chef McGarrie comes to Egypt with an impressive wealth of over 25 years of firsthand experience across five continents, and having held distinguished positions and collaborating with some of the world’s most renowned names in the field of gastronomy.