He hadn’t originally thought about being a chef when he was young
We all love mum’s cakes and it’s no exception for Jordanian national Hamzh Ghazi Al Durdangi, Executive Sous Chef at The St Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Read on to find out he got into the hospitality trade, tips for being the best chef and what he would have been doing had his career taken a different direction.
How did your journey into hospitality begin? What was the inspiration behind that decision?
I hadn’t thought about becoming a chef when I was young. I had actually thought of doing something else, but I guess it was a hidden passion I eventually discovered in my early childhood. My mother is a very good cook; she’s amazing in fact! I can still vividly recall how she prepares home cooked meals for the whole family, from starters to mains and down to my favourite part – desserts. She makes the very best chiffon and chocolate moist cake, my all-time favourite fruit jams, and a lot more. I would stay in the kitchen for hours watching her do her magic and perhaps that’s where it all started.
I developed a fondness for food and decided to study Hospitality Management in college, enrolling in specialised courses to enhance my skills, and I am happy I did. It wasn’t easy at first, but I can say it was all worth it. I started my career in the hospitality industry in 2004 when I joined Le Meridien in Jordan as a Commis chef and worked my way up the culinary ladder. I am privileged to have worked with great properties within hotel chains such as Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, One and Only, Four Seasons and Marriott hotels in various locations across the globe.
Apart from Jordan, I have worked in South Africa, the Maldives, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India. I joined The St Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi as an Executive Pastry Chef on 2019 and two years later I decided to transfer to Hot kitchen, which was a challenge yet exciting at the same time. ‘You know yourself better than anyone else knows you’ and there is always that voice deep down within you which, a lot of the time, we are scared to listen to because we are comfortable or we don’t like change, but I think as long as you love what you do, you will never fail.
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With your incredible experience within the world of hospitality, please tell us what you personally bring to the table at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi?
I am a mix of creativity and passion; the taste of simple recipes can remind people of their childhood, or multicultural dishes can make others think of their favourite country to visit. I enjoy seeing people feel this happy when they taste each dish that I have create for them.
Share with us your biggest hack that you use in the kitchen?
Being unique and simple.
Share with us an underrated ingredient that you think every chef should be using in the kitchen.
There are so many delicious ingredients out there to work with; it’s difficult to choose a favourite. However, some of my all-time favourite ingredients to cook include fresh herbs, garlic, celery, olive oil, tomatoes and lemon. I love using these ingredients to create simple, yet flavourful dishes that are sure to please any palate.
What do you think makes a good chef great?
A great chef is distinguished by their ability to create exceptional flavours in their dishes. This requires a highly refined and deeply knowledgeable palate, along with the talent to construct unique and standout flavour profiles that set the restaurant apart from others.
What’s your go-to cuisine when you are off duty?
Honestly, most of the time I spend my day off at home and I really enjoy cooking authentic Arabic and Uzbek cuisine for my wife.
If you were not a chef, where would have life taken you in terms of your career?
I would have most likely been a pilot. As a pilot, each day at work brings a spectacular view and can be an opportunity to see the landscape from a unique perspective that many people have never witnessed. You can travel over many parts of the country and world, seeing rivers, mountain ranges and oceans.
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Image source The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
