Accor has signed an exclusive partnership with celebrity Lebanese chef Maroun Chedid, famous for his many culinary achievements and concepts, such as Georgette or Ritage Garden, TV appearances on Lebanese station MTV and more recently on MBC as jury of the internationally acclaimed show Top Chef.
The partnership illustrates Accor’s strategy to consolidate its position as the leading hospitality group in the region.
Since the launch of ALL- Accor Live Limitless, the group has taken a step forward to deliver limitless experiences, and this partnership will contribute greatly to not only provide exceptional dining offerings across its hotels but to also position Accor as more than just a traditional hospitality group in the region.
“We are very excited to welcome chef Maroun to Accor! We are confident that this partnership will bring a valuable addition to the dining scene across our properties in the region. His expertise as a Chef, also as a businessman and entrepreneur, makes him the perfect partner to elevate the culinary experiences in our hotels”, says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey.
With over 30 years of experience in the culinary world, Maroun Chedid is one of the region’s most well-known chefs. The pretty Lebanese village of Saghbine in West Bekaa, where Chedid grew up, has been a continuous source of inspiration. Chedid admits that nature was his mentor, opening his eyes at a young age to core ingredients and rich combinations.
“I am happy to begin a new journey with the Accor Group. I believe that together we can take the hospitality and dining scene of their properties to another level, introducing new concepts that challenge the current culinary state,” said Chedid. “I couldn’t think of a better hospitality group to develop and implement new concepts to match with my boldness and thirst for innovation”.
Viewed as a culinary genius, Chedid’s cuisine is best described as cuisine du terroir, where he has mastered European techniques and employed them to elevate Mediterranean gastronomy in general and the Lebanese cuisine in specific. Chedid adopts an unrestricted approach to creating food that is unexpectedly put together yet remains familiar. In other words, he embraces the philosophy of reintroducing the classics with a contemporary, bold twist while not losing the basic culinary identity synonymous with the authenticity of Mediterranean cuisine at large.
Once finalized, the partnership will give birth to the first of Chedid’s restaurants and concepts across Accor hotels in the region. Guests will be able to enjoy some of his signature dishes including the Carnaroli Risotto ‘Siyadiyeh’, Pumpkin & Pistachio Ravioli, Slow-cooked Veal Cheek with Oriental Spices or the King Crab, Tahini, Citrus to name a few. Moreover, this partnership will illustrate the expansion of Chef Chedid’s presence in the region, celebrating his core pillars across borders, namely: Terroir, Authenticity, Inventiveness and Artistry.
