A Cook-Off Promotion to Help Highlight Marriott's Italian Talent in India

Marriott in India is doing a unique festival which sees their India-based Italian chefs travel to four cities in India for a one meal only Italian Cook-off, starting with the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu Mumbai on Saturday night, June 4th, 2016.

BW Hotelier got to speak with Hemant Tenneti, Area Director of Operation - South Asia, Marriott International about the idea behind the promotion.

Tenneti began by explaining that Marriott in India had a very strong Italian contingent in the kitchen. We are talking of seven chefs spread over Marriott properties across the country, he added.

“We put a lot of emphasis on sourcing locally and of course on our fabulous buffet spreads. Our all-day dining restaurants are all very popular,” he told us. But, this stress on variety had a small cost, it meant at times that the speciality cuisine, like Italian doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.

“We would like to continue to maintain our stronghold in different international cuisines, drive quality through authenticity goes back to the roots where each Chef comes from. With a cook-off of this scale guests can expect a delightful gastronomic journey,” he added.

Each night of the cook-off challenge in Mumbai; JW Marriott, Delhi on 8th June 2016; JW Marriott Bengaluru on 16th June 2016 and JW Marriott Pune on 20th June 2016, will see three Italian chefs in the mix cooking two signature dishes making up individual courses.

Each diner, who will pay upwards of Rs. 3000 per head for six courses including wine depending on which city they are attending the festival, will nominate their favourite dishes on the table, ‘judging’ their dinner and the cook-off.

The chefs who will feature during the cook-off are as follows:

4th June, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu Mumbai:  Chef Matteo Arvonio, JW Marriott Juhu; Chef Christian Huber, JW Marriott Pune; Chef Marou, Marriott Whitefield Bengaluru.

8th June, JW Marriot New Delhi Aerocity Delhi:  Chef Matteo Arvonio, JW Marriott Juhu; Chef Roberto Zorzoli, JW Marriott Sahar; Chef Vincenzo Sirna, JW New Delhi Aerocity.

16th June, JW Marriott Bengaluru: Chef Marou, Marriott Whitefield Bengaluru; Chef Cristian Cabrera, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel; Chef Roberto Zorzoli, JW Marriott Sahar Mumbai.

20th June, JW Marriott Pune: Chef Cristian Cabrera, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel; Chef Alessio Banchero, JW Chandigarh; Chef Christian Huber, JW Marriott Pune.

Photo: (L to R) The Chefs being featured in the Italian Cook-Off; Hemant Tenneti, Area Director of Operation - South Asia, Marriott International.