Warwick Fiji has welcomed from the Middle East the highly experienced and acclaimed executive chef Ahmad Kansou. He is visiting Warwick Fiji to showcase Arabic Cuisine to the resort guests and share his skills with the resort’s team of local chefs.

Chef Ahmad’s signature Middle Eastern dishes, including whole goat marinated in spices and served on a bed of fragrant oriental rice garnished with pistachios, cashews and almonds, will be featured in an exotic Arabic themed buffet every Saturday night at the Bula Brasserie restaurant during his visit.

Arabic cuisine is a combination of Levantine cuisine from the Mediterranean, and desert Bedouin and Hinterland cuisines which highlight beef, chicken, lamb and fish.

The aromatic dishes are barbequed or slow cooked in tagines with Arabic spices such as cumin, paprika, sumac and flavoured with oregano, thyme, rosemary, lemon, garlic and olive oil.

Lebanese mezze or cold starters of falafel, tabbouleh, hummous, and mutabal are featured in the buffet along with BBQ items including lamb rack, spiced kebabs, kofta, and shish tawook which is skewered chicken cooked in Arabic spices.

General manager of Warwick Fiji Brad Downton said: “We are delighted to have a chef of Ahmad’s calibre in our kitchens, imparting new cooking techniques and culinary expertise to our highly talented kitchen brigade.

“Introducing another dining experience for our guests will only further enhance our food offering at Warwick Fiji and complement Wicked Walu, TripAdvisor’s number one rated restaurant in Fiji.”

Originally from Lebanon Chef Ahmad’s international career has spanned several countries including Lebanon, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai where he was executive chef at J W Marriott.   

His experience includes 10 years of executive level positions with Marriott Hotels international in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Dubai, and Sheraton and Holiday Inn in Saudi Arabia.

Chef Ahmad was previously Executive Chef at two large catering operations in the Middle East, one of them being the Royal Catering Company in Abu Dhabi which caters for up to 50,000 guests and where he was responsible for managing 180 chefs and 50 stewards.  Later this year Chef Ahmad will be based in Saudi Arabia with Warwick Hotels and Resorts.

Chef Ahmad’s Arabic Buffet will be available at Warwick Fiji every Saturday evening in Bula Brasserie until September 30, 2017.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj