InterContinental Bucharest has a new Executive Chef

InterContinental Bucharest announced it welcomed on board its new Executive Chef, Cristian Marino.

2014-11-13 16:56:00

As an Executive Chef of the InterContinental Bucharest, Chef Cristian Marino will be in charge of the overall operation and administration of the culinary team of three outlets – Corso Brasserie, Modigliani Restaurant and Intermezzo Bar, as well as the banquet kitchen team.

His other roles include food quality improvement based on local products and new market offers, dealing with suppliers, create new menus to provide the hotel's valued guests an excellent dining experience.

Cristian was inspired to cook at an early age by spending time in the family's kitchen, tasting and helping his parents in their own local restaurant. "I grew up in a restaurant. My best daily TV show was observing my parents running the restaurant, so I believe the passion for cooking is a gift from them" says the new Executive Chef of the InterContinental Bucharest.

He further developed an appreciation and understanding of the cuisine specializing himself in fine dining.

After finishing his studies he did an internship at the Disneyland Paris and worked in local Italian restaurants and hotels to gain experience as a local Chef. The youth, the passion for traveling and the desire of sharing his knowledge about the Italian cuisine drove Cristian abroad. During his experience in UK, Spain, Bulgaria and Croatia he promoted the authentic Italian cuisine, by designing high quality Italian dishes and menus for Italian restaurants as well as for international hotel brands and for a six-star cruise.

"I like to cook anything that is healthy and colourful – Italian cuisine, of course, but also Spanish. I like changing the menus according to the season, but pasta, risotto, pizza, fresh fish and seafood are my favourite to cook and to eat as well!" declare Cristian Marino.

His interest in learning about cuisines and cultures beyond Italy, led him to Bucharest in 2009, to work for the newly open Radisson Blu hotel as Italian Chef de cuisine in charge with creating an authentic northern-Italian menu. In August 2013, the almost 10 years of experience supported him in being transferred as Executive Chef to hotels from the same hotel chain in Sofia and Split, where he performed until moving to the InterContinental Bucharest.

"After my first experience in Bucharest, I left saying instead of . I like Romania and the people here, so when I had the chance to come back, I didn't think twice, especially that the offer was from a landmark hotel of the city."

Cristian Marino is 32 years old; he was born in Milano, Northern Italy and grew up in Calabria, Southern Italy. He studied gastronomy at the prestigious Italian institute "E.Maggia Stresa". Besides Italian, he speaks English and Spanish fluently and even basic Romanian.