Meet the InterContinental & Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars’ Chefs

If you’re looking to dine at the InterContinental or Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars Hotels, you’ve got flavour decisions to make long before you crack open a menu. These hotels boast a wide range of restaurants that are just as varied in flavour as they are consistent in excellence. There’s Fayruz’s Lebanese spreads, Indira Indian Restaurant’s curries, Shogun’s Japanese dishes, and Al Khal’s take on authentic Egyptian cooking – and while these venues offer very different items, they all prioritise freshness and flavour. What’s the secret to this high standard? Nothing more or less than the IHG’s team of talented chefs.

In honour of the individuals behind their culinary creations, these two iconic hotels are inviting you to peek behind their kitchen doors. In their new ‘Tales of Taste’ campaign, the InterContinental Cairo Citystars and Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars Hotels are sharing the stories of the culinary creators behind it all…

Director of Kitchens Chef Jean Claude Fugier

All Locations

InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel and Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

Kicking off the ‘Tales of Taste’ is Chef Jean Claude Fugier, the chef who is responsible for all the kitchens in these two hotels. Born in Lyon, France, this French chef started his career in Michelin-starred restaurants; since then, he has spent time in the kitchens of top hotels like Grand Hyatt Moscow, Fairmont Heliopolis, and more. His illustrious career has spanned more than 22 years. What are some highlights from Chef Fugier’s time on the upper crust of the global hotel industry? A few include being named Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant Koumir de Michel Troisgros in 2003, joining the Grand Hyatt Moscow as Executive Sous Chef in 2007, and the time he spent as the Executive Chef at Hyatt hotels in Egypt and India.

Chef de Cuisine Joe Tomoyuki

Shogun Japanese Restaurant

InterContinental Cairo Citystars

Chef Tomoyuki’s 25 years of experience have led him from Dubai’s iconic Tokyo-based Gonpachi restaurant to the kitchens of the InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel. He endeavours to preserve the freshness and flavour of his ingredients through his unique cooking style, which is a seamless blend of Asian and Western culture. Chef Tomoyuki’s philosophy is that his dishes should bring the ultimate joy to his guests.

Executive Sous Chef Vikram Ghorpade

Indira Indian Restaurant

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

After mastering his craft in Hyderabad, Goa, and Mumbai, Chef Vikram is now focused on putting authentic Indian dining on Cairo and Sahel’s culinary map. Chef Ghorpade finds the inspiration to strive for excellence from his childhood. The chef grew up in an environment where good food was highly valued – now, he loves to see Indira’s guests enjoying his dishes, which he says is his ultimate motivation.

Indian Cuisine Specialty Chef JP

Indira Indian Restaurant

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

Meet the man behind Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars’ new Kerala menu. The aromatic spices of these dishes will transport you to southwestern India – but Chef JP’s culinary experience is from all over the country. While managing an Indian kitchen, he served up North Indian cuisine to local clients, destination diners and celebrities. With over 15 years of experience from the InterContinental Nairobi, Chef JP is known for his ability to be a great teammate to colleagues from all over the world.

Executive Sous Chef Bassam Boulous

Fayruz Lebanese Restaurant

InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel

Chef Bassem has more than 20 years of experience in five-star hotels. He is committed to excellence, and has an unmatched attention to detail and commitment to authenticity. Chef Boulous’s skills are essential to ensuring that the spirit of Lebanese cuisine shines in all of Fayrouz’s dishes, in which every component is made in-house and from scratch with ingredients from the hotel’s gardens. His favourite thing to prepare are seafood plates; he finds the process of perfecting them both thrilling and rewarding.

Pastry Chef Abdallah Kamel

My Bakery

InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel

The InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel has been celebrating Chef Abdallah for his dedication to his craft and his willingness to share his knowledge for two decades. Chef Abdallah’s culinary journey has taken him to destinations as far flung as Turkey and Australia, where he won top prizes in international culinary competitions for his incredible desserts. Look for his exquisite cakes at the InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel – their intricate flavours and heavenly textures are simply unmatched. His wedding cakes and Noga Glace desserts are especially unmatched.

Executive Sous Chef Yasser El-Masry

All Locations

InterContinental Cairo Citystars Hotel and Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

While Chef El-Masry loves exploring the culinary traditions of different cultures, he thinks the classic Egyptian food of Al Khal can’t be beat. His unique culinary background (and love of French cooking) enriches his contributions to all the restaurants at InterContinental and Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars hotels. His colleagues applaud his attention to the intricacies of different cuisines, as well as the creativity he employs to elevate every dish he touches. Chef El-Masry holds a master’s degree in authentic Egyptian cooking, and is well-versed in the traditions and flavours of every governorate. This mastery of Egyptian cuisine is reflected in the menus and promotions of Al Khal.