Dubai, UAE, September 29, 2016:  JA Resorts & Hotels has welcomed Chef Eka Mochamad aboard Bateaux Dubai, the award winning culinary journey on Dubai Creek. In his role as Chef de Cuisine, the newly appointed Chef Eka will oversee all aspects of the five star luxury floating restaurant’s dining experience and will also be unveiling Bateaux Dubai’s delectable new menu.

The 29 year old, Indonesian-born,Chef Eka, brings in more than 10 years of hands-on experience in professional cooking and kitchen management in the UAE, with a background in French cuisine. The talented young chef is currently one of the top ten finalists from the Middle East selected to compete for the coveted S.Pellegrino Young Chef Award 2016. The award, created by the sparkling mineral water brand, S.Pellegrino, promotes emerging talent in the culinary world. Chefs are selected based on their expertise in five key areas: ingredients, skills, genius, beauty, and message. Chef Eka has honed his culinary experience in several five star hotels such as Atlantis, and Shangri- la. Furthermore he led the Pepper restaurant in the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa for two years, which was awarded the Best International Restaurant 2015 by Food and Travel Magazine.

Chef Eka has also been selected as one of the members of the United Arab Emirates National Team, which is set to compete in the Culinary Olympics held in Germany this year, against countries from all over the world. Additionally he has won several awards across the years, including Medals from International Culinary Competitions across the Middle East and Europe. 

Having worked with world renowned chefs like Mansour Memarian, Michel Rostang, Bruno Menard and Philipe Estebeche, who have all received Michelin stars for restaurants they have run, Chef Eka aims to bring his unique expertise to the table. “My key to any new dish is to challenge myself and experiment with flavours, I always enjoy finding inspiration in an array of cultures and developing a fusion of flavours”.

In his aim to cook dishes with the finest ingredients available in the market, Chef Eka provides his guests with a balanced flavour that drive a new taste while savouring the original one. This can be seen in his signature dish, Beetroot Salad with Goat Cheese, Parsley Sponge, Orange Gel and Bitter Chocolate Soil. The fusion of both Arabic culture and traditional flavours has all the makings of a delicious dish.

For its culinary excellence and as an unforgettable experience, the Bateaux Dubai cruise is consistently featured among the top ten experiences in Dubai on TripAdvisor and has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence.  In 2015 Bateaux Dubai was awarded the prestigious Fuad Barahim Award for Excellence by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, which recognises fine wine, cuisine and dining in the UAE.