"make your job out of your passion"

Italian national Simone Poser is Conrad Bangkok’s Chef de Cuisine, and oversees all menus and operations of the Conrad Bangkok Hotel which includes the Executive Lounge, Cafe@2 and the Diplomat Bar. Having served in various 5-star hotel restaurants in Thailand, Italy and France, Middle East such as Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort Hotel, and Grand Hotel du Cap-Farrat Four Seasons Hotel, Chef Simone brings with him 18 years of experience and has become one of the essential ingredients to the great success and international popularity of Conrad Bangkok.

Why did you choose to become a chef?

When I was a child I used to visit my grandparents during the summertime in Italy. They were both back then and still are my biggest inspiration. My grandmother taught me how to cook and respect your ingredients. Respecting your ingredients doesn't just start when you're making the meal - it extends much farther back, to even growing your own ingredients. I have learnt how to take care of all of my ingredients from start to plate, and to be able to differentiate what 'great quality' ingredients are and what's not. . She was my first mentor and the greatest drive that inspired me to become a chef, and is biggest part that inspired me to become a chef. I learnt how to discern things quality bit by bit, step by step. She was the one who told me to "make your job out of your passion" - my passion was cooking, and so it was only natural that I become a career chef.

What makes your food unique? What are the things that your team has to offer that others may not?

Each time I cook for a customer, it's as if I were cooking for my family. I always use the best quality and freshest products to ensure that the taste is original and authentic.

How do you stay competitive?

In this difficult period, I think being positive is a good start. As I had mentioned earlier, being a chef is not just a job for me but it’s my passion. It's the thing that motivates me every morning when I wake up to go to work. It's about thinking not just about myself, but also the guest; I need to be always thinking 'what can I best serve them that will ensure that they stay both healthy and happy today and into the future?'

What your favorite Mediterranean dish to make?

I love to cook anything that has a seafood base. My favorite would be home-made pasta like ravioli and Cappelletti; it’s the best moment to relax during the day.

What’s your own personal favorite dish?

Mediterranean dishes are something that are close to my heart and they're my speciality. For me they are very simple dishes like Spaghetti with tomato sauce. You use only a few ingredients but pay attention on the quality of those ingredients, and that simple Spaghetti dish can turn into one unforgettable dish.

I think that nowadays people pay more attention to their health but at the same time, also want to experience original tastes. So a trend I see would be healthy dishes that still remain authentic and original, but framed as 'personalized comfort food'.