Being his mother’s favourite child, Chef Jimmy’s love for food began in his mother’s kitchen. His mother always encouraged him to help her cook and try out whatever she was creating, thus inspiring him to become a chef.

Years later, Jimmy started his career with Trader Vic’s as far back as 1990 and moved through the ranks. He first started in Hamburg, Germany, made his way to Europe and the Middle East and moved to Beach Rotana in 1994 where he helped open the very first Trader Vic’s in the region after being trained by Jacky Laugénie, the Corporate Executive Chef, to become the Speciality Chef in Abu Dhabi. 27 years later, Chef Jimmy is still the vibrant spirit of Trader Vic’s where he presents a tantalising mix of French, Creole and Chinese flavours in an upbeat atmosphere.

“I am very proud to have opened the first Trader Vic’s in the Middle East. It was very exciting to see that a restaurant that was not known in this part of the world become the restaurant it is today”, said Chef Jimmy.