Leela Appoints Marco Priolo Chef in Mumbai

Chef Marco Priolo Joins Stella at Luxury Indian Hotel

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. July 20, 2010

July 19, 2010 - One of India's most renowned luxury hotel brands, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts has appointed Chef Marco Priolo as the new chef for Stella, the Italian restaurant at The Leela Kempinski Mumbai.

Born in Chiari, Lombardy, this Italian recognized his affinity towards pots and ladles quite early in life, when he was all of 14 years of age. After 5 years of rigorous study in the culinary academy of Gardone Riviera, his first assignment was with Zucca Restaurant as assistant to the sous chef. From there, he travelled through Italy and various other countries gathering valuable knowledge and wooing palates along the way.

What brought him to being a chef? “My grandmother and my mother! The dedication and passion with which they made food have been the most inspiring lessons of my life.” A gourmand by habit, he loves exploring new cuisines and lives to eat. “For me, a pasta a day keeps the doctor away,” says Chef Marco with a big smile. His favorite cuisines, besides Italian of course, are - topping the list - Spanish followed by Thai, Japanese and last, but not least, Chinese. The different cooking styles and the distinctive flavors make these cuisines his hot picks.

He fondly remembers an incident where the famous Italian singer Pavarotti popped into the kitchen and surprised everyone. “He humbly told us to cook something really close to our hearts and sat with us as we cooked. We were transfixed, but his spectacular sense of humor actually made us laugh till we cried.”

Chef Marco has delighted the appetites of many eminent personalities like Pierce Brosnan, the King of Thailand, Fabio Capello - coach of the English soccerl team and the Prime Minister of Italy.

What brings him to India is the diversity of the country. “I have served many palates in Italy, Germany, Thailand and Japan. What amuses me is the enthusiasm of people here to go that extra mile to eat something authentic. I learned this from my colleagues over the years, which is why I am here to explore, learn and satiate.” Bearing this in mind, Chef Marco plans to bring in more varieties of traditional Italian flavors ranging from the north to the south of Italy, as well as classic presentations that have never been brought to the Indian table before.

Set on 11 lushly-landscaped acres amid waterfalls and lotus ponds, the luxurious Leela Kempinski Mumbai is a tranquil refuge from the hustle and bustle of India's largest city. Guests enter through towering cast-iron gates and continue up the drive through tropical gardens of palms, mango and banyan trees. Known as one of the premier business hotels in India's financial capital, The Leela boasts expansive rooms, a spa featuring the renowned ESPA products, a large swimming pool and a gym equipped with personal trainers. Recently the “Royal Club,” underwent a $25 million renovation. Its prime location - five minutes from the international airport and 15 minutes from the domestic airport - is a plus for both leisure and business travelers. And with more than 16,000 square feet of meeting space, The Leela is popular with incentives and meeting planners.

About Hotel Leelaventure Limited
Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. operates The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kovalam (Kerala), Gurgaon and Udaipur. Located in key business and leisure destinations, and planning a pan-India presence, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts are a blend of aesthetic sensibility, modern amenities and truly reflect the essence of India. New hotels will soon open in New Delhi (2010) and Chennai (2011); with plans to develop hotels in Agra, Hyderabad, Pune and Lake Ashtamudi in Kerala. The group has marketing alliances with Germany-based Kempinski (Hoteliers since 1897); US-based Preferred Hotel Group and are members of Global Hotel Alliance based in Geneva, Switzerland.