New faces in Waterfront Mactan’s kitchen

Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan welcomes another two additions to its dynamic team. Bringing in new flavors to the gastronomic selections of UNO, Café Fortuna, Lobby Lounge and Room Service are Executive Chef Stephen del Amen and Pastry Chef Neil Vaño.

Chef Stephen, born and raised in La Trinidad, Benguet, holds a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. His interest on food and health paved the way to his culinary career. He first joined Baguio Country Club as Quality Assurance Officer for five years; then, he was promoted to Junior Sous Chef. His passion for food did not stop in the kitchen… he had his stint in the academe as culinary instructor in Saint Louis University-Baguio and the University of the Cordilleras.

Over lunch at UNO a week ago, Chef Stephen and Chef Neil Vaño were introduced to a group of media personalities and Lifestyle columnists. Chef Stephen and Chef Neil were informally but properly introduced by F&B Manager Rosalie Samson and January Leron, Marketing Communications Officer. We savored Chef Stephen’s marvelous food graciously prepared for the media people. With his vast experiences, as chef, in different hotels in the Visayas and Davao, Chef Stephen would be truly an asset to Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan.

As for Chef Neil, well, his being a graduate of a BS Psychology degree is an advantage for him in his career. Before he started working, he listed himself for cross-training program in pastry while he was with Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa lobby shop. When an opportunity came in, he then applied to be transferred to pastry kitchen as Service Associate under the leadership of renowned pastry chef Gabriel Garcia. Equipped with creativity, Chef Neil was awarded a Silver Medal of Distinction in 2008 Cebu Goes Culinary – Plated Dessert Category. In 2010, he joined the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. as Pasta-Pastry Assistant. Before he joined Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino, he was the Pastry Chef of Waterfront Hotel Insular Hotel Davao from 2011 to 2013.

The variety of experiences of this duo will bring a whole new gustatory delight to Waterfront Mactan’s kitchen. Do sample their creations when you visit Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan.