User:Nicolelobo/sandbox
Nigel Joseph Lobo (born April 10, 1990) is an award winning chef, author and restaurateur who currently works as the Executive Chef for Indibar Group in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Prior to this, he was the Group Executive Chef of Stars n Bars – UAE and the Executive Chef and Group Culinary Administrator at the Royal Orchid Hospitality Group in Dubai taking care of various standalone restaurants of various cuisines catering to different market segments. He was also the Chef de Cuisine at The Eloquent Elephant at the Taj in Business Bay, Dubai.
Nigel has studied Bachelors of Tourism Studies and carries a Post Graduate Diploma in Kitchen Management from the famed Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development (OCLD). He has trained at Miramar under Michelin star Chef Paco Perez and at Compartir under Chef Mateu Casanas in Spain; Attica in Australia under Chef Ben Shewry, La Vie under Chef Thomas Buhner in Germany and at a local tapas bar in Valladolid-La Tahona under Chef Jose.
He most recently was awarded a MAD Academy scholarship for Business and Leadership and the Pro Chef of the Year award as America and Caribbean Speciality Chef.
He has recently launched his book ‘Insight’ which is a comprehensive guide to become a successful chef in the industry, launched his own cookware brand for professional kitchens and has been feature extensively in National and International magazines, books and newspapers.
A career that started in his late teens, has trained Nigel to run restaurants, organize the logistics of service and supplies, price the menu in each segment, portion the plates, train staff and overall run a successful chain of restaurants.
Nigel remains passionate about Modern cuisine/techniques and is on a quest to share his experiences with young Chefs and Entrepreneurs of the restaurant industry.
His journey of been Chef de cuisine at 24, Executive Chef at 27 and Group Executive Chef at 29 has been nothing short of meteoric helping him to the semi finals of the San Pellegrino Young Chef in 2017 and the Runners Up as Rising Star of the Year the same year. He was named as part of the Power 50 list and Highly commended Head Chef of the year by Caterer ME in the UAE.
Early life
[edit]Lobo was born on April 10, 1990, in Khorfakkan, UAE, to Indian parents. He began cooking at age eighteen and credits his mother, Gordon Ramsey and television with first sparking his interest in food. He graduated from the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in 2013.
His interest in cooking started at a very young age but he never got into the kitchen till he was eighteen. He did prep and cleaned stations for two years before actual cooking and making pastries at The Oberoi, Bangalore.
He then moved on to the prestigious OCLD program and trained at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Trident Hotel in Gurgaon and Mumbai.
The western world of cooking always sparked his curiosity into cuisine, what the Michelin guide was about and how kitchens functioned. He applied to several of the best restaurants and trained with Attica in Melbourne(32 best restaurant in the world and best restaurant) and La vie(three Michelin stars) in Osnabruck, Germany.
He then went back to the Oberoi Udaivilas for a brief period applying for a scholarship based program to Spain.
Nigel then got selected in the 7th training program in Spanish Gastronomy where he lived in Spain, understood cuisine and culture and worked at top restaurants namely Compartir(the first restaurant of the chefs of Disfrutar) and Miramar
In 2015, Nigel then moved back to Dubai to work under Chef Jitin Joshi and open the award winning The Eloquent Elephant at the Taj, Dubai. Here he won numerous awards for the outlet as well as for standing out as runner up as Young Hospitality Leader of the Year and reaching the semi finals of the San Pellegrino Young Chef competition.
In 2018, helmed Royal Orchid Hospitality Groups culinary vertical opening up Asia Tang and Koko Bay that year which led him to win the Caterer ME Highly Commended Chef of the Year and led him to No.4 on the Power 50 list during a tough year impacted by Covid.
In 2020, he joined Stars n Bars – UAE, opening one outlet, three ghost kitchen concepts and streamlining. During this time he cooked at Expo 2020 in a 50 hand dinner and got featured in The Best of Dubai Gastronomy.
In 2022, he launched his book Insight which helps young chefs in making the right choices in the culinary world.
In 2023, he moved to the United States to open Indibar group and all the brands associated with it
Cuisine
[edit]Nigel Lobo’s approach to cooking blend traditional flavours with modern techniques with local ingredients. He is inspired by what was cooked at home and brings it to life with modern presentations. He currently features khube sukkem, prawn and mango curry, dosa and appam on his menu.
Awards
[edit]Pro Chef ME 2022 – Americas and Caribbean Speciality Chef Caterer ME Power 50 List 2020 – No 4
Fact Dining Awards 2021 - Favourite North American Restaurant, Abu Dhabi
Highly Commended Head Chef of the Year – Standalone restaurant 2020
Best Pub – What’s On Awards 2018 Best Chinese Food – What’s On 2018
Best Pub Food – Time Out Dubai 2017
Best Pub Food (Runners Up) – Time Out Dubai 2018
Young Hotelier of the Year Runner’s Up – Leaders in Hospitality Awards
San Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 Semi Finalist – Middle East and North Africa
OK! Editors Choice – Dine and Divine Award 2016
2 Hats by What’s On Black Hat Guide – 2015
Education
[edit]MAD Academy scholar, Leadership and Business, Copenhagen, Denmark
Escuela Internacional de Cocina, Valladolid, Spain
Post Graduate Diploma in Kitchen Management - The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development (OCLD), India
Bachelor of Tourism Studies - Indira Gandhi National Open University, India
The Indian High School, Dubai -All India Senior School Certificate Examination (12th Grade)
-All India Secondary School Certificate Examination (10th Grade)
Published Books
-Insight 2022
A comprehensive guide to help you become a successful chef in the culinary world
-The Best of Dubai Gastronomy 2022
-Take Portugal with you 2021
-Come Together for India with India’s finest chefs 2020