Mustapha Haj Omar Joins Outrigger Laguna Phuket as Executive Sous Chef

Mustapha Haj Omar has joined Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand as Executive Sous Chef – Oriental and Mediterranean Cuisine.

Before joining Outrigger to run Metzo's, the hotel's specialist Mediterranean restaurant, Mustapha was the head chef at the One & Only Reethi Rah Resort and Spa in the Maldives, a regular host to royalty, celebrities and VIPs. He was responsible for the luxury resort's Lebanese and Arabic restaurant, Fanditha Kitchen, and all Middle Eastern, Maldivian and Mediterranean cuisine in the resort.

Mustapha has also led Lebanese and Mediterranean kitchens at Mon Liban, Luxembourg; the Shangri-La Villingili, Maldives; the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel; and Le Meridien Dubai, among many others over the last 18 years. In 2002 he spent six months in charge of all Lebanese and Middle Eastern food preparation in the Palace of the Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"Mustapha is a star of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Arabic dining," said Tony Pedroni, General Manager of the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. "He combines a family-inspired passion for taste with an impressive track record that has seen him cook for royalty in the Gulf region, host his own cooking shows on Bahraini television, and deliver private culinary events for discerning guests across Asia."

At Metzo's, Mustapha is now implementing his range of signature dishes such as Hummus (puree of chickpeas, sesame paste, tahini, lemon juice and garlic), Moutabal (puree of grilled eggplants), Tabouleh (Lebanese salad of parsley, bourghul, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, olive oil and spices), Falafel with Tahini sauce, Jawaniha Dajaj (Mustapha's chicken wings), Shish Kebab, Shish Taouk (Turkish-style chicken breast marinated in garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and spices grilled on skewers and served with garlic sauce and rice), and Samakeh Harra (grilled fish marinated in chilli, citrus and cilantro).

"I love the challenge of cooking for guests with high expectations," said Mustapha. "They inspire me to continue learning and always be at my best."

Mustapha's signature dishes at Metzo's will be available from Friday, 6 February 2015.