MEET THE CHEF

Chef Fotios was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, into a family deeply rooted in the restaurant business. His grandfather owned a seafood restaurant on the beach, a small operation during the winter months, and a large 500-seat establishment in the summer. As a young boy, Fotios would accompany his grandfather to the markets, learning how to select the freshest seafood and vegetables. Every summer, he worked alongside his grandfather, taking on any task required, but he always gravitated toward the kitchen, where his true passion lay.

Fotios enrolled in Ermis Mesogiuki Kousina, a culinary school in Thessaloniki, and graduated with a Chef’s degree. After his grandfather passed away, the restaurant was passed down to Fotios, who worked diligently as Head Chef. After several years, Fotios discovered another deep-rooted passion: travel. He began craving more culinary knowledge and was eager to explore the world.

His first stop was Munich, Germany, where he enrolled in Heralds Kuchschule and graduated with a degree in hot and cold buffets. He then traveled to Australia, attending the Culinary Arts School in Queensland, where he mastered the art of Garde Manger. Throughout his culinary journey, Fotios received many awards and accolades, which were instrumental in his appointment as Personal Chef to Romanian President Ion Iliescu from 1995 to 1996.

His dreams eventually led him to America, where he has worked for the past 24 years in various roles, including Executive Chef, Garde Manger, menu writer, teacher, and troubleshooter, in restaurants, hotels, and other fine establishments.