Chef returns to Diva with creative approach to Cascadian cuisine and ready to nurture a new generation in the kitchen
www.divamet.com
The Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver is thrilled to welcome Chef Hamid Salimian back into the fold in the role of Executive Chef. Known for his contemporary, creative approach to cuisine, Chef Salimian will be heading the hotel’s kitchen team, taking on the leadership of the property’s entire culinary program, including Diva at the Met restaurant, banquets, room service and off-site catering.
A true example of the hotel’s commitment to training and mentorship, Chef Salimian spent five years at Diva at the Met earlier in his career, learning from and training under some of the esteemed chefs that have called the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver home, including Chris Mills, Scott Baechler, Ray Henry and Thomas Haas.
“It’s an honour to come back to the Metropolitan in the role of Executive Chef,” says Chef Salimian. “Not only has this hotel been at the forefront of innovative, locally-inspired and sourced cuisine, it’s also played a huge role in the careers of some of this country’s very best chefs. I was lucky enough to work under some of those chefs, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play a part in inspiring a new generation of cooks in the Diva kitchen.”
Chef Salimian has worked in some of British Columbia’s most highly regarded kitchens, starting with his apprenticeship at Vancouver’s Sutton Place Hotel, where he was named Apprentice of the Year in 2002. He was also Executive Sous Chef at The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria, and most recently was the opening Executive Chef at the Westin Wall Centre, Richmond.
Chef Salimian leads a kitchen team that includes a number of rising-stars on Vancouver’s culinary horizon. His team includes Senior Sous Chef Romeo Bartyuk, who joined the property in 2008 after working his way up through some of the city’s most acclaimed hotel culinary teams; and Sous Chef Jeff Kang, who came to the Metropolitan from C Restaurant in 2010 and earlier this year won the Fetzer Great Beginnings Appetizer and Wine Challenge at the 2011 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival.
Diva at the Met has recently welcomed new restaurant manager and sommelier, Corey Bauldry, who leads Diva’s front-of-house team and is responsible for the restaurant’s wine program. Most recently at DB Bistro Moderne, Bauldry combines both a passion for food and wine, with a talent for hospitality and service. His passion and knowledge is evident in both the training Diva’s service team, and shared with guests offering a unique and memorable dining experience.
This year marks Diva at the Met’s 15th anniversary. In recognition of the occasion and the restaurant’s influential role in Vancouver’s culinary progression, the Div[a]ine Evolution event was held on March 10, 2011, bringing back all of the restaurant’s former executive chefs for a dinner to celebrate Diva at the Met’s culinary journey, and the impact Diva has had on the city’s dining scene through mentoring a generation of young chefs.
About Metropolitan Hotels
Metropolitan Hotels operates three luxury properties: Metropolitan Toronto, the Soho Metropolitan and the Metropolitan Vancouver. With more than 750 rooms, Metropolitan Hotels is committed to providing luxury accommodation for business and leisure travellers seeking an independent choice. A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Metropolitan Hotels strives to provide superior service with distinctive accommodations. Award-winning restaurants at Metropolitan Hotels include Hemispheres and Lai Wah Heen (Metropolitan Toronto), Senses (SoHo Metropolitan), Diva at the Met (Metropolitan Vancouver) and Lai Toh Heen (mid-town Toronto).
