Dare to Connect

Interview with Jelmer, Chef de Cuisine

What is your role and why at Crowne Plaza Amsterdam-South?

I am the Head Chef, responsible for all kitchen operations. I feel IHG emphasizes a lot on personal development. At this hotel, I was able to grow from chef de partie to head chef in less than 4 years. It shows the amount of trust the company will put in their employees if they are driven, and put a lot of efforts. For who is willing, the chances are endless at this hotel.

Why should anyone want to join your department?

In the kitchen, we are a very driven team: we want to develop ourselves but also each others. We like to do our very best to make each guest count. Every customer is equally important and we put a lot of effort to make the food experience as good as possible.

Why now?

Even in the current situation, when it’s not always easy in our kitchen, we are succeeding to do our job with a lot of pleasure. We receive a lot of compliments from freelancers who work with us on a regular basis. They say they love the atmosphere in our kitchen as well as in the whole hotel.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?

I am not big on travel. However in September this year, I went to the Faroes Islands, mainly to visit the 2-michelin-star restaurant KOKS. I had an amazing journey. I stopped in Copenhagen as well and had the chance to visit some of the culinary highlight of the city as well. In the future I would like take more of these foody trips when I look for the best local food. I definetly have some restaurants on my list!