The Nai Harn is delighted to welcome Kevin Jean Fawkes as its Culinary Director, joining the team for the re-launch of this iconic Phuket luxury resort. Chef Fawkes brings with him a wealth of culinary stardust from Michelin starred experience in the great British kitchen of Anton Edelman at the Savoy Hotel London, to stints at cutting edge restaurants by Sir Terence Conran, Gordon Ramsay, Jason Atherton, Albert Roux and Noma’s legendary René Redzepi.
Chef Fawkes is the latest boldfaced hire at The Nai Harn, the only resort on Phuket accepted into the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection, which opens January 16th following 18 months of extensive renovations. Breezy and casual, Chef Fawkes’ restaurant, the Rock Salt, will feature dishes showcasing delectable cuisine with a distinctively Asian edge.
At lunch, the focus is on contemporary Thai classics and international favourites, including wood-fired pizzas, tandoori baked seafood and market seafood display from the Rawai fisherman. As the sun sets, Rock Salt restaurant transitions into Nai Harn Beach’s premier chill-out destination. A menu is inspired by the culinary traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa with a splash of Thai influence in a relaxed al fresco ambiance. Kevin Jean Fawkes will also be tasked with ensuring The Nai Harn’s other main restaurant, Cosmo, delivers on its promise of a refined journey through diverse culinary traditions from around the world. The menu reflects the chef’s passion for travel and new cultural experiences, while an underpinning of Southern Thai flavours pays homage to The Nai Harn’s rich Phuket heritage.
GM of The Nai Harn Frank Grassmann said he was delighted to have lured Kevin Jean Fawkes to Phuket. “He is a special kind of chef, he has the creative spark but more than that he really inspires loyalty and leads by example with his team,” he said. “That’s where the real magic happens.”
Chef Fawkes said he was looking forward to the challenge of being part of The Nai Harn’s founding team, as well as being part of a property which has a true legacy of luxury and is a genuine icon of Phuket hospitality. Kevin holds a plethora of awards under his belt of experience, and these include the eco award at The World Traveller Awards, and the Mr & Mrs Smith winner of World’s best five star luxury family resort. Other highlights include, Iron Chef Thailand 2013, and an international culinary judge of the World Association of Chefs Society (WACS) and Member of the British Culinary Federation.
High profile guests at the Nai Harn over the years have included Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince Henrik of Denmark, former French president Jacques Chirac, the late actor Sir Peter Ustinov, dance legend Rudoph Nureyev, US actor Forest Whittaker and Roger Moore, who once fought Scaramanga on his famously eponymous James Bond Island off the coast of Phang Nga, a short speedboat hop away.
The new Nai Harn will offer 130 luxurious guest rooms and suites with panoramic views over the soft white sands and graded azure and turquoise hues of the Andaman Sea, a bespoke luxury spa and a stunning new pool and food and beverage spaces. Leading with a promise of pure romance at Thailand’s best beach, as voted by users of TripAdvisor, The Nai Harn will provide authentic destination experiences, extraordinary culinary happenings and expertly curated connections to the best of island life and southern Thai culture. It is also the only hotel directly on the ocean at Nai Harn beach.
