FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
Fly Chicago

Corporate Chef Rainer Zinngrebe, The Ritz-Carlton

by Kimberly Inlander

Apr 1, 2016
2016

To head the global culinary innovation, strategy and execution for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel chains looked to Rainer Zinngrebe, whose illustrious career spans more than 30 award-winning years. Zinngrebe inspires Ritz-Carlton chefs globally to “cook with passion, relevance and with the cultural preferences of their guests in mind.” His leadership and influence can be found in kitchens around the world including the United States, Canada, China, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Egypt and more.

© The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.

© The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.

Zinngrebe joined the brand in 2002, creating The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun Culinary Center, a recreational kitchen facility. In Cancún, he led the hotel’s two fine-dining restaurants to multiple AAA Five Diamond awards.

Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Zinngrebe held multiple executive chef positions at hotels around Asia, including Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur; Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok; and The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. He’s authored two cookbooks, Beyond Fusion and Small Bites Big Taste, and co-authored several others.

Under Zinngrebe’s direction, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. earned 13 Michelin stars for 2016 across eight restaurants in six hotels in Asia and Europe, securing the hotel company’s reputation as a leader in culinary excellence and innovation.

What three go-to ingredients are always in your home kitchen?
It sounds basic, but besides the obvious salt, pepper, garlic and onions, I always have chicken stock, pasta and a good olive oil around — and some Parmesan cheese. Those few ingredients allow me to whip up a dinner for the family pretty quickly from a simple pasta dish to a risotto or a chicken noodle soup.

What’s your favorite season for cooking, and why?
From late spring to early summer, as it is probably the best season as far as ingredient availability goes, particularly the abundance of white asparagus, peas, wild mushrooms, fresh fruit and more. It’s really a chef’s dream, as you can have a lot of fun with many things that grow in that season.

Aside from your current position, what’s the best job you’ve ever had?
Wow, that’s a difficult one! I guess my entire career has been a series of wonderful jobs that allowed me to see the world, work with interesting people and learn about different cultures and cuisine. It is hard to pick one that was better than the other. I always say different jobs taught me different things — working in Korea taught me how to manage a large number of staff in a difficult cultural environment and made me a better leader, while working at La Tante Claire in London made me a better cook. Each position allowed me to learn, grow and experience, making me successful in my role today.

What’s the first meal you ever cooked?
I don’t remember the first meal I ever cooked, but it was probably a schnitzel and French fries at my parents’ pub at the age of 10 or 11. I do remember my first “event” I cooked all on my own, which was my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary when I was a second-year apprentice. I cooked a full buffet from scratch for about 60 people. It took me three days, and I was proud when it all came together and people enjoyed it.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Offers a Bevy of Holiday Events

There may not be snow in Los Angeles this season, but Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is certainly full of the holiday spirit, with Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s events happening in the hotel’s gorgeous event spaces.

Why Buy Trip Cancellation Insurance?

Don’t risk losing all the money you’ve spent if you must cancel your trip at the last minute. Allianz Travel Insurance can give you:

Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Vagabonds

Looking for fun things to stuff into the toe of a few holiday stockings? Here are some great choices:

Destinations / North America
Dec 4, 2023

6 U.S. Christmas Markets to See on Your Travels

It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these U.S. Christmas markets with us.

Briggs & Riley: Elevate Your Journey with Quality Luggage

Embracing a life well lived often means embracing a life well-traveled. Every journey becomes a canvas for experiences that shape our lives and at the heart of every adventure lies the indispensable companion: quality luggage.

Daily
Dec 4, 2023

Hotels Around the World Unveil Incredible Designer Holiday Trees

Everyone loves a good Christmas tree, but these iconic hotels around the world take it one step further with designer-styled trees illuminating lobbies and public spaces, wowing all who enter. From Lela Rose to Louis Vuitton, don’t miss these ultra-luxury trees redefining tree decorating as we know it.

Daily
Dec 1, 2023

Kokomo Restaurant Offers Modern Caribbean Cuisine, Music and Art in Transformed NYC Neighborhood

As first-time restaurateurs, but with plenty of hospitality-related experience, Ria and Kevol (Kev) Graham were not entirely comfortable opening their first restaurant in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, where several upscale restaurants and 5-star hotel dining is just a block away. And to make matters worse, they opened in July 2020, when New York City was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IHG® Business Edge: A Better Way to Travel

Many small- and medium-sized businesses face time and budget constraints when organizing corporate hotel travel for employees. To address this problem, IHG® Business Edge emerged as a cost-free business travel solution for small- to medium-sized enterprises, offering travel managers exclusive access to enticing perks, handpicked educational resources and comprehensive company travel metrics. IHG Business Edge connects our loyal customers to our portfolio of 5,800 hotels and resorts across 18 brands in more than 100 countries.

Daily
Dec 1, 2023

The River Less Traveled: 3 Compelling River Cruise Itineraries Debuting in 2024

In addition to intimate settings, smaller staff-to-passenger ratios, and personalized food and beverage options, river cruises have the advantage of providing a deeper dive into a region’s culture, food and history. The Rhine, Rhône and Danube in Europe and the Mississippi River and St. Lawrence in North America have much to offer travelers with their itineraries, tying together beloved cities and lesser-known destinations along their routes.