The Reverie Saigon Appoints Paul Pettini as Executive Chef of Café Cardinal

The Reverie Saigon has appointed Paul Pettini as Executive Chef of Café Cardinal, the hotel’s fine dining French restaurant.

Paul, a French national, has joined the team after two years as head chef at Jardin Des Sens, a French restaurant by three-star Michelin chefs, Jacques and Laurent Pourcel.

Prior to that, Paul worked sous chef de cuisine at Hotel Marinca & Spa by Chef MOF Jean Luc L’Hourre on the French island of Corsica.

Over the course of his career Paul has also worked under other Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF) chefs, one of the highest honors a chef can achieve in France, like MOF Frank Ferrigutti; and at Michelin-starred restaurants like La Bouitte by Chef Rene.

“Café Cardinal’s kitchen is going through an evolution,” said Paul. “Behind the scenes we’re focusing on intensifying the flavors and adding more contemporary tastes, while in the dining room we’re bringing more of a show to our customers. One example is we’re announcing our dishes in a way that tells their story.”

The French chef’s own culinary story started in his youth.

“Ever since I was a child, watching my mother in the kitchen and taking in all the amazing aromas and dishes she created for each dinner, I knew I wanted to cook for a living,” Paul said. “I got involved in the kitchen from a young age and helped my mother prepare food whenever I had the time.”

Although his mother had a strong impact on his direction, Paul doesn’t have one distinct cooking style and it’s this progressive approach he hopes to bring to Café Cardinal.

“Cooking is something that is shared and passed on at all times, it is constantly evolving. That’s what makes it so interesting,” he said.

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