EXECUTIVE CHEF AT RADISSONBLU ADDIS ABABA
Chef Yonas was born on the 4th of December 1981, at a small city called Wolliso which is 114 KM’s away from Addis Ababa. Inspired by his Traditional Cook Mother and her excellent cooking skills, Chef Yonas Zekarias has always been passionate about food. His culinary career began 16 years ago in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia when he joined pioneer food preparation and catering school. Even though he studied culinary arts and got his diploma, finding a job as a professional chef was a challenge. So he had to work as a waiter and a bar man at a small bar and restaurants in Addis until 2003.
On 2003, Chef Yonas got a job at an Indian restaurant as a commie and learned how to make several traditional and modern Asian cuisines. He worked at this restaurant for three years and moved to Ajanta Indian Restaurant as a tandoori chef serving authentic Indian cuisines to Addis Ababa’s Residents and tourists.
After a year of service at this restaurant, he got the opportunity to join Addis Catering as a Chef De partie on 2008. Addis Catering is an international catering plant which is first of its kind in the region and the most modern catering facility in Africa designed and built to meet the highest international standards and requirements for airline catering. There, he took many trainings and had the chance to work with highly professional international chef’s. He says “working for Addis Catering shaped and sharpened his professional career as a sue chef and had the best culinary experience of his life”. After three years and six months of service at Addis catering, he was moved as banquet sues chef position On 2012, he joined the Radisson Blu Hotel Addis Ababa and develop his career as an Executive Sue chef and stayed until 2015. He had the chance to go to South Africa to study many culinary arts, kitchen Management skills and Hygiene procedures to meet the international standards with his industry peers at other Radisson Blu Hotels.
Chef Yonas joined the Pre- Opening team of Marriott Executive Apartments Addis Ababa as an Executive Sous chef on July 10/2015 and was upgraded to an Executive Chef Position and served until Dec.07/2019.
Looking for a new exciting project, chef Yonas again joined Radissonblu Hotel Addis Ababa as an Executive chef on Dec.09/2019 His Expertise, attention to detail, and masterful artistry is a powerful combination that has earned him the position. His ultimate goal is to create memorable dining experiences for all guests.