IHG® Culinary Journey Programme Takes Diners on a Voyage of Flavour With Signature Dishes From Celebrated Chefs

Delhi, India, August 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched its Culinary Journey promotion. The new initiative features signature dishes from its panel of IHG® Culinary Ambassadors offering diners the chance to sample exciting cuisines from renowned and celebrated chefs - including home-grown talent Chef Vikas Khanna representing Indian cuisine - at restaurants across InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA). 

From 17 August to 15 November 2015, a series of seven bespoke three-course menus crafted to feature the creations of each IHG Culinary Ambassador will be available at InterContinental and Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts. Within each of the seven set menus, diners will have a choice of one each of two appetisers, two main courses and two desserts:

 17 – 30 August: Michelin star Indian cuisine  by Chef Vikas Khanna 

 31 August – 13 September: Modern Australian by acclaimed Chef Ross Lusted 

 14 –27 September: Thai Cuisine from award winning Chef Ian Kittichai 

 28 September – 11 October: Chinese cuisine from Chef Sam Leong

 12 – 25 October: Two Michelin star Japanese by Chef Takagi Kazuo 

 26 October – 1 November: Modern Bakery from Chef Dean Brettschneider 

 2 – 15 November: Italian cuisine from top Chef Theo Randall  

Throughout the 13-week programme, restaurants at Holiday Inn hotels and resorts will offer a set menu featuring an exciting combination of dishes by Chef Theo Randall, Chef Sam Leong and Chef Vikas Khanna. Diners will be able to choose from a selection of three appetisers, three main courses and three desserts, with options such as Chef Sam Leong’s signature Wasabi Prawns, Chef Vikas Khanna’s Masala Chai Brulée and Chef Theo Randall’s Fish Stew. 

Representing Indian cuisine, Chef Vikas Khanna was recently added to the IHG Culinary Panel. Chef Vikas made culinary waves the world over for his award winning cuisine and critically acclaimed and widely awarded cook books on Indian cuisine. Moreover, his restaurant, Junoon in New York City, has been awarded with a coveted Michelin star for four years in a row and serves a range of authentic and inventive fine dining Indian recipes. 

The IHG Culinary Journey menus have also been perfectly paired with wine from Penfolds and Wolf Blass, and cocktails which feature in the company’s BAR150 programme with Pernod Ricard. Diners who choose all three-courses on the set menus will also enjoy a second complimentary glass of wine with the first glass ordered. 

Shantha de Silva, Head of South West Asia, IHG said: “We are constantly looking to offer new experiences to diners. With our recent partnerships with award winning brands and top chefs, we saw a unique opportunity to pair top dishes and popular cuisines with top wines to bring our Culinary Journey menus to life and create a dynamic promotion for those seeking new gastronomic experiences. 

“We were delighted to add Chef Vikas Khanna to our IHG Culinary Panel to represent Indian cuisine. Chef Vikas, along with our other six IHG Culinary Ambassadors, are some of the most respected in the industry, with restaurants around the world boasting Michelin stars and multiple awards. The programme will offer guests a unique way to experience the different cuisines and signature dishes from these renowned chefs at IHG restaurants across the region.”

Speaking on Pernod Ricard’s partnership with IHG, Quentin Job, Vice President, Innovation and Commercial Development, Pernod Ricard Asia said: “Pernod Ricard is thrilled to be working with IHG hotels across Asia, Middle East and Africa to enhance the cocktail experience for its guests. Thanks to Pernod Ricard’s unparalleled portfolio of brands, we have been able to enhance iconic cocktails such as Maitai with Havana Club and Negroni with Beefeater Gin. This exciting collaboration between Pernod Ricard and IHG is helping to contribute to the development of mixology, a growing phenomenon across Asia.” 

“We’re also enthusiastic behind the opportunity of exchanging professional cocktail mixing skills with IHG colleagues to ensure the consistent delivery of amazing cocktails across IHG hotels. To create the perfect cocktail you need the best ingredients and we’re delighted that IHG has selected Pernod Ricard as its preferred spirits supplier.”

Launched in September 2014, the IHG Culinary Panel has grown to a total of seven IHG Culinary Ambassadors. The Culinary Ambassadors are award-winning chefs and represent a diverse range of cuisines to provide guests with truly international dining experiences: 

 Indian by Vikas Khanna

 Japanese by Takagi Kazuo

 Italian by Theo Randall 

 Thai by Ian Kittichai 

 Chinese by Sam Leong  

 Modern Australian by Ross Lusted 

 Bakery and Pastry by Dean Brettschneider 

Each Culinary Ambassador has worked closely with IHG Food & Beverage (F&B) teams to create 20 recipes ranging from appetisers to main courses and desserts. Guests can enjoy a selection of these dishes in select restaurants at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts in the region. 

IHG currently operates more than 800 restaurants and bars in AMEA with more than 250 hotels open across six brands in the region: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. A further 145 hotels and resorts will open in the next three to five years, adding more than 200 new restaurants and bars to IHG's range of outlets.

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Related News: 

• IHG Partners with Pernod Ricard to Celebrate 150 years of Cocktail Mixology

• Renowned Chef Theo Randall Makes International Debut at InterContinental Bangkok

• Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Collaborates with Leading Healthy Chef Teresa Cutter

• IHG Dishes Up All-Star Culinary Panel

Media Enquiries: 

Ankita Chopra / Deepanvita Sharma

Ogilvy Public Relations (India)

Mob: +91-9910073623 / +91-9953427373

Email: ankita.chopra@ogilvy.com / deepanvita.sharma@ogilvy.com

Anisa Ghuloom

Brand Communications Manager (Asia, Middle East and Africa)

IHG Global Communications 

Tel: +65 6395 6299

Email: anisa.ghuloom@ihg.com  

Notes to Editors:

IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®,EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® andCandlewood Suites®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 4,900 hotels and 724,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with almost 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with more than 88 million members worldwide.  

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

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