S3 Ep8: Season 3 - Episode 8 - Michael Desouza - In-Flight Purser to Professional Chef!
06/16/21 • 41 min
This podcast is bought to you by Gulfood - https://www.gulfood.com and Meelz - https://meelz.me
Michael De Souza was working at Emirates airlines for 15 years, the pandemic came along, he was made redundant like so many people at the time, however he didn’t rest on his laurels, as there was always a passion for food from a young age, so he decided to become a chef. During his time growing up in India, his family owned a bakery, so naturally he grew up around hospitality, he recalls in 1994 when cable was available there were a couple of chefs on TV that would catch his interest even more so.
The first would be a show called Yan Can Cook, by revered chef Martin Yan. https://yancancook.com/home/
The second would be the late great Keith Floyd.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Floyd
The two food shows ignited a spark within young Michael, to taste all of the wonderful food he saw, and to travel, little did he know back then, that this influence would be a huge part of his adult life.
His family wanted to be a doctor, an engineer, he had other plans, to be part of a cabin crew.
He applied and got rejected a total of 18 times, with various airlines for various different reasons. One day the opportunity arose to interview with Emirates, only problem is that there was already 500 people in the queue, most of those with flight experience. Undetered by the 12 hour interview, he gave it his best, and finally got the job!
https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/
During his time and working his way up through the ranks, he learnt a great deal about the various types of foods, how to serve, how to deal with people from all walks of life, it was a great learning process.
Not being the type of person to shy away from a challenge, Michael wanted to push himself further within a leadership role, so he applied to be a flight supervisor, he then went on to become a successful Purser for one of the best airlines in the world.
After a 15 year career, he forced to make lifechanging decision due to COVID- 19, this came naturally as he loved food, but how do you become a chef?
After a conversation with his wife, she mentioned how much he loved food and his interest was always to be a chef, so he enrolled himself into one of the leading culinary institutes in the country – SCAFA!
http://www.scafa.ae
He now is a qualified chef, his apprenticeship began by working at the 5 star luxury hotel ME Dubai, which fast tracked him into working all of the sections of the kitchen, and has taught him the values of what it takes to be a chef in the true sense of the word.
From one extreme to another, Michael without a doubt will go far in his culinary career, as there are no boundaries, his pure passion and dedcication to keep pushing himself to be better day by day is what chef’s always strive for, looking forward to seeing the next phase of his journey.
To see what he is doing, you can follow him on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chefmichaelagnelo/
Stay tuned for next week’s show, we talk to one of the most re-known broadcasters in the region and in the UK!
Thank you to our partners Gulfood and Meelz, make sure to click on their links at the very top of the page.
Until next time, food is memories!
Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This podcast is bought to you by Gulfood - https://www.gulfood.com and Meelz - https://meelz.me
Michael De Souza was working at Emirates airlines for 15 years, the pandemic came along, he was made redundant like so many people at the time, however he didn’t rest on his laurels, as there was always a passion for food from a young age, so he decided to become a chef. During his time growing up in India, his family owned a bakery, so naturally he grew up around hospitality, he recalls in 1994 when cable was available there were a couple of chefs on TV that would catch his interest even more so.
The first would be a show called Yan Can Cook, by revered chef Martin Yan. https://yancancook.com/home/
The second would be the late great Keith Floyd.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Floyd
The two food shows ignited a spark within young Michael, to taste all of the wonderful food he saw, and to travel, little did he know back then, that this influence would be a huge part of his adult life.
His family wanted to be a doctor, an engineer, he had other plans, to be part of a cabin crew.
He applied and got rejected a total of 18 times, with various airlines for various different reasons. One day the opportunity arose to interview with Emirates, only problem is that there was already 500 people in the queue, most of those with flight experience. Undetered by the 12 hour interview, he gave it his best, and finally got the job!
https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/
During his time and working his way up through the ranks, he learnt a great deal about the various types of foods, how to serve, how to deal with people from all walks of life, it was a great learning process.
Not being the type of person to shy away from a challenge, Michael wanted to push himself further within a leadership role, so he applied to be a flight supervisor, he then went on to become a successful Purser for one of the best airlines in the world.
After a 15 year career, he forced to make lifechanging decision due to COVID- 19, this came naturally as he loved food, but how do you become a chef?
After a conversation with his wife, she mentioned how much he loved food and his interest was always to be a chef, so he enrolled himself into one of the leading culinary institutes in the country – SCAFA!
http://www.scafa.ae
He now is a qualified chef, his apprenticeship began by working at the 5 star luxury hotel ME Dubai, which fast tracked him into working all of the sections of the kitchen, and has taught him the values of what it takes to be a chef in the true sense of the word.
From one extreme to another, Michael without a doubt will go far in his culinary career, as there are no boundaries, his pure passion and dedcication to keep pushing himself to be better day by day is what chef’s always strive for, looking forward to seeing the next phase of his journey.
To see what he is doing, you can follow him on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chefmichaelagnelo/
Stay tuned for next week’s show, we talk to one of the most re-known broadcasters in the region and in the UK!
Thank you to our partners Gulfood and Meelz, make sure to click on their links at the very top of the page.
Until next time, food is memories!
Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
S3 Ep7: Season 3 - Episode 7 - Martin Koebke - Obsession
This podcast is bought to you by Gulfood - https://www.gulfood.com and Meelz - https://meelz.me
Martin Koebke is the Founder and CEO of 1765 Gemini, a company that has a full solution when it comes to kitting out bars, hotels, restaurants, it is a one stop shop essentially, they offer clients the very best in the marketplace.
https://www.1765gemini.com
Growing up in between Africa and Spain, Martin was well travelled from a young age, his parents liked to travel, most of the time it was spent in restaurants, wine cellars, with families getting together and he saw hospitality first-hand, this would be where the fuse was ignited.
At 18 years of age, he moved to Germany, and decided to study Hospitality, as this was his world so it was a natural choice.
The apprenticeship started in Cologne, he learnt how to carve at the table, silver service, gueridon, all of the classical styles of service. From there he went to the corporate world, and started at the Crowne Plaza, but then decided to make the move, to one of the most iconic hotels in the world – The Savoy in London. https://www.thesavoylondon.com
Martin made the move, as he wanted to get back to the working in a place where the classical style of service was very much alive, the eye for detail, the whole experience was a key part, and is what makes the show happen.
After a two year stint, The Jumeirah group approached to open Emirates towers, followed by going to work at the luxurious 7 Star Burj al Arab!
https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/dubai/burj-al-arab-jumeirah
After having spent good amount of time in the best hotels in the world, what do you do next?
Martin is the type of person who likes to be challenged, so he decided on side stepping away from the industry, but to still be involved from the side lines if you will, this is where he set up his own company to tell a beautiful story on the table, from the place matts, to the glassware, to the cutlery, this is where 1765 Gemini was born.
Now, Martin has his own plate range – Obsession
https://studio1765.myshopify.com
The plates are hand crafted, and all designed by Martin and his team, this was an incredible reward, not from a monetary point of view, but from a creative standpoint, to bring different ideas to harmonise, this is one of the reasons that the Obsession range, since it was launched has been incredibly successful.
One of the key elements to his business, is the cash and carry, located in the middle of the industrial area of Dubai, when you open the door, its like a wonderland of plates from all over the world!
Martin has one of the most incredible businesses in the United Arab Emirates, he does this by connecting with his clients, but also by listening to his gut, as for his passion for the hospitality industry is infectious.
To see what the fuss is all about, you can follow the 1765Gemini on Instagram;
https://www.instagram.com/1765thestore
To see the Obsession range follow them on here - https://www.instagram.com/studio_1765/
Stay tuned for next week’s show, we talk to a real pandemic success story!
Thank you to our partners Gulfood and Meelz, make sure to click on their links at the very top of the page.
Until next time, food is memories!
Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
S3 Ep9: Season 3 - Episode 9 - Sarah Hedley Hymers - Broadcaster, Journalist, and Michelin Explorer!
This podcast is bought to you by Gulfood - https://www.gulfood.com and Meelz - https://meelz.me
Sarah Hedley Hymers is one of the most respected food and travel journalists across Europe, Middle East and Africa, not only that, she is also an author, and a judge on several esteemed panels, as well as being on a personal quest to dine in every three-star Michelin restaurant on the planet.
https://hedleyhymers.com
How did this love come about? From an early age, there was always a passion for things writing and travel, her first job out of college was to write for the big glossy magazines in London, then a job opportunity presented itself to work in Dubai.
Sarah became the editorial director for magazines like Hot 100 Restaurants, Hot 100 Bars, Gourmet, Conde Nast Traveller Middle East. Things stepped up when one of the biggest newspapers in the world, The Telegraph, would be looking for a destination expert in Dubai, the job was destined to be hers.
One of the favourites, when it comes to travel guides is the much loved Lonely Planet, when she was younger Sarah always dreamt of being a contributor, a dream that later came true when they approached her to write the chapter on Dubai.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com
One of the biggest news channels on the planet is Euronews, so if the world needs to know anything and everything about travel within the Middle East, Sarah not only presents the show, but is also a producer on the popular travel series – Postcards. This is watched by a global audience of around 142 million people, so no pressure there! https://www.euronews.com
You can watch the series by clicking on the link below;
https://hedleyhymers.com/television
Travelling around the world pre-pandemic, her favourite cities for dining are; Tokyo, New York, Dubai and London, with all of the experience that Sarah has, it was only going to be a matter of time before she would be approached to be a judge on a some of the most recognised food and travel panels that often make the headlines, from the Elemis Spa awards, to the St Pellegrino Best Restaurant top 100 list.
In her own words, she is literally obsessed with hotels and restaurants!
The Michelin guide is not just seen as a bible for chefs and restaurateurs around the globe, but some people make it their ambition to visit all of the three star restaurants, these places are often graced with culinary gods. Sarah so far has visited over 50 on that list.
The meal that started all of this, would be in none other than Heston Blumenthal’s - The Fat Duck. The whole experience, is one that is still very much in the forefront of Sarah’s mind, as this was the meal that helped her to understand as to why people go to the ends of the Earth to dine in Michelin starred restaurants.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Sarah is one of the world’s leading travel and food specialists, she continues to fly the flag for the region, which has helped to place Dubai on the map, not just in terms of hotels but also as a culinary destination.
To see what she is doing, you can follow her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hedleyhymers/
Thank you to our partners Gulfood and Meelz, make sure to click on their links at the very top of the page.
Until next time, food is memories!
Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Chef JKP Podcast - S3 Ep8: Season 3 - Episode 8 - Michael Desouza - In-Flight Purser to Professional Chef!
Transcript
This podcast is bought to you by Gulfood - https://www.gulfood.com and Meelz - https://meelz.me
Micheal De Souza was working at Emirates airlines for 15 years, the pandemic came along, he was made redundant like so many people at the time, however he didn’t rest on his laurels, as there was always a passion for food from a young age, so he decided to become a chef. During his time growi
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