Page 126 - ANDRONIS magazine #1
P. 126

Meet our PeoPle                                                                                                    andronis - santorini




                                                                                   General ManaGer                                         chef
                                                                                     George                                        Emmanuel

                                                                                   Filippidis                                         Renaut


                                                                                 The Andronis Exclusive                           Three-starred Michelin
                                                                                      Orchestrator.                              chef of Lauda restaurant.







                                                                             —When discussing the experience of               —Tell us about the 2018 Andronis Exclusive
                                                                             staying at Andronis Exclusive, you seem          Culinary Experience. What should we look
                                                                             to want to encourage visitors to get to          forward to? Diners at Lauda restaurant
                                                                             know the island and as much of what it           should expect flavours from all over
                                                                             offers as possible. What makes you do so?        the island paired with mesmerising
                                                                             Discovering your destination is                  views of the Caldera. Let’s say it’s “local
                                                                             an integral part of our hospitality              ingredients with an Emmanuel touch”.
                                                                             philosophy and the best way for our              I have used many local products that I
                                                                             visitors to acquire experiences to take          have gotten to know and love on this
                                                                             back home with them. We see ourselves            blessed island in my dishes. There would
                                                                             as an active part of Santorini’s social life     be no point in putting together a menu
                                                                             and we want to share the island’s story.         for Santorini’s Lauda and using French
                                                                             —How difficult is it to combine business         products. For the menu of Lauda, I
                                                                             with the summer in this charming setting?        gathered herbs from the island and went
                                                                             Not difficult at all. It’s the perfect place     down to the Monolithos market to meet
                                                                             to work and dream at the same time.              the suppliers and see the fish. I was really
                                                                             —Andronis Luxury Suites has been voted           impressed by the variety and quality of
                                                                             by guests as one of the best hotels in the       the fish – and by the fava beans and
                                                                             world at the Reader’s Choice Awards of           capers. I should certainly also mention
                                                                             Condé Nast Traveller. Do you often take          the Assyrtiko wine, which I consider
                                                                             the opportunity to interact on a personal        one of the best wine varieties anywhere.
                                                                             basis with guests?  We  are  greatly             —Have you had the chance to meet any
                                                                             honoured to be the recipients of such            of the local suppliers in person? On my
                                                                             awards. They motivate us to continue             visit to Monolithos, while waiting for
                                                                             to offer high quality service and keep           the boat to bring out the catch of the day,
                                                                             finding ways to take guests’ experience          I talked to one of the oldest fishermen
                                                                             further and add new ideas. Personal              on this island. He explained how they
                                                                             interaction is part of our boutique              fish at different spots depending what
                                                                             hospitality philosophy. In fact, it’s the        they want to catch and he also told me
                                                                             best way to learn what visitors need             about the Mediterranean slipper lobster
                                                                             and how we can improve.                          (Scyllarides latus), which I cooked for
                                                                             —Has there been an organic addition              the first time – it was very tasty!
                                                                             to the Group that has made you proud             —You first visited Santorini in 2017.
                                                                             in recent years? Dining. Over the last           What’s your favourite place to relax on
                                                                             few years, we have created culinary              this magic island? I like to get up very
                                                                             experiences of the highest level, we             early and walk the hiking path while
                                                                             have hosted internationally acclaimed            there are not that many people outside.
                                                                             chefs in our restaurants, and every year         I also forage ingredients during my hike,
                                                                             we organise the Andronis Gastronomy              which also relaxes me and makes me
                  Personal interaction is part of our boutique hospitality philosophy – in fact,                                                                        Diners at Lauda restaurant should expect flavours from all over the island paired
                    it’s the best way to learn what visitors need and how we can improve.   Festival, whose reach is global. •  happy. •                                             with mesmerising views of the Caldera.



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