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James Knight Pacheco
James Knight Pacheco
James Knight Pacheco. Modern European Chef • Winner of Chef of the Year Pro Chef ME Awards (2020) • Executive Chef of the Year 2019 Hotelier ME awards • Voted in the 50 most Influential people in Food ME 2019
Venezuelan born, UK raised, James’s career spans more than 20 years, and some of the finest hotels and establishments in the UK and the Middle East.
His formative years are unusual to say the least, working with industry giants, such as Raymond Blanc, the Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines and Jason Atherton. From them, James learns immensely, and evolves his progressive style in the kitchen as well as the capacity to lead large complex teams, a skill that will prove vital in what comes next.
He moves to the Middle East in 2012 to join the Six Senses Hotel as Chef de Cuisine. In 2015, he is given the kitchen Helm of the iconic Dubai Marina Yacht Club with Emaar. Success follows, and he is nominated as Executive Chef at the now Famous Vida Hotel on the Emaar Boulevard.
A super-energetic demonstrator and speaker, James's media resume is equally impressive: BBC’s the Restaurant and Out of the Frying Pan, as well as his own industry famous podcast the Chef JKP.
Today, he is the Executive Chef At ME Hotel, a Dubai property by the Iconic Zaha Hadid, where he continues to satisfy and surprise diners with his creative dishes and immersive experiences.
