NAME: Chef Biljana Villareal
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: https://www.instagram.com/biljananavavillarreal/
JOB TITLE: Executive Chef
MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2010
Chef Biljana Villareal is Executive Chef at ME Dubai, the stunning hotel designed by Zaha Hadid which is nestled in the heart of Business Bay. Hailing from Serbia, she is proud to bring a wealth of culture and experience that she vibrantly infuses into every aspect of her role and to the people she works with. In her role she has taken on a variety of responsibilities, ranging from the artful creations of menus, recipe development, food costing and training her team. Additionally, she also manages and oversees the F&B operations of the whole hotel.
Prior to her role at ME Dubai, Chef Bijana had the great opportunity to work in a few renowned and established hotels in the region including Hyatt Regency Creek Heights, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Hyatt Regency Dubai, and Hyatt Regency in her home country, Belgrade.
Let's chat through a day in the life in her world:
5:30 AM - My morning kicks off very early, and this is accompanied by a craving for a cup of fresh coffee. After that, I usually go for a healthy breakfast, something like fruits, chia, or sago pudding, to give me the energy boost I need to tackle the day.
6:45 AM - I arrive at the hotel and go directly to Central Restaurant to meet and greet the team early on. I check that the kitchen is ready for the day, brief them on any special events, and address any tasks or challenges from the previous day. During this time, we also prepare for breakfast service, ensuring both the front and back of the house are ready to welcome our guests.
7:15 AM – After preparing the team for the breakfast service, I head to the office, check my email, and prioritise my daily tasks.
8:30 AM – I arrange a morning briefing with all department heads to review any pending tasks and projects. We go through everything that needs to be done, including overseeing prep work and safety and hygiene checks, ensuring that all dishes are prepared according to hotel standards.
I also take this time to offer guidance and support to junior chefs and kitchen staff, providing mentorship to help them become the best versions of themselves, which in turn contributes greatly to ME Dubai.
12:00 PM – This is followed by a kitchen staff meeting to review the day’s tasks, updates, and ensure we are on top of everything.
12:15 PM – As the hotel’s all-day dining concept, lunch service at Central Restaurant can get busy. I coordinate with the sous chefs and chef de cuisine to expedite orders and ensure timely delivery while maintaining the highest quality.
2:30 PM – After the busy lunch service, I continue with additional administrative duties such as budgeting, payroll, scheduling, and staff evaluations. I also allocate time to respond to emails and attend meetings with department heads. This may be followed by a catch-up with our chef de cuisine to plan tasks and activities for the next day.
5:00 PM – Planning and organisation are essential in my role as ME Dubai's Executive Chef. I work with concerned departments to review the next-day arrival list, ensuring we know every detail about our guests and making all necessary arrangements to create a tailored and memorable experience for each one.
As the day comes to an end, I reflect on what has been accomplished, review the day’s performance, and strategise for the next day. I also address any last-minute event requests.
7:30 PM – After a packed day at work, this is the time that I head back home to relax and recharge.
8:00 PM – Once home, I spend personal time with my husband and friends. On nights when we don't feel like going out, we simply stay home and watch movies.
If we decide to go out, we love visiting new restaurants in town to explore what’s up and coming and discover new dishes.
11:00 PM – Time to wind down and prepare to go to bed, ensuring a good night's sleep to be ready for the challenges for the next day.
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