Profile: Chef Dannet
We talk to the people pulling the strings at WisePass’ hottest venues.
The executive chef of 2 major rooftop venues in Ho Chi Minh City sat down with WisePass recently during an exclusive event at Chill Dining. In a series where WisePass interviews the influential individuals behind the high quality venues available on the platform, readers are invited to peak behind the curtain and discover who is pulling the strings. The discussions are off the cuff but the results are always insightful.
Born and raised in Dubai, Dannet D’Souza always knew he wanted to become a chef. From a young age he would help his mother in the kitchen who taught him how to cook a variety of traditional dishes. Of Indian descent, Dannet went back to his motherland for his studies in university. With no professional chef training offered at schools in India at that time, Dannet majored in hotel management and studied every aspect of the HORECA industry. His passion for cuisine never faltered however and he managed to choose a specialization within the program in culinary studies.
Upon completing university, Dannet moved back to Dubai to further his education in a real-world setting. An international tourist destination, Dubai is a very unique city in the Middle Eastern region. All walks of life can be found there and the general culture practiced is seemingly western influenced. During his time in Dubai, Dannet worked in a variety of steakhouses under influential mentors who helped him become the chef he is today. From this experience of working in the fast-paced stressful environment of high-class restaurants in the affluent districts of Dubai, he learned from talented craftsmen and witnessed the occasional old-school brutality of his mentors. This helped Chef Dannet to formulate a fine-combed game plan of how he would manage his kitchen when the opportunity arose.
Feeling the need to experience something different, he decided to move to Asia. During his travels, he discovered Vietnam and was instantly charmed. He got the opportunity to try the role of head chef at Chill Dining and within 6 months he was promoted to executive chef of Chill Dining & Sky Bar and Air 360 Sky Bar. Under the ownership of Capella Entertainment, one of the most reputable and respected brands in the F&B industry in Vietnam and a subsidiary of Capella Holdings, both sky lounge venues have access to significant resources.
With a like-minded passionate team behind him and using the freshest ingredients in the region, Dannet has created an environment in the kitchen that thrives on ingenuity. Classical ingredients cooked and prepared with modern techniques, Dannet has taken inspiration from the works of international chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Humm. The menu is wide-ranging with particular focus on steak and seafood which are both imported and locally sourced. The understated simplicity of the delicious, fresh dishes prepared by the hands of Chef Dannet have received universal acclaim by all those lucky enough to indulge.
Like most successful individuals, Dannet maintains a true passion for his craft. He is constantly learning and trying new things as well as pushing his team to have the confidence to do the same. His respectful and thoughtful mentality towards his work and team shine through in every dish served. To this day, he is adamant his main motivation comes from the smiles on the faces of guests to his restaurants and there is certainly no shortage of that.
With a vibrant and socially active local and expatriate population, HCMC has an amazing number of valued partner venues for WisePass members to choose from. There are numerous rooftop venues, yet few can rival the dining experience offered at Chill and Air 360 Sky Bar. The attention to detail in the kitchen and the backing from powerful owners who are confident in the work being done by Chef Dannet and his team have created a true recipe for success.
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