Description
In 2007, Chef Derek was appointed Executive Sous Chef at The Privé Group and stayed on for five years to expand his knowledge as a chef. From 2012 to 2014, Chef Derek joined Argentum Group Singapore as the Director of Kitchens that required him to orchestrate a team of fifty-two staff. In 2014, he set up five culinary concepts in Macau; and coached his mentees with effective communications despite having a language barrier through using a translator and even picking up a foreign language. This showed his capability to adapt to a new environment and create an environment suitable for his mentees. Chef Derek created four more culinary concepts overseas and locally and is seen to continuously grow his experience through various restaurants over the years. Currently, at Cicada, Chef Derek continues to lead his team, maintaining culinary excellence synonymous with the Envy Hospitality Group brand.
Chef Derek became a Resident Chef on Asian Masters (2011, 2012), and was honoured to receive Mentor Chef of the Year for three years in a row (2011, 2012, 2013) awarded by At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy.
With an illustrious career as a chef, Chef Derek has more than a decade of results-proven culinary experience, catering operations and central kitchens working alongside world-renowned international chefs. He has set up and directed high volume restaurants in Singapore, Shanghai, Macau, and Indonesia. Some of the culinary operations knowledge he imparts to junior chefs are day-to-day service, sanitation, preparation of ingredients, and new menu development. Specialising in innovative cuisine development, Chef Derek undertakes supplier management for quality sourcing while being cost-efficient, driving business profitability to the restaurant.
