Luke Mangan's Culinary Experiance Officer May PAN OUT As Luke Mangan CEO.

Two talented home cooks shortlisted as finalists for Luke Mangan's Culinary Experience Officer, and will have dishes included across five Salt grill restaurants on P&O Cruises’ ships

Accomplished Australian restaurateur Luke Mangan has hand-picked two talented home cooks and foodies Sammy Jakubiak and Sofia Levin as short-listed finalists in his Search for a CEO (Culinary Experience Officer) campaign, launched in March. The campaign marks Mangan’s milestone of becoming the first restaurateur in the world with dishes served on land, sea, air and rail following a recent partnership with Eastern & Oriental Express. 

Mangan called on foodies across the country to enter for the chance to be short-listed in one of the following categories: The Drinks Connoisseur, The Artisan Supplier and The Talented Home Cook, for which Sammy and Sofia were selected. The final crowned ‘CEO’ will be awarded with a smorgasbord of tasting and travel experiences at Luke’s international restaurants, across P&O Cruises’ ships, Virgin Australia and Eastern & Oriental brand partnerships in October. 

Of the five dishes created for the occasion, Sammy’s was a beautiful creation of orange and amaretto cheesecake while Sofia’s was a delightful beetroot cured kingfish. Chosen by a panel of judges including Luke Mangan and P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell and a popular vote on the day, the two winners will now create a dish each to be available in all Salt grill restaurants onboard all five P&O Cruises’ ships. 

Luke opened his first restaurant at sea onboard a P&O ship in 2009 and now has a Salt grill onboard each of the cruise line’s five ships. His next Salt grill will launch in June 2017 when P&O’s latest ship Pacific Explorer debuts in Sydney.

“To have five Salt grill restaurants at sea speaks volumes about P&O’s innovative approach to cruise cuisine as well as Australians’ love of good food, and I’m thrilled they’ve been a partner in my search for a CEO,” Luke said. 

Sammy commented on her shortlisting and opportunity to create a dish with Luke: “I’m excited for the chance to create a dish with one of Australia’s biggest foodie personalities. I can learn so much from Luke!” 

Sofia said of her selection: “Cooking kingfish for Luke, the crown prince of kingfish, was a gamble – evidently one that paid off! I’m honoured to be through to the finals and keen to see what I can create for P&O.”

Sammy and Sofia join Luke Ashton who won the Tourism Australia cocktail phase and the yet to be decided Artisan Supplier.

Mangan commented on the pair’s selection: “The standard of home cooks here in Australia is exceptional; a product of the passion and produce this nation has on tap. So much so we couldn’t pick just one!”

“The huge pool of outstanding Australian expertise in the food and beverage industry has really shone through during my search for a CEO, with a huge amount of applications showing amazing talent from

across the country. The aim of the campaign is to showcase what Australia has to offer to an international audience, via my network of restaurants and brand partnerships.”

The final three candidates will be assessed in September by Mangan and the President of P&O Cruises Sture Myrmell, Tourism Australia, Virgin Australia and Hilton Hotels before the CEO winner is announced.

The crowned ‘CEO’ will land the role of a lifetime and a money-can’t-buy smorgasbord of travel and tasting experiences in October, including a four-night P&O cruise to Hamilton Island onboard the Pacific Aria and joining Mangan for his restaurant’s inaugural journey on board the Eastern & Oriental Express between Singapore and Bangkok. They will create content for report on Mangan’s extensive portfolio, including a taste of Virgin Australia’s Business Class, as well as dinners at his restaurants in Asia and the Maldives. 

Applicants were required to submit an application to become Luke Mangan’s CEO, applicants must visit lukemangan.com.au/CEO and explain in 50 words or less why they’d be a great addition to Luke’s team. Supporting materials such as recipes, food photography, blog posts, published articles or video could also be provided as supplementary information.

Below are the Biographies of each finalist.

Sammy Jakubiak made the change to cooking in 2011 after working in marketing and fashion for many years, winning season 2 of My Kitchen Rules with her sister Bella. Since then, they’ve successfully opened a boutique catering business, Sammy and Bella Catering, opened a pop-up burger bar at Bondi Farmers market and also started their own sauce range, The Saucy Sisters.

Sofia Levin, a freelance foodie journalist by trade, established a content marketing company in 2012 – Word Salad – which specializes in copywriting, editorial and social media. Currently writing for a number of publications including Fairfax’s good food supplement, Sofia is also the owner of virally famous Instagram dog, Jinkee.

Images of each winner are available for download here. 

Short videos of each of the five Home Cook phase finalists outlining their motivation behind entering Search for a CEO and why they love cooking at home can be found at the following URLs:

* Michelle Walsh: https://youtu.be/v2R7vFllvmI  * Sammy Jakubiak: https://youtu.be/Dwq1Zvs9aYg * Sofia Levin: https://youtu.be/E8QG-uLfxWU * Tristan Lutze: https://youtu.be/aQ7g4tHpVnM * Laura Blanot: https://youtu.be/YOxnW9rCgUI

The CEO Trip Of A Lifetime.

On Shore:

Australia: Dinner in Sydney at MOJO by Luke Mangan / glass

Asia: Dinner in Salt Tokyo, Salt grill Jakarta, Salt grill Singapore, Salt Tapas Singapore

Maldives: To stay at Amilla Resort – 5 star resort in the Maldives and dinner at Lonu by Luke Mangan (depending on availability)

At Sea: 

P&O Cruise to Hamilton Island that includes dinner at Salt grill by Luke Mangan

On Rail:

To join the inaugural journey on board Asia’s most luxurious train, the Eastern & Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok

In the Air:

To experience Virgin Australia Business Class 

About Luke Mangan & Company.

1990 - Luke moves to London to work at Waterside Inn with Michel Roux

1999 - First restaurant, Salt in Darlinghurst Sydney

2003 - Approached by Sir Richard Branson to consult for Virgin Atlantic & Virgin America First Class

2005 - Founded the Appetite for Excellence Program | glass brasserie, Hilton Hotel Sydney

2006 - Salt restaurant, Tokyo

2009 - Salt grill opened on P&O Cruises Pacific Jewel | Launched Luke Mangan Providores range

2010 - Salt grill opened on P&O Cruises Pacific Dawn & Pacific Pearl | Consulting chef for Virgin Australia Business Class | Salt grill & Sky bar, Singapore

2011 - Salt grill, Hilton Hotel Surfers Paradise

2012 - Salt tapas & bar, Singapore

2013 - Salt grill, Jakarta | MOJO by Luke Mangan, Sydney

2014 - Amilla, Maldives

2015 - Salt grill restaurants opened on P&O Cruises Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden – totaling five restaurants on five P&O ships

2016 - Partners with Eastern & Oriental Express, Asia’s most luxurious train service running between Singapore and Bangkok

For more information on Luke Mangan & Company please visit http://www.lukemangan.com.

Information supplied by: Luke Mangan Company.

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