Bordeaux-born Anne-Cécile Degenne takes over the helm at the kitchens of Raffles and Fairmont Makati, becoming the first female executive chef at a five-star property in the Philippines
Anne-Cécile Degenne is considered a rising star in an industry that is still shaking off its image as a male-dominated field – and with good reason as she serves up deliciously innovative dishes that combine the best of local flavours with quintessential French verve and flawless technique. Now, she adds another achievement to her growing list of accolades: that of being the first female executive chef to take over the kitchens of a five-star international luxury property in the Philippines.
Degenne, who recently joined Raffles and Fairmont Makati as its new Executive Chef, began her career at the Michelin-starred restaurant Campagne et Gourmandises in Biarritz and worked with culinary legend Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Eden Rock St Barths in the Caribbean where she was executive chef for two years. Since then, she has opened several successful restaurants for AccorHotels including Xperience at Sofitel SO Singapore and the MGallery Hotel des Arts Saigon in Vietnam; she was also at the helm when Sofitel Philippine Plaza reopened Spiral in 2012.
Raffles and Fairmont managing director David Batchelor and communication director Monique Toda officially introduced Degenne to select members of the media at a special chef’s table luncheon where she impressed attendees with her culinary skills.
