Dubai

Alex Gomez

During his teen years in Cordoba, Argentinean born Alex Gomez studied photography and languages; but due to his Italian mother’s cooking he always felt a special attraction for great food, which also developed into a passion for service. Feeling his native city didn’t have much to offer in terms of world class restaurants he decided to move to Europe in early 2001 where he worked in establishments in both Switzerland and Spain before arriving in the UK.

Once in England he landed his first job at one of Sir Terence Conran’s first, and certainly most emblematic, restaurants: Bibendum, where, due to his inability to fluently speak the English language, Alex started working as a commis-waiter and as his language skills improved so did his position and he was soon promoted to waiter. Excelling at this job in less than a year he had become Maitre d’Hotel for the restaurant, where he stayed for two and a half years.

Then follow the Gordon Ramsay years, starting as a head waiter at London’s Connaught Hotel’s Menu restaurant, under Michelin Starred chef Angela Hartnett where, after not a long period he became Assistant Restaurant Manager position he held for two and a half years; later he moved to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s where he had the opportunity to work with Scott Price and Nick Alvis, currently Hilton Dubai Creek’s executive chef and Verre‘s Head Chef respectively.

The time spent in The Connaught and Claridge’s gave Alex the foundation needed for his next job, an amazing challenge. Representing Gordon Ramsay Holdings as a consultant in a new project: Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt, in the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, where he oversaw the staff training and advised in the organisation of different areas of the restaurant.

By 2008 and on his return to England, Alex started working on the pre-opening of York & Albany, Gordon Ramsay’s first boutique hotel, were he was the Senior Assistant Restaurant Manger. Again under the patronage of award-winning chef Angela Hartnett, he stayed here for just under two years.

From York & Albany, Alex went back to Conran restaurants, now rebranded D&D London, as Restaurant Manager of The Butlers Wharf Chop House, an impressive restaurant serving British flare, right on the Thames riverfront next to Tower Bridge; and after just under a year Gordon Ramsay Holdings called again with the offer of managing Verre, where he started in July 2010.