Dirk Matschke was recently appointed Executive Chef at Sharq Village and Spa. With over 19 years of extensive culinary  experience in some of the most renowned kitchens of the world, he brings a diverse blend of multicultural flavours to Sharq Village.  In his role, the executive chef will oversee all culinary operations and menus for the seven food and beverage outlets of the hotel, including beachfront seafood restaurant Al Dana, all-day dining restaurant Al Liwan, Al Jalsa the Arabian themed café, In-room Dining and banqueting. 

Chef Matschke began honing his culinary skills at the age of 19, when he started his apprenticeship supervised by the German Chamber of Industry and Trade in Germany. A passion for food and being born into a family from the hospitality industry influenced his decision to pursue a career as a professional chef. He graduated as a Master Chef in his native country, Germany in Business Management at Heidelberg Hotel Management School.

Prior to his graduation as Master Chef, he held positions within the culinary brigades of kitchens in a fine five star European hotels such as Relexa Hotel, Ratingen, Lindner Hotel Rheinstern, Duesselorf, Kempinski Hotel, Munich, Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland, Hilton Hotel International, Mainz, Palace Hotel Berlin.

“My professional aspiration is to become an integral part and a team player of a creative management team, which is recognized in first class guest services and employee satisfaction and their development”. Said Executive chef Dirk Matschke. “I believe in personal and individually tailored service and that achievements can only be made when you understand how to communicate with people”. Added Chef Matschke.

Before coming to Doha, Chef Matschke was with The Ritz-Carlton Berlin as Executive Chef the property has been awarded in 2007 as Best Hotel In Germany by Busche Publisher and 2009 by trip advisor, as well as Best Luxury in Europe by Euro Banking, in 2008 Aqua restaurant was given three stars, and one star to Vitrum restaurant by Michelin Guide. Broadened his culinary horizons and also had the opportunity to oversee four consecutive years “The Annual and International Festival of Food and Wine” in The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany. At Sharq Village and Spa he will manage operations for kitchens serving diverse international cuisines in all the restaurants as well as a bar, the banquet kitchen and the employee dining room.

A highly motivated and driven individual, Chef Matschke believes in the maxim, “Attention to details is not written in our training manual, it is in our DNA.”  The athletic chef enjoys running, golf, wine tasting and reading cookbooks.