Rosewood Jeddah proudly announces the appointment of two renowned culinary experts who will head the reinvention of the hotel’s dining experience. Chef Rudolf Segers joins as the new Executive Chef, while Chef Budi Setiono assumes the role of Executive Pastry Chef. This strategic move aligns with Rosewood Jeddah’s ambitious plans to elevate its culinary offerings.
Chef Rudolf brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, during which he has carved a reputation for his innovative culinary style. Bringing in an impressive portfolio of international luxury 5 Star hotel brands such as Kempinski, Hilton, Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria.
Born into a family of hoteliers, Chef Rudolf’s passion for hospitality has been ingrained in him from an early age. Having worked in multicultural environments and embraced diverse culinary traditions, his cooking style blends simplicity and sensuality, placing emphasis on fresh, premium ingredients. His dedication to his craft ensures that Rosewood Jeddah guests will be treated to extraordinary and unforgettable dining moments.
Alongside numerous esteemed accolades, he secured 1st place at the 2005 Rotorua Chef Challenge in New Zealand and was a finalist in the 2006 New Zealand Global Chefs Challenge. His remarkable journey includes receiving Time Out Awards for Best Seafood Restaurant and Restaurant of the Year in Abu Dhabi in 2006 and 2007. Notably, he has received nominations and awards from BBC Good Food, Hilton EMEA Region, and Middle East Hotel Awards. Furthermore, Chef Rudolf served as a respected culinary judge and represented the Middle East region at global conferences. His recent triumphs include recognition from the World Travel Awards, World Luxury Awards, and Haute Grandeur Awards.
Chef Rudolf commented: “My vast travels and experiences have shaped my approach to food, and witnessing different cultural trends in food preparation got me exposed to new cooking techniques.”
He continued, “I am glad to join one of the most prestigious hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Rosewood Jeddah, and I look forward to welcoming our guests to explore and taste our offerings at this beautiful venue.
Joining Chef Rudolf is the talented Chef Budi Setiono, who is Executive Pastry Chef at Rosewood Jeddah. Hailing from Central Java, Indonesia, Chef Budi’s culinary journey began in his grandmother’s traditional Indonesian restaurant, where he developed a deep appreciation for the art of pastry. This levelled him to pursue formal culinary education in Jakarta and start his career as a pastry commis at a renowned hotel in Bandung, Indonesia.
Since then, Chef Budi’s professional career has taken him across the GCC, Canada, St Lucia, Turk and Caicos, and Bali. His extensive international exposure has honed his skills to cater to the diverse palates of discerning guests, ensuring that each dessert he creates is a harmonious symphony of flavors and textures.
It is notable to mention that Chef Budi was honored as Pastry Chef of The Year 2018 by Hospitality Middle East. He is also a candidate for the prestigious Pastry Specialty Chef of The Year by Pro Chef – BBC Good Food. With widespread media recognition, he has hosted a popular TV show on Kompas TV and is widely respected in Indonesia. In addition to other accomplishments, he achieved the Silver Medal at the Air Berlin Dubai Battle of The Kitchen in 2011 and represented Hilton International at national events in Amman, Jordan.
Chef Budi Setiono expressed his enthusiasm by saying: “It is a tremendous honor to be appointed as the Executive Pastry Chef at Rosewood Jeddah. I am eager to collaborate with our exceptionally talented team and leverage my expertise to craft memorable and innovative sweet creations that will delight our esteemed guests.”
It is worth noting that the Rosewood Jeddah is one of the hotels committed to providing fair, inclusive, and diverse workplaces that welcome people from all walks of life and provide them with the tools they need to achieve prosperity on both the professional and personal levels and contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in promoting the tourism sector and placing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on top of the global tourism map, as the Kingdom aims to increase the number of visitors to the Kingdom to about 100 million visitors by 2030.
