When it comes to improving the efficiency of one of the most important and largest departments of a hotel, someone with high levels of experience and utmost care are crucial. As Executive Chef of Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur, Antoine Rodriguez has been instrumental in keeping everything together and ensuring that consistent high quality food is served to guests and associates. However, it was his intelligence, knowledge and creativity that won the heart of the judges during the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards Malaysia Series 2023 - 2024 and defeated other nominees to win the ‘Best Chef - Executive Chef of the Year - King of Kitchens'.

"It was an honor to defend this prestigious title again as I was competing against chefs with calibre and this was really unexpected", admits Executive Chef Antoine.

Born in Bordeaux, France, Antoine developed his passion for cooking while assisting at a friend's takeaway restaurant during high school. He trained formally at Lycée Technique D'Hôtellerie & Tourisme in Bordeaux and began his career in 1976 as a Commis Seafood Chef in a French restaurant.

His career took him from the renowned Château Des Trois Poètes, where he served as Chef in Charge of Operations, to the Intercontinental Okoume Palace in Africa (1982), and then to the role of Private Chef to a French Army Commander during his military service. He later served as Executive Chef at Le Méridien Barbaron in the Seychelles.

Antoine joined Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur as Executive Chef in 2004, where he oversees culinary operations across 12 kitchens, leads food conceptualization and menu planning, and manages a team of 110 kitchen professionals. He approaches cuisine the way an architect approaches design — always innovating and pushing boundaries. As a result of his culinary magic, PRIME delivers its guests a truly memorable dining experience in Kuala Lumpur.

His accolades include: Most Outstanding Culinary Team 2005/2006 (Food Hotel Malaysia); Best Asian Cuisine 2005/2006 (Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards); Overall Winner, Meat & Livestock Australia Black Box Challenge 2007; Most Outstanding Hotel Team & Overall Champion, Culinaire Malaysia 2007; Best 30 Restaurants — Fine Casual Dining, HAPA Malaysia Series 2023-2024.

Outside the kitchen, Antoine enjoys golf and recently won the Low Net Championship at Palm Golf Resort.