About

Meet

THE TEAM

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Fred Sirieix

Fred Sirieix is the General Manager at Galvin at Windows, the award winning restaurant on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. Fred co-hosted with Michel Roux Jr in the BBC2 series about service and hospitality, Michel Roux’s Service. Fred and Galvin at Windows also appeared in The Apprentice on BBC1 in spring 2012.

Fred is a dynamic and highly driven individual – a true ambassador for the hospitality industry. Under his leadership, Galvin at Windows won the Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year (Hotel Cateys 2007), Best Front of House (Tatler Awards 2007) and Best Hotel Bar (Imbibe Awards 2009). In 2010 Fred was nominated Manager of the Year at the Cateys Awards. In March 2011, Fred launched his interactive and revolutionary training tool, The Art of Service.

In October 2011, Fred was awarded Personality of the Year 2011 at the National Restaurant Awards, for his charity work and relentless promotion of his profession. In 2012 Fred was voted Educator of the Year at the Imbibe Awards. More recently Fred launched on Christmas Day 2012, National Waiters Day, to celebrate all front of house staff and inspire people in hospitality careers. At the 30th Cateys Awards, Fred was awarded the prestigious Manager of the Year 2013 award. In 2014 at the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2014, Fred was nominated for Industry Legend of the Year. In March 2014, Fred also received an Honorary MBA from the University of West London.

Fred has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant/ food industry. Starting his career as a Chef de Rang at the three stars Michelin restaurant La Tante Claire, Fred then went on to develop his career in various roles in many of London’s top restaurants including Le Gavroche, Sartoria, Brasserie Roux.

Fred is passionate about training and staff development. His boundless energy has him as the creator and driving force behind the Galvin Cup (cocktail competition) that awards young bartending talent and Galvin’s Chance, a charity supporting underprivileged youth in front of house roles in the best hotels, restaurants and bars of London and Scotland. Fred created The Mayfair Park and Tower Race, to raise funds every year since 2008 for Galvin’s Chance and in September 2012, he organised and fought Marcus Wareing in a boxing tournament called Rumble in the Kitchen which raised £55,000 for Galvin’s Chance.

He is a keen runner and amateur boxer and his motto is “learn forever, enjoy life and make a difference”. His interests include philosophy, history, business and sports. He lives in Peckham and has two beautiful children, Andrea and Matteo-Lucien.

Joo Won

Head Chef Joo Won hails from Busan, South Korea. At University Joo studied industrial engineering but soon realised this was not the path for him. To discover what his true passion was, Joo started taking courses and it wasn’t until a pastry class sparked his interest that he truly fell in love.

After a course in Korean cuisine, Joo left Korea in 2000 and studied hospitality management at Schiller International University in London and Switzerland. After he graduated he went to study cooking at the highest level at the Le Cordon Bleu in Marylebone. This took him to the Orrey, and was Joo’s first Michelin starred experience. Joo left in 2006 to be part of the launch team of Galvin at Windows and in 2013 he became Head Chef – an achievement he is immensely proud of.

Outside of Galvin at Windows, Joo is devoted husband and on days off likes to experience other restaurants, catch up on the latest box sets and try London’s latest cocktail bars.

Gilles Louis

A dedicated and incisive leader, Assistant General Manger Gilles brings nearly two decades of top-flight hospitality experience to Galvin at Windows. Training initially in his native Belgium, his career soon went international and he adds to the globalist outlook of the senior team. As well as fierce pride in his work and exceptional eye for detail, Gilles balances an exacting eye with a supportive and inclusive management style.

London is now home and as a husband and new father, Gilles has a particular eye for making families welcome and completely at home in the elegant surroundings of Galvin at Windows.

Antonino Forte

A leader with a passion for extraordinary service, Restaurant Manager Antonino has the natural drive and easy-going charm to allow guests to truly relax in his presence, safe in the knowledge that their experience will be exceptional.

Skilled in all aspects of food and drink service, Antonino joined the team as Assistant Head Sommelier in early 2012, a position earned through long and exceptional experience at levels sufficient to win a place in the semi-final of Moet Chandon’s Sommelier of the Year competition, as well as top placing in a string of gastronomic and service competitions including the coveted Maitre D’ of the Year in his native Italy.

Rudina Arapi

As Head Sommelier, Rudina has been the last word on wine at Galvin at Windows since joining us in 2012 and her superb taste and acumen give shape and form to the extensive range of wines we keep for both the restaurant and bar.

From the most seemingly-humble table wine through to famous vintages of the storied houses, Rudina’s knowledge and experience means she can effortlessly select the right bottle for any occasion or menu item. Trained initially in Florence (no sommelier ever stops learning) Rudina advanced swiftly in a profession crowded with talent through not just her skills and knowledge but also her bright, warm personality and intuitive understanding of hospitality, honed at some of Italy’s finest wine bars and Michelin-starred restaurants. Choosing your own wine from a well-stocked list is a joy, but if you ever feel the need for inspiration, you will never be disappointed with Rudina’s recommendation.

Andrea Letovancova

Andrea Letovancova is the Reception & Events Manager at Galvin at Windows. Responsible for a team of ten, Andrea deploys her considerable experience and charm to ensure that our guests’ experience before, during and after their visit is seamless.

Andrea holds a Masters in Economics, Tourism & Hospitality and in her spare time enjoys shopping, traveling around the world and in winter skiing.

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