Mike Alaridi has been appointed as Executive Chef at Virgin Hotels Chicago
Virgin Hotels Chicago is thrilled to announce Executive Chef, Mike Alaridi, who will oversee the entire culinary operation from Miss Ricky's to Cerise. Born and raised in Syria, Alaridi was first introduced to the culinary world by watching his mother cook their family meals from scratch, only using whole ingredients from their backyard garden. Growing up in a household that prioritized healthy foods laid the foundation for Alaridi's culinary ethos of using the freshest ingredients and preparing them in ways that heighten their flavors.
At the early age of fourteen, Alaridi stepped into his first professional role at Bawabet Dimashq, the largest restaurant in the world capable of serving over 6,000 people at one time. What started as a passion quickly transitioned into a career as he developed his culinary skills while learning how to efficiently operate a massive establishment. After three years, Alaridi decided it was time for a change and moved to Nicosia, Cyprus to continue to pursue his passion in hospitality. In 2011, he joined Faloremo Trading as the Italian Executive Chef. During his time with the catering company, Alaridi traveled all throughout Europe learning a variety of cooking techniques and cuisines. With an emphasis on Italian fare, Alaridi spent over a year training in Sicily learning how to make pasta from scratch as well as other authentic Italian cooking styles and dishes.