One of the most esteemed figures on Hanoi’s diverse culinary scene, Chef Marcel Isaak brings three decades of international experience to his post as group executive chef of the Press Club. Since the start of his career in 1978, Chef Isaak has pioneered restaurants in five-star hotels across the globe, hosted a weekly television cooking show, assisted in the creation of two books on regional cuisine and claimed numerous gold medals. A Swiss native, Chef Isaak apprenticed under a French Master Chef at the Union Hotel in Lucerne. His expertise in French Classical Cuisine and passion for adventure led him to the kitchens of acclaimed Hilton hotels in Sydney, Toronto, Caracas, Cartagena and Chicago. His first appointment as executive chef at the Shanghai Hilton in 1991 was followed by executive chef positions at Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in Bali, the Saigon Floating Hotel in Vietnam, and the New Delhi Hilton in India.
During Chef Isaak’s time in Ho Chi Minh City, he co-authored the Periplus cookbook The Food of Vietnam: Authentic Recipes from the Heart of Indochina together with the renowned Madame Trieu Thi Choi. He was also instrumental in the production of the book The Food of Indonesia by Heinz Von Holzen. After a stint in Guam, where he established restaurants for the Palau Floating Hotel, in 1998 Chef Isaak hosted the weekly “Feeling Fine” television show on healthy eating for India’s Metro Channel, before returning to China to serve as Director of Food and Beverage for the Hilton Kunming International. From 2000 to 2002, Chef Isaak worked as executive chef for the Hilton group in Singapore and China, where he founded Kunming Blue Sky Co., Ltd.
Since joining the Hanoi Press Club in 2004, Chef Isaak has spurred the restaurant to the forefront of the country’s continental fine-dining venues, elevating its menu and service to levels on par with his five-star background in the hotel food and beverage industry. Under the direction of Chef Isaak, the 15-year-old Press Club Restaurant is ranked “Best International Restaurant” by the Vietnam Economic Times for four consecutive years, and continues to garner numerous awards and the attention of noted food critics. Press Club Hanoi is an exclusive club located in the heart of Hanoi city, Vietnam. It has 3 core businesses; fine dining restaurant called The Restaurant, Pub and bar called the Bar Lounge, and the business conference service.