Dubai, October 2010 - New to the Gulf region Joe Vock joins the Taj Palace Hotel as executive chef.

Chef Vock has spent much of his career working in African countries including Zambia, Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Seychelles and Tanzania and has headed kitchen brigades at the Peermont Hotels Grand Palm Botswana, the Southern Sun group of hotels and Sandton Crowne Plaza.

Hailing from Cape Town South Africa Vock has been in the Hospitality industry for 29 years .He is a member of the South African Chefs Association and also of Les Disciples d Auguste Escoffier. His experience on cruise ships introduced him to the exotic flavours of the Caribbean, encouraging him to experiment with fusions of Africa, Europe and Caribbean cuisine. 

Vock has plans to introduce new food concepts at the hotel�s signature restaurants and will be enhancing the breakfast and lunch buffets. He is also planning to add more theme nights and regular food promotions. 

Specially created with the discerning business and leisure traveller in mind, Taj Palace Hotel Dubai offers 159 of some of the largest executive rooms and suites in the city. It has 90 serviced apartments and five multi-cuisine restaurants namely Handi, the award winning Indian restaurant, Sakura, the Japanese restaurant, the Italian Verdi  and the Turkish/Arabic Topkapi. A health club with its two rooftop pools and the Taj Spa make up the wellness offering.