Chef de Cuisine, Kayuputi, The St. Regis Langkawi

Chef Marco J. Portal Jr. brings a distinctive culinary perspective shaped by a career spanning fine dining restaurants and luxury hospitality destinations across Asia and the Middle East. Guided by a philosophy that balances classical technique with contemporary expression, he believes that exceptional cuisine begins with respect for ingredients, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to place.

His journey has taken him through Michelin-selected restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and some of Dubai's most acclaimed dining destinations, where he refined his approach across French, Japanese, Italian, and Southeast Asian cuisines. These diverse influences continue to inform his style today, allowing him to create dishes that are both technically precise and thoughtfully layered in flavour.

At Kayuputi, Chef Marco's culinary vision is rooted in seasonality, simplicity, and storytelling. Inspired by the natural abundance of Langkawi and the rich culinary traditions of the region, he combines global techniques with local ingredients to create experiences that are elegant, immersive, and evocative of their surroundings. For Chef Marco, every dish is an opportunity to celebrate provenance and transform familiar flavours into something unexpected and memorable.

Driven by curiosity and a relentless pursuit of excellence, he approaches the kitchen as a space for continual discovery and innovation. Under his leadership, Kayuputi continues to evolve as one of Langkawi's most celebrated dining destinations, offering guests a refined culinary journey defined by creativity, precision, and a sense of place.