AYANA Resort and Spa Bali has announced the promotion of renowned Singaporean chef Jusman So, who has taken on the role of Head Chef at AYANA's new sister hotel, RIMBA Jimbaran Bali. Jusman was previously Chef de Cuisine at AYANA's Davarestaurant, where he led the team to a Miele Guide listing for 2012/13.

Featuring 282 rooms and suites,unique dining concepts and panoramic sunset views, RIMBA Jimbaran Bali opened in September 2013 under the management by Capella Hotel Group - the same management company as AYANA. The 8 hectare resort is locatedwithin AYANA's 77-hectare grounds overlooking Jimbaran Bay, just 12 kilometers from Bali's airport. As Head Chef of RIMBA, Jusman is responsible for overseeing the quality and diversity of the culinary experiences at RIMBA including:

• Asian Fusion restaurantTo'ge, which also features a Gourmet Bakery serving pastries, cakes and hand-made chocolates
• Ultra-chic roof-top bar UNIQUE
• Swim-up Pool Bar as part of the 6 swimming pools around the resort's one hectare of water bodies
• State-of-the-art Cooking School with organic herb and vegetable garden

"After two years in Bali, I am excited to take on this new position as AYANA continues its evolution with the opening of RIMBA," said Jusman. "A resort like RIMBA, especially To'ge restaurant, gives me a platform for innovation and creativity as well as providing a unique dining experience for guests. Throughout my career, I have been religiously exploring European cuisine, and now I have the chance to sharpen my skills and my passion in my own roots, which are Asian. The difference is in the taste intensity and how heat is applied in Asian technique, and I dare myself to be more adventurous with herbs and spices."

Jusman's signature dishes at To'ge include mouthwatering Red Organic Duck Curry with lychee and pineapple, fresh Thai basil and tangerine relish; Free-range ChickenTagine with preserved lemon, olives and saffron; and King Prawn Noodles in galangal coconut broth, Thai basil pesto and pickled chili.

"The cuisine at To'ge will highlight unique twists of dishes from all over Asia. What I mean by unique is that I am taking the inspiration from the street food culture of Asian countries, and bringing it to a five-star level. Blending together different Asian spices and ingredients to create unique dishes, To'ge is a melting pot of Asian flavors," said Jusman.

RIMBA's Hotel Manager Clive Edwards said Jusman's strong background at high-end restaurants and luxury hotels further enhances the dining experiences at RIMBA.

"Jusman possesses a wealth of experience that is matched by his leadership style and exquisite creativity. We look forward to seeing the result of his inspiration, to take our culinary service to new heights," Clive said.

Jusman first arrived in Bali in 2011 to take on the role as Chef de Cuisine at Dava restaurant, the signature dining venue at AYANA. This followed six years at Sage, a 40-seat fine dining restaurant which he founded in 2005 and which was nominated "Best New Restaurant" at the World Gourmet Summit 2008.

In the same year, Jusman won Best Rising Chef and his restaurant was awarded one of Singapore's Best Restaurants by Singapore Tatler magazine in 2010, before being named to the prestigious Miele List. Jusman then led Dava to a Miele Guide listing for 2012/13, supported by AYANA's Executive Chef Giordano Faggioli, who is now Food & Beverage Director at RIMBA.

Media Contact:
Jane Milojevic
jmilojevic@insightpr.com.au
+61 0 2 44551572

About RIMBA Jimbaran Bali

Named after 'forest' in Indonesian, RIMBAJimbaran Bali offers eight hectares of lush gardens to explorewithin the 77-hectare grounds of AYANA Resort and Spa overlooking Jimbaran Bay, just 12 kilometers from Bali's airport. The 282 well-appointed guest rooms and suites are contemporary, elegant and chic, with an emphasis on sustainable design.

Hotel facilities include Indonesia's biggest Chinese restaurant Ah-Yat Abalone Seafood Restaurant; ultra-glam roof-top bar UNIQUE; gourmet Bakery; Cooking School; swim-up pool bar; Kids Club and children's pool; six roof-top spa treatment rooms; Ballroom and meeting rooms; jogging trails and resort shuttle connecting RIMBA to AYANA and Kubu Beach; and complimentary WiFi.

About AYANA Resort and Spa

Named after a 'place of refuge' in Sanskrit, AYANA Resort and Spa enjoys majestic ocean views along its 1.3km  coastline on cliffs above Jimbaran Bay, just 12km from Bali's airport. Guests enjoy unrivaled sanctuary within the 77-hectare resort, which is also home to RIMBA Jimbaran Bali, a 282-room hotel opened in September 2013.

AYANA's 368 guestrooms comprise 78 private pool villas and a 290-room hotel. Resort highlights include the 22,000sqm ThermesMarinsThalasso spa with one of the world's largest Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pools and the Spa on the Rocks villas set amidst the Indian Ocean. There are five purpose-built wedding venues; the avant-garde Champa Garden for grand-scale events; four freshwater swimming pools including a children's pool; a salt-water, infinity-edged Ocean Beach Pool at the cliff's base, accessed via an inclinator;12 dining venues; 18-hole golf putting course; tennis pavilion; jogging/cycling path; fitness center; children's center;perfume-making studio and boutiques; comprehensive meeting facilities and business center; and resort-wide WIFI.

Awards for AYANA Resort and Spa include:

                                TRAVEL + LEISURE READERS' AWARDS

2013                        World's Best Hotels

2012                      Asia's Best Resorts

                                CONDE NAST TRAVELER

2012                        Gold List: World's Best Hotels and Resorts

2011                        Readers' Choice Awards: #1 Best Resort in Asia
2010                        Readers' Choice Awards:#1 Spa Resort in the World

                              destinasian readers' choice awards

2012                      #1 Resort Spa in Asia-Pacific

                               #1Best Hotel in Bali

About Capella Hotel Group

Capella Hotel Group based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. was founded in 2002 by legendary hotelier Horst Schulze. The principals of the company leverage unparalleled hospitality experience and a diverse track record of operating world-class hotels and resorts to create value through superior service at luxury, world-class properties and conference centers in gateway cities and high-profile resort destinations around the world. Capella Hotel Group has successfully launched two hotel brands, Capella and Solis, and manages leading independent brands including AYANA. They have helped reshape concepts of luxury service throughout the hospitality and service industries and created the unparalleled Canon service standards introduced at AYANA, underpinning the resort's commitment to excellence and guest satisfaction. For more information, visit www.capellahotelgroup.com.