Profiles

Executive chef, Hawai'i Prince Hotel

Born: Helsinki, Finland; in Hawai'i 17 years

Culinary background: After training in Finland, became the private chef of the Finnish ambassador in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Moved to California in 1981; has been associated with the Halekulani and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Hawai'i, Raffles Hotel in Singapore, Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the island of Hawai'i. "My style is classical French/European with local ingredients; I especially like to cook with fresh Kaua'i white shrimp."

Favorites

Food: Chocolate, lots of it.

Comfort food: Johnssons Temptation, a potato-anchovy-prosciutto-cream and cheese casserole.

Cookbook: "Art Culinaire."

Cooking show: "The Naked Chef."

Kitchen tool: Sharp knives and a large cutting board.

When I'm really hungry, I grab: "fruits, usually a banana."

When I'm not working I like to: "Spend time with my wife and kids at the beach or park."

When I go out to eat, I like to: "Go to places my kids like — Kaka'ako Kitchen or a Chinese restaurant.

If I could invite any three people to dinner: "I would invite David Bowie, Bill Gates and Colin Powell. I'd definitely include the wives: dinner with just a bunch of guys is never any fun."

My dream job in the culinary world is: "To host a TV show going around the world, discovering different foods and food cultures and the people and stories behind them."