Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay Welcomes Alessandra Banfi as Executive Pastry
- Maqina Team
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay is proud to welcome Alessandra Banfi as its new Executive Pastry Chef. Known for her creative style, international experience, and deep love for pastry, Chef Alessandra brings a fresh and inspiring approach to the hotel’s dessert offerings.
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, from a Greek mother and an Italian father, Chef Alessandra was surrounded by diverse cultures and food traditions from a young age. She discovered her love for pastry at the age of 12 and has followed that passion ever since.
Throughout her career, she has worked in reputable hotels in Greece, UAE, as well as Greece. She represented Greece at the prestigious Valrhona C3 pastry competition in Paris. She has also supported culinary teams in New York and Dubai, learning and growing with each experience.
Besides her career in hospitality, Chef Alessandra is also a successful entrepreneur and educator. She founded ‘The Cookie Method’, an online pastry class and business school that successfully reached many students around the world.
Her first cookbook named ‘ABC’ which was a calendar recipe book, released in 2021, was a success and sold out quickly. She is now working on her second book, which will focus on her favourite treat - cookies.
Mentored by world-famous pastry chef Antonio Bachour, Chef Alessandra is known for her beautiful dessert designs and bold flavours, especially while using high-quality cocoa products.
Chef Alessandra is excited to explore local flavours and ingredients, combining them with her personal style to create new and exciting desserts for hotel guests and visitors.
“It is an honour to be part of Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay,” said Chef Alessandra. “Qatar has a warm and rich culture that inspires me. I look forward to using that inspiration in my work to create desserts for all palates.”
Guests can enjoy Chef Alessandra’s desserts at Ledoux and Peacock Alley, with signature cakes, elegant afternoon tea pastries, and limited-edition creations during special occasions.
