Carsten Seubert; Kempinski General Manager From Beijing To Bansko

Carsten Seubert; Kempinski General Manager

Carsten Seubert is the Kempinski Bansko Grand Arena’s General Manager. Born in 1985 in Munich, Germany. He arrived in Bansko in June, with his wife, after serving nine years with the Kempinski Group; his last posting being in Beijing in China. Click or tap play below to hear his excitement for this new General Manager position and his passion both for his career and his start to his life in Bansko.

A skier since the age of 3 three he enjoyed the regular family ski holidays in Davos (in Switzerland). His passion for skiing and snowboarding, as well as the mountains and the nature, have remained with him though out the years.

Bansko seems seems like it will suit him well.

Sing Sing Piano Bar, Kempinski Bansko

Full Disclosure Kempinski Bansko are sponsors and advertisers in Bansko Blog and Bansko App.

Carsten talks about the changing nature of the five star hotel industry and how this has correlated with a diverse range of guests staying in Kempinski hotels. Lots of info here including a welcome (for me) focus on new price points in the lobby bar menu.

Carsten’s vision is to make the Kempinski a destination venue for a wider section of the population, whether they are Bansko residents or visitors taking a look from other hotels.

A night out in Sing Sing in March 2015

We discuss Teppanyaki and sushi restaurant experiences and Sing Sing piano bar. He explains the Kempinski group’s philosophy of driving service and quality levels higher. A choice of craft beers for the lobby bar is something we agree upon.

This podcast was recorded on Saturday 14th November over lunch in the Come Prima dining room.

Lunch: Salmon, shallots and aubergine puree

In the podcast you’ll hear the Come Prima chefs working in the background in the open kitchen — but I have to confess I was initially disappointed that the last of the white truffles had all gone.

I should have had no doubts, because my lunch recommendation from Carsten turned out to be rather good. It was the salmon dish from their ten year anniversary menu. This was just one dish of many, from a menu consisting of the most popular dishes that guests have ordered in Come Prima over the last ten years, since the Kempinski first opened its doors in 2005. A year I remember as I actually stayed in the Kempinski in 2005 — how time goes.

I never recommend anything I do not enjoy, so I can whole heartedly recommend this menu. A divine beef carpaccio was followed by that recommended salmon with roasted shallots with an aubergine puree.

The dishes had a level of finesse that seemed to be at least as good, if not better than I remember, because this time last year Michael Wilkinson, executive chef (but recently returned to the UK) was my guest on the podcast. Click play above to listen to episode 29.