Yves de Lafontaine has been making waves in the food and beverage industry for more than 25 years. After completing his higher studies in Perth, Western Australia, Chef Yves earned his first experience of leading a kitchen when he was just 21 years old. Since then, he has successfully led busy kitchens at renowned restaurants across the world including in the UAE, Portugal, and his native Seychelles – where he also spent five years developing a successful organic farm.

Passionate, driven, and a natural-born leader with strong personal and communication skills, he was the perfect choice to take the helm in the kitchen of COYA’s first permanent kitchen in Saudi Arabia. The brand’s dedication to authenticity, top quality ingredients, and vibrant flavours resonates with him, as does the fact that it offers a whole lifestyle experience rather than just a place to eat, and he has delighted in creating specialist dishes that are tailored exclusively for the customers of Riyadh. Now, assisted by the guidance and support of Benjamin Wan, COYA Middle East’s Executive Chef – and following a period of immersing himself further in the brand at COYA Dubai – he is proud to bring the glitz and glamour of COYA to Saudi Arabia.