Chef Khaleel Faheemud-Deen
Catering Director, Event Sales, Culinary Consultant

Better known to many as Chef Khaleel, Khaleel Faheemud-Deen is the newest addition to the Oliver Twist family.

Chef Khaleel has spent more than 20 years developing his skills and reputation as an Executive Chef and Catering professional in the Raleigh-Metro culinary market.

Born in Washington, DC, he is second generation Guyanian. Chef Khaleel was educated in North Carolina and grew up on Caribbean cuisine and good ‘ole southern hospitality. This environment helped nurture his deep passion for cooking, baking and creative food presentations. Khaleel’s cooking style has been heavily influenced by the cuisines of the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Chef Khaleel has served a variety of leadership roles while building his culinary career, including a tour of service as Executive Chef for the Crazy Vine wine and tapas bar in Raleigh’s Glenwood South, where he featured his “Mediterranean-Rim” tapas menu. “Mediterranean-Rim” is a name that Chef Khaleel uses to describe a creative fusion of ingredients used in the many regions bordering the bountiful waters of the Mediterranean; it focuses mainly upon cooking techniques found in Italy, Spain and southern France.

Chef Khaleel spent three years with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes® and cooked for the teams, artists and media. After the NHL “Lock-Out” in 2003, he went to work for Mitchell’s Catering & Events, one of the premier catering/event firms between Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC. Mitchell’s is where he learned to execute glamorous, high-end catering events. They specialized in themed-event catering and artistic, high-fashion buffet displays with elegant plated banquet service.

Chef Khaleel is very proud that during his tenure in 2005, Mitchell’s received the coveted 2005 ISES/EVIE award for catering and events.

Chef Khaleel opened his own restaurant in 2007, a Caribbean café called Trade Winds Café, which featured a Caribbean polished, casual menu that was widely appreciated by students, faculty and staff of the North Carolina State University community.

In addition to his passion for cooking, Chef Khaleel has enjoyed serving as vice president of the Triangle Chef’s Association, the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation. This responsibility afforded him the opportunity to fight childhood hunger through education initiatives such as teaching cooking classes, conducting cooking demonstrations, providing food presentations at local and national charitable events and competing in culinary competitions.
Many of you may recognize Chef Khaleel from his work with the March of Dimes®, having served as the Chef Liaison for the NC March of Dimes “Great Chefs of The Triangle” Charity Gourmet Auction from 2003 – 2006.

Khaleel Faheemud-Deen
Catering Director, Event Sales, Culinary Consultant
919.995.1860
chefkhaleel@theolivertwistlounge.com

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