Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.
DEDICATION
This biography is dedicated to my beloved family, whose unwavering love, support, and belief in me have carried me through every season of my life.
To my parents—my father Mr. Bala, who served diligently as a prison attendant, and my mother, Mrs. Saroj, a compassionate hospital attendant—your strength, your sacrifices, and your steadfast encouragement have laid the very foundation of who I am. You taught me that even with little, we can dream big, and that with values and hard work, nothing is out of reach.
To my children, Rixen and Noryana—your presence in my life is my greatest blessing. You have stood beside me with quiet strength and open hearts, through every success and every trial. Watching you both flourish in your own paths fills me with a joy words cannot express.
To my life partner, Sheila, your pride in me is the fuel that drives me to do more, be better, and never stop reaching higher.
To my brothers, Siven, Diven and Vassen, who walked with me through the early days of hardship and shared the weight of our dreams—you are a part of every step I’ve taken. Our journey from dusty garages and garden yards to meaningful careers has been nothing short of incredible. Your companionship reminds me that no dream is too far when shared with loyalty and heart.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to François Venin, the person who believe in me and gave me the opportunity to become Executive Chef. To Rico Paoletti, who has always given me the opportunity to discover the world and to express my passion through my work and to my culinary teacher chef Mougum Periatamby.
I would like to express sincere gratitude to the management and kitchen team of Shandrani for welcoming him with all the love and respect in 2020. To my mentors, colleagues, and friends in the culinary world—thank you for seeing potential where others may have seen limits. Your guidance, belief, and camaraderie have transformed challenges into milestones and kitchens into classrooms. You have not only shared knowledge but also nourished my passion for this craft.
To the Mauritian Chefs Association, and all those who build and uplift our culinary community—thank you for trusting me with the responsibility to lead, to serve, and to represent our island’s cuisine on the global stage. This journey more than food has been about people, connection, and heritage.
And to every individual who has ever struggled, dreamt, and persisted—this story is for you. May it remind you that even a single-room house can hold boundless ambition, and that every honest effort, no matter how small, contributes to something larger. Keep believing in yourself, work with heart, and let your dreams take root. Greatness often begins in silence, in sacrifice, and in unseen moments. But with time, patience, and purpose, it always finds its voice.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen
Phase 1 : Rising from One Room to the World Stage.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen was born on January 29, 1972, during which he shared his childhood with his parents and siblings in a single one-room abode. In his beginning days, Dr. Mooroogun Coopen started life within a basic one-room dwelling, which stood distant from the future success of world-renowned international kitchens. The constraints were high, but the environment flourished with affection and educational support together with profound educational respect. The job of prison attendant and hospital attendant that his father and mother performed respectively showed their dedication to working with integrity and dignity. Whatever material possessions they did not have were compensated by their unwavering hope combined with strength of character.
The members of the Coopen family demonstrated perfect support for one another regardless of the difficulties they faced. His parents maintained positive attitudes always because they believed that dedication to work alongside education would lead to a better future. The parents taught their children to persist in everything they did while showing honesty in every action and believing dreams should not be limited because of size. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen founded the core of his personality through these initial teachings, which directed his professional and personal existence.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen started working from his early childhood. He balanced playing with school duties by taking numerous small jobs during his vacation days to bring income into his family while earning his pocket money on the side. Dreams had no limits for Dr. Mooroogun Coopen as he gained valuable work experience by helping his brother at their local garage, where he explored skills such as tool operation and collaborative work and the value of earning money by working.
By selling T-shirts in various local shops during weekend and holiday periods, he exposed himself to essential business principles and fundamental social skills. These small-scale responsibilities prepared him for upcoming life duties that would demand more from him.
The story of his formative period embodies unmatched determination instead of mere enduring life. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen built his path through continuous progress, starting from one job at a time while skipping both advantages and quick pathways to success. The future culinary genius emerged from this one-room dwelling sustaining the desire for achievement in his heart.
Phase 2 : The Culinary Calling That Stirred a Dream
During his childhood years in Mauritius, Dr. Mooroogun Coopen lived in a simple one-room house, which surrounded him with tasks and persistent work while demanding his strength to overcome challenges. Despite working with grease at the garage and dust during garden cleaning, he maintained his mental clarity and curiosity. He found his growing interest in food combined with hospitality during the busy workdays, thus developing his life mission.
When he finished his Cambridge School Certificate at Eden College in 1989, he had to determine how his ambition would take shape. The hotel and catering industry attracted him so he started his journey in this field. Starting a career in the hotel industry represented a brave move when he came from modest family origins but set the basis for building an impressive future.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen developed his culinary career through an orderly progression of strong ambitions combined with the discovery of his purpose. One of his motivation of entering into the culinary world came from Mr. Murday Gopalsam, who was a well known chef in Mauritius. His brother was a good friend of Dr. Mooroogun Coopen’s brother so they went to his place. This was when Dr. Mooroogun Coopen was in college. He saw the chef making Saxophone with sugar and Dr. Mooroogun Coopen was amazed by witnessing for the very first time, such a beautiful innovationin the cooking world.
He gained his diploma in catering from the Mauritius Government Hotel and Catering Training School while studying during 1990. He started his first training position at The Pullman Hotel throughout 1990. He entered the professional kitchen at this establishment to learn under its experienced staff. Within this period he gained rapid skills, which led him to become a trainee and then a cook before achieving the Demi Chef de Partie position. The kitchen exceeded its operational function to transform into an environment for his personal development, which united discipline with creativity and team cooperation in each plated meal.
The milestone of 2000 brought him the position of executive chef at The Canonnier Hotel. During two decades in this role, he guided the culinary evolution at one of Mauritius’s most prestigious hotels. He guided guest dining beyond serving food because his leadership involved creating memorable experiences and building skilled kitchen staff through his example of delivering high hospitality standards. Through his position as executive chef of the Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa, Dr. Mooroogun Coopen still uses his original kitchen-inspired passion to advance Mauritian cuisine after serving the profession for decades.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen consistently earns certifications that demonstrate his commitment to maintaining leadership in his culinary field. The fire safety course at Beachcomber Training Academia and cuisine sous-vide at Hotel Shandrani, together with early Italian cooking seminars at Touessrok, provided him with numerous opportunities to develop his skills. His commitment to the hospitality industry went beyond the stove as he furthered his skills in food hygiene and menu planning and costing and hospitality IT management.
Phase 3 : Mastering the Flame of Influence and Inspiration
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen belongs in the competitive hospitality industry, where kitchens create hot meals, but he has achieved expertise in cooking arts together with leadership roles, mentoring skills, and visionary accomplishments.
For Dr. Mooroogun Coopen, leadership is a practice of internal direction rather than external control. Throughout his life he has consistently led through inner strength. At the start of his professional career, his colleagues observed his natural leadership quality that combined strong interpersonal connections and pressure resistant problem-solving with standard management without the need for loud commands. His ascent throughout the culinary profession began with his sous-chef position until he achieved the executive chef leadership. Another vital aspect of his leadership involved nurturing junior professionals as well as creating spaces where employee learning flourished while passion grew. The kitchen spaces under his leadership showed transformation beyond meal production since he guided untrained chefs toward professional independence.
The sphere of influence that Dr. Mooroogun Coopen expanded surpassed the boundaries of his personal kitchen. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen joined as a founding member of the Mauritian Chefs Association, followed by his 2014 presidency of this organization. He steered the association to great success, which became a framework to raise Mauritian food attitudes and develop culinary expertise throughout the country. The re-election of 2018 indicates the Mauritian culinary industry’s strong admiration for his leadership. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen dedicated all his time to meaningful culinary engagement instead of maintaining an administrative position since he continuously offered mentoring sessions and acted as a judge in competitions while leading diplomatic culinary delegations beyond Mauritius.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen used his international event participation to establish an additional vital piece of his lasting legacy. During the period between 1994 and 2019, he functioned as Mauritius’ culinary ambassador in multiple international food events to showcase the diverse Mauritian cuisine to an international audience. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen presented his culinary creations as cultural ambassadors at various food fairs, which brought him to Singapore, followed by Saudi Arabia, then Sweden, after which came France. Through his events, he delivered cultural connections between Mauritius and the world by bringing together food-oriented cultural exchanges that transcended mere culinary performances. Through his efforts, he positioned Mauritian cuisine for worldwide recognition within the gastronomic sector.
From 2020 tilll now he started at Hotel Shandrani – Beachcomber. It was his dream to manage its kitchen since 2004 and now he saw this as a reality. He is grateful for this achievement and also blessed with the best team at this place who supports him a lot and cherish each moment spent together. He genuinely dreams to make this hotel reach heights and make this one of the finest cuisine in Mauritius.
Phase 4 : Dreams, Roots and Rhythm in Life
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen’s collaboration with renowned scientist Nicolas Bre has been pivotal in revolutionizing culinary practices at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa. He has refined and developed sous vide and slow cooking methods, which align perfectly with his commitment to culinary excellence, food safety, and sustainability. These cutting-edge techniques allow for precise temperature control and extended cooking times, ensuring optimal texture, flavor, and nutrient retention in dishes.
The personal life of Dr. Mooroogun Coopen consists of several parts, including fond souvenirs along with various recreational activities, and deep sense of tranquility offered by his family. The real essence of his being becomes visible through his personal life despite his achievements across nations and through time.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen spent his time using gardening as his source of comfort. For him, gardening goes beyond caretaking duties because it becomes a spiritual connection with nature coupled with an escape from all worldly distractions. During his childhood years this hobby functioned as an income provider because he cleaned and maintained gardens for neighbors. As time went by, this gardening habit evolved into his life’s passion that created peace and achievement as well as emotional links with his cultural history. He starts his day by caring for his garden, which stands as an essential habit to maintain his mental stability through his professional duties.
Both natural elements of land and water communicate with his inner soul, but music holds a special meaning in his heart as well. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen has cherished his aspiration to play the saxophone since childhood while working to earn pocket money during his early days. Time does not diminish dreams because they naturally discover their intended moment eventually. For Dr. Mooroogun Coopen, playing the saxophone signifies both musical development and personal accomplishment since buying it became his lifelong dream pursuit. The instrument, with its smooth, soulful notes, mirrors his own journey: full of character, depth, and grace. This instrument represents how people can overcome obstacles to achieve their silent dreams.
Throughout his non-culinary life, Dr. Mooroogun Coopen finds fulfillment through basic meaningful elements rather than official awards or titles. The earth connects deeply to his nature, and so does the music, as well as love and faithful companionship, which he finds in his everyday existence besides preparing food. His soul takes its flavor from a collection of life’s simple pleasures, including the scents from fresh flowers with the peacefulness of lakes and the heartfelt saxophone and sharing dinner with loved ones amongst jovial laughter. A man who treasures the essence of joyful living has perfected the path to heart satisfaction.
Phase 5 :The Road Ahead
Through decades of experience, Dr. Mooroogun Coopen reaches professional excellence, however his quest for excellence persists. Through decades of dedicated service and international acclaim, he now seeks new opportunities to reach his upcoming ambitious goals. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen desires to develop his own consultancy firm that will become an outstanding landmark for culinary and hospitality excellence. Dr. Mooroogun Coopen ‘s future includes a dual purpose: to establish his own consultancy firm primarily to support the industry that formed him as he mentors and teaches young professionals.
Through his leadership and abilities, he has successfully promoted five cleansers to the position of executive chef. He gave them this opportunity by working hard and providing the best mentoring he could. He considers this his greatest accomplishment and intends to continue assisting others in any way he can.
For Dr. Mooroogun Coopen, Food is Science. He strongly believes one should always understand what portion to use, what to make and most importantly one should aim at keeping all the nutrients intact while preparing any dish.
The forthcoming business venture of Dr. Mooroogun Coopen will mirror throughout its structure the essential qualities that describe his life through hard work and humility together with precision and compassionate dedication. His understanding of opportunity and the importance of mentorship stems from his beginnings in life. The consultancy firm will provide services to high-end hotels and restaurants yet serve as a training platform for novice chefs who require mentorship. Success, according to him, takes shape through his ability to positively touch lives by mentoring others, training careers, and protecting traditional concepts.
Dr. Mooroogun Coopen plans for the future through forward- thinking methods that maintain his position as a leader in his field. He dedicates himself to providing futuristic solutions because the industry evolves permanently by technological and sustainability progress as well as shifting customer demands. His purpose aims to unite traditional Mauritian dishes with present-day international dining expectations.
The fresh stage of life enables Dr. Mooroogun Coopen to find better equilibrium between work and personal interests. His activities that include gardening, fishing, and saxophone playing remain fundamental to his life choice. He finds peace through these simple pleasures, which simultaneously motivate his creativity and keep him balanced. Together with his children Rixen and Noryana, he experiences every life moment while receiving their unwavering support that allows him to navigate his journey with poise and happiness.