Whisk Around the World
Julie Mautner
Posted: August 1, 2007
Mexico and the Caribbean Patrick Elie Rene Louis is the new exec chef at Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort (Puerto Peñasco, Mexico). His five-star resort experience in Mexico includes a stint at the Grand Velas Resort (Nuevo Vallarta) as exec chef. Prior to Las Palomas, Louis owned his own restaurant, Le Gusto, in Paris. Puerto Peñasco is a burgeoning destination near where the Sonoran Desert and the Sea of Cortez meet, about three hours south of Phoenix.
Deon Thomas, chef/owner of Deon's Overlook (Anguilla), has taken over the restaurant at KÚ and renamed it Ku'yah. KÚ is a 27 suite hotel opened in 2005 by the team behind Cap Juluca. Thomas, who has worked on the island for 15 years and promotes its ingredients and cuisine, will spend his time between the two spots.
Edgar González Barrado is the exec chef at the 53 suite Agua Resort & Spa, which opened in mid-May in Uvera Alto (Dominican Republic). Barrado joins Agua from the Michelin three-star Arzak in San Sebastián, Spain, and is supporting local farmers and fishermen to maintain a sustainable community in the Uvero Alto region. Agua is owned by Jose Maria Font and Elena Giovannini, who also own the Hotel America in Barcelona.
Austria Silvio Nickol is the chef at Schloss Velden, a new 100 room château hotel overlooking Lake Worther in Velden. It launched in late May, the first opening in Horst Schulze's new Capella Hotels and Resorts family. Nickol was previously exec sous chef under Harald Wohlfahrt at the Michelin three-star Traube Tonbach (Baiersbronn, Germany). The gm at Schloss Velden, Henning Reichel, was formerly resident manager at Brenners Park (Baden Baden). Meanwhile, Capella's next opening will be the 104 suite Capella Castlemartyr in County Cork, Ireland.
London In May, Gary Rhodes opened an elegant new 42 seat spot near London's Marble Arch called Rhodes W1 Restaurant, where the menu mixes classical French and modern British. Rhodes chose Brian Hughson, formerly of 30 St Mary Axe and The Savoy Grill, to be head chef; manager Sebastian Dupont previously worked for Gordon Ramsay in London and Tokyo. Sommelier Yves Desmarais is a nine year Gary Rhodes vet. The new restaurant is a partnership with Restaurant Associates, a division of Compass Group, with whom the chef operates Rhodes W1 Brasserie at The Cumberland Hotel and Rhodes Twenty Four. Meanwhile, Rhodes recently opened a 96 seat traditional British restaurant onboard the P&O cruise liner Oriana.
At Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, Jonas Karlsson has replaced Helena Puolakka as exec chef at Fifth Floor Restaurant. He had been acting exec chef while Poulakka was on maternity leave. Previously, he worked at Orrery and Coq d'Argent, both in London. Other Harvey Nichols' news: The upscale department store recently launched its own quarterly magazine called Yes Chef! with some heavyweight names on its editorial board such as Heston Blumenthal, Michel Roux, and Gary Rhodes. The magazine previews restaurant openings, provides industry news and gossip, and highlights award-winning suppliers and producers.
Asia and Polynesia Mark Bannon has left the InterContinental Shanghai, where he was exec chef, to oversee the Western kitchen at the Langham (Hong Kong). In his new role, he oversees four restaurants and room service. At press time, Bannon's replacement in Shanghai had not been named.
Shane Watson is the chef and Steve Anstey the gm at the couples-only Likuliku Lagoon Resort, which opened on Malolo Island in West Fiji in April. Accommodations are in 46 thatched roof bures, 10 of them over water—a first in Fiji. Watson was previously at the Sofitel Queenstown (New Zealand), and Anstey came from Sea Temple Port Douglas (North Queensland, Australia).
