Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa Expands Culinary Team

New Executive Sous Chef, Banquet Chef, and Chef De Partie Bring A Wealth Of Kitchen Excellence To Grand Cayman Resort

 

(GRAND CAYMAN, September 2022) – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is pleased to announce the appointment of Executive Sous Chef Christian Gonzalez Ponce to its culinary team, as well as the promotion of Chef Andre Wilson to Banquet Chef and Chef Abhimanyu “Abhi” Ghuliani to Chef De Partie. Together, Chef Christian, Chef Andre, and Chef Abhi will help to further elevate Seafire’s acclaimed restaurants & bars program at the resort’s three restaurants.

 

“Since our opening, Kimpton Seafire has established itself as a true culinary destination, and we’re thrilled to introduce our guests to Chef Christian, Chef Andre, and Chef Abhi’s dynamic flavors and innovative techniques,” said Steve Andre, the resort’s General Manager. “We’re looking forward to seeing — and tasting — what they have in store in their new roles.”

 

As Executive Sous Chef, Chef Christian will be in charge of supporting all of the culinary programming at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Born in Chile, he has worked in kitchens across the globe, including helping famed Chef Ferran Adriá’s El Bulli restaurant in Spain achieve its third Michelin star. As well as, opening his own Indigenous-Spanish restaurant in Chile, which was included on the prestigious San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With a PHD in culinary anthropology from San Pol de Mar in Barcelona, Chef Christian has also served as an international culinary instructor in Mexico and contributed to several South American cooking shows.

 

Hand selected to be part of Kimpton Seafire’s pre-opening team in 2016 as Chef De Partie for Banquets, Chef Andre was instrumental in the culinary recruitment and recipe development ahead of the resort’s grand opening. Now as the Banquet Chef, he will continue to support Seafire’s banquets, catering, conferences, and assistant manager operations. As well as inspire and implement new and innovative culinary concepts based on global culinary trends. Prior to joining the team, Chef Andre gained extensive experience within fine resorts and restaurants, including a stint with award-winning Chef Cindy Hutson in 2014. He also has a natural love for the Culinary Arts, and has acquired diplomas within the culinary, wellness and nutrition disciplines.

 

Chef Abhi is no stranger to Seafire, having been an integral part of the resort’s culinary team since 2019. As Chef De Partie, he will oversee the creation of Seafire’s delicious pastries, which are baked fresh on-site every day. Originally from India, Chef Abhi has gathered global experience in such locales as Malaysia, New York, Cambodia and Thailand, including stints with W Hotels and JW Marriot.

 

At Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, an impressive selection of fresh, local cuisine is dished up morning, noon and night at three extraordinary restaurants: Ave, where the simple, vibrant cuisine of the Mediterranean meets the bounty of Grand Cayman’s land and waters; Avecita, an exhibition-style “restaurant within a restaurant” that offers a much-sought-after nightly tasting menu; and Coccoloba, Seafire’s casual on-the-beach restaurant, which is part Mexican street taco joint, part beach hut.

 

Learn more about Seafire’s culinary offerings at www.seafireresortandspa.com/grand-cayman-restaurants, and click here to access/download the chefs’ headshots.

 

 

ABOUT SEAFIRE RESORT + SPA, SEVEN MILE BEACH, GRAND CAYMAN

Debuted in November 2016, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is Grand Cayman’s first new resort development in more than a decade. Located on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach, the resort melds locally inspired touches, luxurious Caymanian flavor, and warm Kimpton spirit. Developed by Dart Real Estate, the Cayman Islands’ premier real estate developer, the 264-room resort offers unmatched, unobstructed water views from nearly every guest room. The property includes a presidential suite and three private bungalows, highlighting the spectacular sun-kissed horizon that inspired the resort’s name. Guests can indulge in a state-of-the-art spa, meander through native botanical gardens, or cool down at one of two ocean-view pools. Kimpton Seafire Resort’s three signature restaurants include a beachside bar and grill, a lively main restaurant with unparalleled panoramic views, and a signature restaurant serving Spanish Tapas with an exclusive Chef’s Table.

 

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, is the original boutique hotel company, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, Kimpton now operates more than 60 hotels and 75 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Greater China. Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests, offering inspiring design to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered, so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and ridiculously personal. For more information, visit www.KimptonHotels.com.