Rosen Shingle Creek Executive Chef Michael Dunton. Chef Dunton loves working with local markets.
Three Chefs, Three Stories, One Passion: A Recipe for Success CHEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD will tell you they are not just cooking. They are telling a story, with passion, flavor and a sense of their soul. They are the creators in the kitchen, the masters at their craft, willing to try something new to inspire those who delight in their artistry. This is the story of three executive chefs here at Rosen Hotels & Resorts. It is a story of triumph, and it is a story of family. It is a love story blending the chefs' passion for food, their commitment to excellence and their desire to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
CHEF MICHAEL DUNTON When you first meet Michael Dunton, one thing is for certain: This man is passionate about food. It is a passion he brings to Rosen Shingle Creek as its new executive chef. Replacing the retiring legend, 30-year Executive Chef Jorge Oliveira, is not easy. Chef Dunton is a perfect addition to the hotel and is ready to bring his fresh, flavorful, bold recipes
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to life using a combination of skill and knowledge. Raised in New England, Chef Dunton grew up fishing and clamming in Cape Cod, falling in love with fresh seafood and the creations his family made through the years. “Coming from an Armenian and Italian heritage, for both of my grandparents and great-grandparents food was always a big production; we always made dishes from scratch. So being surrounded by family and that cuisine, I fell in love with cooking at a really early age,” Dunton said. “Food was our gift to each other too. A Christmas gift from my great-grandmother would be a bag of dumplings that we could eat throughout the year,” Dunton added. It is a culinary gift Dunton now shares at Rosen Shingle Creek, with its 15 restaurant options for the guests who stay in the hotel’s 1,501 rooms. You will not find a better steak than in A Land Remembered, Rosen Shingle Creek’s AAA Four Diamond Award-winning steakhouse featuring Black Angus Five Diamond Prime Beef. Here you will find mouth-watering filets that leave guests in awe, especially when paired with a cold-water half lobster tail drizzled with butter. And do not forget the succulent New York strips that cut like butter, pop with flavor and are cooked to perfection. Dunton’s love for the ocean and seafood shines in A Land Remembered with a daily catch, fresh from Florida anglers, as well as Grilled Swordfish sourced from Ft. Pierce. Pair both with a nice glass of wine to really draw in the richness, the subtlety and simplicity of the flavor of the fish. “One of my strengths is knowing the area, what grows in the area and what’s coming from our local waters. I love working with local markets. I brought that with me from Massachusetts where it is very easy to get great, local seafood,” Dunton said. Dunton’s Italian heritage is also on full display at Rosen Shingle Creek’s Tuscan-inspired Cala Bella, the resort’s AAA Four Diamond Award-winning signature Italian restaurant. Here, you can feel like you are escaping to Italy for a night with cuisine that exudes freshness and flavor. Extravagant pasta, seafood and a wide variety of steak and chicken will only engage your palate and make you long for a return trip. For Chef Dunton, igniting flavor, creating culinary delights and bringing a sense of family to his craft are his ways of giving back. Inspired by the life lived by Harris Rosen, owner of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Dunton says he is in complete awe that he gets to live his dream with Mr. Rosen at Rosen Shingle Creek. “Over the years, I’ve heard about the things he does in the community, specifically with children, and it is just really inspiring to work for a man who gives back so much and does it for the genuine care of his community and not for recognition,” Dunton said. “Really, there are not that many people who can say they are living their dream, but I truly am living my dream.” When Chef Dunton is not hard at work creating delicacies at Rosen Shingle Creek, you can find him with his finest creation, his family. Whether it is on the water, in the sun or just at home, Chef Dunton puts his heart into everything he does. And it shows. Let Chef Dunton “wow” you like he’s “wowed” countless others with his passion and skill.
ROBERTO GONZALEZ
ON THE TABLE
