UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive beachfront resort in the Yucatan Peninsula, has announced Gerardo Vázquez Lugo as its next celebrity chef-in-residence to helm its flagship restaurant, Cueva Siete. The restaurant is a hub of rotating celebrity chefs who interpret the region’s cuisine with signature techniques, locally sourced ingredients and unique flavors.
Since its inception, the Chef-in-Residence program at UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya has hosted numerous master chefs to oversee the entire restaurant for two years. The resident chef is granted full creative control of Cueva Siete’s menu and kitchen in order to showcase their expertise and signature specialties.
Chef Lugo brings over 25 years of experience to Cueva Siete, with a focus on fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing from regional farmers and growers. He is currently executive chef at Nicos in Mexico City and a recipient of the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award. He serves as a mentor to aspiring chefs via the Young Chefs S.Pellegrino program and also appeared as a judge on the first edition of Netflix’s “Iron Chef Mexico.”
Chef Gerardo’s menu at Cueva Siete will spotlight traditional Yucatan dishes, including Xe’ek, a fresh citrus salad; and Salbut Dzik, a modern take on a pulled protein salbute. The menu will dive into local flavors and ingredients such as jicama, plantain, purslane and achiote.
For more information, visit www.unicohotelrivieramaya.com.
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