The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is proud to announce the appointment of Jose Gomez as the new executive chef. A seasoned chef with over 15 years of culinary experience, Gomez will oversee the resort’s Spencer’s by the Sea fine dining restaurant and banquet operations, including a staff of 25 – 30 sous chefs, cooks, and stewards.
Most recently, Gomez was the sous chef of Westin Playa Bonita Panama where he operated and directed two fine dining restaurants. Prior to that, Gomez served as the executive sous chef at Waldorf Astoria Panama where he managed three restaurants, room service, and banquets. Given his previous experience with the Waldorf Astoria brand, Chef Gomez looks forward to working with the food and beverage team at The Reach to leverage the program’s culinary heritage through the Taste of Waldorf Astoria program, which celebrates both iconic dishes such as Red Velvet Cake and Waldorf Salad and bold new dishes, like the Jing Roll and Risotto a la Waldorf.
“With vast experience overseeing fine dining outlets and a dedication to offering the finest seasonal ingredients, our team is delighted to welcome Chef Jose Gomez,” said Peter Carmichael, general manager, Casa Marina and The Reach. “I am confident that Chef Gomez will create unforgettable and memorable experiences at our Key West restaurants and dining outlets.”
As a Culinary Institute of America graduate, Gomez is an expert on sous-vide cooking, modern cuisine, food pairings, and avant-garde culinary techniques. Tapping into his cultural heritage, Gomez’s favorite dish to prepare is suckling pig roast “a la varita” or “roasting spinning pole.”
Offering a boutique resort experience amid Key West’s only natural sand beach, The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, sits just west of sister property Casa Marina and steps away from Duval Street. Spencer’s by the Sea restaurant offers a taste of Key West with a menu of fresh-caught seafood and prime steaks.
