El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village, Waldorf Astoria Resorts in Puerto Rico, are pleased to announce the appointment of Erika Suarez as their first female executive chef, effective immediately. In her role, Suarez will oversee the resorts’ culinary team, catering and banquet services, room service, and numerous dining outlets including the resorts’ signature Chops Steakhouse.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Suarez brings more than 10 years of culinary experience to El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village. Most recently, she served as the first ever female executive chef and corporate chef for Norwegian Cruise Line where she managed eight vessels and their entire culinary department. Additional experience in the hospitality industry includes roles as executive sous chef at Miami Beach Resort & Spa and banquet chef at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s an honor to be back in my homeland cooking with familiar flavors,” said Erika Suarez. “The gastronomy scene on the island is further developing itself a little more each day more and I’m proud to come and be a part of it. And, what better place to entertain my passion for good cuisine than at El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village.”
Suarez holds an associate degree in culinary arts from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. She is also accredited as a Certified Executive Chef by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Inc., the nation’s largest organization of professional chefs. With her experience in high-end gastronomy, Chef Suarez is also looking forward to engaging with the Waldorf Astoria brand’s timeless culinary program, Taste of Waldorf Astoria, which celebrates the brand’s heritage in food and beverage as well as challenges chefs to create new iconic dishes for guests around the world to enjoy.
Dramatically set atop a 300-foot bluff, El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village feature 23 restaurants, bars and lounges, each with a distinctive menu and atmosphere. Two banquet kitchen facilities offer groups and events the flexibility of offering kosher meals as well as other specialty meals with both buffet and à la carte dining options available.
