Executive Chef Michael Bates-Walsh to lead culinary charge at Kimpton Taconic’s signature restaurant, The Copper Grouse
The Copper Grouse, a comfort-driven tavern located in the Kimpton Taconic Hotel, has appointed Michael Bates-Walsh as its new executive chef. Chef Michael will continue to expand the menu with local flair at the contemporary, yet elegant restaurant, situated in the picturesque Vermont town.
Drawing on his passion for local cuisine, Chef Michael specializes in creating seasonal menus based on regional, locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients and enjoys catering those menus to specific dietary needs. Chef Michael will ensure there’s a balanced flow in each menu that catches the attention of many tastes and pulls inspiration from seasonal ingredients and current culinary trends.
Alongside General Manager Seth Dunne, Chef Michael will oversee the signature restaurant, which celebrates the bounty of Vermont’s four seasons, in addition to room service and events held throughout the hotel’s various meetings and banquet facilities.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chef Michael to our team,” said Seth Dunne, General Manager of The Copper Grouse. “His experience and dedication working with local ingredients is second to none. We know he will be instrumental in helping us elevate the hotel’s dining experience, both by expanding our core business and bringing in new visitors and locals.”
A Certified Executive Chef, Chef Michael began his culinary career in high school, making bagels before his classes and working other restaurant jobs. He originally aspired to be a high school history teacher, but once he got a taste of the culinary world, he was hooked. He fell in love with the fast-paced environment and team mentality. Drawing from his passion for hospitality, his grandmother taught him about the excitement of entertaining.
Over the years, he worked his way through the ranks, gaining exposure at a variety of different restaurants, inns, and resorts – broadening his skills and qualifications at each location. He joins the Copper Grouse from the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA, which he helped open in 2016. Prior to that role, he was the Executive Chef at the Cohasset Harbor Resort in Cohasset, MA and spent time in Portland, ME, where he opened the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel. Earlier in his career, Chef Michael spent five years at The Equinox, a Luxury Collection Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester.
“I’m excited to return to the quintessential town of Manchester and experiment with all of the fresh ingredients Vermont has to offer,” says Chef Michael. “I’m thrilled to bring my experiences throughout New England to the Copper Grouse’s kitchen in order to create a true Vermont culinary experience.”
The Copper Grouse features an exhibition-style kitchen, thoughtful touches like a wrap-around porch, and a diverse blend of updated yet unpretentious classics sourced from local farms.
ABOUT KIMPTON TACONIC
Located in the picturesque year-round vacation destination of Manchester, Vermont, Kimpton Taconic is inspired by New England’s grand inns of the late 19th and early 20thcentury. The boutique hotel features 87 accommodations including three standalone cottages boasting views of the Green Mountain and Taconic Mountains, with warm and welcoming indoor and outdoor spaces designed to encourage socializing. The hotel features over 9,600 sq. ft. of flexible event space, comprised of a ballroom, outdoor terrace, and event lawn. Adjacent to Kimpton Taconic, the hotel’s modern American tavern, The Copper Grouse, offers indoor and al fresco dining, serving locally oriented, approachable dishes that highlight the bounty of Vermont’s four seasons. The hotel’s location affords easy access to multiple award-winning ski mountains in the winter, along with a host of spring, summer, and fall attractions and outdoor adventures. To learn more, “like” the hotel on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TaconicHotel, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TaconicHotel and on Instagram at @TaconicHotel.
ABOUT KIMPTON RESTAURANTS
Kimpton manages over 80 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges across major metropolitan cities, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets in the United States, Caribbean and Europe. Helmed by renowned chefs and skilled bartenders, each Kimpton restaurant and bar is an original, from the cuisine concept to the craft cocktails to the décor and ambiance, creating a truly immersive experience for guests. Set in warm and welcoming spaces, Kimpton’s restaurants and bars are a gathering place in the communities and reflect the local flavors of each location. For more information, visit www.KimptonHotels.com/dine.
