Matlali Hotel and Phulay Bay Welcome New Executive Chefs
Matlali Hotel Welcomes Celebrated Mexican Chef, Alejandro Zuno (www.matlali.com)
Matali Hotel is pleased to announce the arrival of new Executive Chef Alejandro Zuno, who brings decades of culinary experience, a commitment to the “Slow Food Movement,” and a lighter twist on Mexican fare. In addition to overseeing Matlali Hotel’s Raixes Restaurant, Chef Zuno also recently opened a small culinary farm, where he supervises the cultivation of mushrooms, microgreens, and organic baby produce.
At Matlali, Chef Zuno prepares traditional Mexican dishes with a vibrant spin. Rather than feeling bogged down by heavy food, guests are instead energized with fresh, colorful dishes that fuel long days exploring Mexico’s pristine Riviera Nayarit. His signature dishes are a ceviche-inspired Chile Relleno and Grilled Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Veggies and Adobo Sauce. Both feature fresh-caught fish sourced from sparkling Banderas Bay, located just minutes from the hotel.
Chef Zuno began his career at the age of 17 in local Guadalajara restaurants. He has worked in the top kitchens in Mexico, cooked alongside top California chefs, and prepared dishes for a host of notable celebrities, including Reese Witherspoon, Caitlyn Jenner and Benny Medina.
Phulay Bay Welcomes Michelin-Versed Executive Chef Alex Gares Blaya (www.phulay-bay.com)
Phulay Bay, a Ritz Carlton Reserve has appointed Mr. Alex Gares Blaya as Executive Chef. Gares brings more than 19 years of professional kitchen experience to Phulay Bay, including, most recently, 10 years as Executive Chef at top tier hotels and resorts around the world. At Phulay Bay, Gares will manage six diverse restaurants, oversee the property’s organic garden, spearhead the resort’s signature ‘Dining Beyond’ personal culinary guest experience, and lead unique hands-on activities like cooking lessons, tasting tables, the Petit Chef program for kids, and guided morning tours of the local market and fish farm.
Prior to joining Phulay Bay, Chef Gares served as Executive Chef at Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa by Six Senses in The Maldives, Hotel Le Meridien Ra Thalasso Spa in Barcelona and Condes de Barcelona Hotels Barcelona. Most recently, he served as Executive Chef at the Four Seasons Koh Samui Resort in Thailand, sparking his love for Thai culture and cuisine.
Chef Gares’ early career included a wide range of positions, including Stagiaire, Chef de Partie and Sous Chef at a string of Michelin-starred restaurants throughout Spain, including the famed El Bulli. At Lasarte Restaurant in Spain, he was awarded a Michelin star in less than nine months.
Matlali Hotel – La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico (www.matlali.com)
Situated in the rolling hills of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and overlooking Mexico’s Banderas Bay, this Preferred Hotel Group-affiliated luxury resort includes 40 private villas with sweeping ocean and mountain views, a full-service Makawé Spa, the elegant Raixes Restaurant, and the classic Eva Mandarina Beach Club. The nearby fishing village of La Cruz offers resort guests an authentic snapshot of Mexico; with weekly live music at the plaza and daily fish brought into the Mercado del Mar. Guests can also enjoy a wide range of activities including catamaran sailing, diving, surfing, snorkeling, and fishing aboard the resort’s two private yachts. The resort also features a natural hot springs pool, outdoor gym, hiking trails, and paddleball court.
Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Krabi, Thailand (www.phulay-bay.com)
Phulay Bay, the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, is located in Krabi, Thailand set along the scenic shores of the Andaman Sea. Phulay Bay represents a departure from the ordinary and is designed for travelers seeking rare, exotic and authentic experiences in the most remote corners of the world. The property features 54 spacious villas with private plunge pools, rainforest showers, indoor and outdoor baths and showcases scenic tropical garden or ocean views. Amenities include an 11-room treatment spa, a selection of formal and casual dining options, infinity pool, 1,400 square-foot meeting and event space, and an array of local attractions, including white-sand beaches, coral reefs, lush rainforests, caves, waterfalls and exploration of the nearby Similian Islands.
