News

Big news for residents in Santa Maria, the exclusive golf course community a few minutes from downtown Panama City. The Santa Maria, the anchor resort, has a new executive chef.

Marriott Bonvoy has named David Izquierdo, who has a stellar track record at several top resorts in the region, the hotel’s new top chef. The Santa Maria is part of the company’s Luxury Collection, which prides itself on its service, amenities, and connections to the local culture.

Izquierdo’s resume is impressive, including stints helming the kitchens at The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, Sport Hotels Resort & Spa Andorra, and St. Regis Mexico City. His most recent gig was with the Michelin-starred Uno Mas, where he led the Spanish restaurant’s expansion into Hong Kong, according to a press release. During his time in Hong Kong, the Spanish-born chef was nominated for Miele’s 20 Best Chefs in Asia, and Time Out Magazine named his cuisine among ‘The Best 15 Plates in Hong Kong.’

The quality of the chefs migrating to Panama is one of the capital’s great benefits. The Santa Maria is one of several grand hotels trying to out-do each other’s culinary experience. There are five restaurants in The Santa Maria, including Mestizo’s, a gourmet restaurant with “Mediterranean touches.”

In his new role, Izquierdo “will be responsible for overseeing all food and beverage operations for the resort’s onsite restaurants, staff training, and development, menu planning, budgeting, maintaining inventory, and supervising meeting and event catering services,” according to the press release.

Izquierdo “comes to us with rave reviews, a penchant for creativity, and incredibly strong leadership skills,” said General Manager Hector Rodriguez. “He takes a very organic, soulful approach to cooking and has a passion for creating products from scratch.”