LODGE ~ Press Room
Media Contact:
Lorin Misita Seidman
Director of Public Relations
lseidman@destinationhotels.com
Phone: 617.621.1700
Emily Biscone
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
ebiscone@destinationhotels.com
Phone: 617.621.1700
Sean Buchanan Appointed Executive Chef for New Stowe Mountain Lodge,
Vermont's Most Highly-Anticipated Dining Experience, Opening Spring 2008
Stowe, Vt. (December 14, 2007) – Stowe Mountain Lodge, Vermont's newest luxury resort hotel, is pleased to announce the appointment of culinary rising star Sean Buchanan to executive chef. At a hotel and restaurant where local artisan-inspired cuisine, all-natural organic ingredients, seasonally changing menus and boundless creativity provide the basis for a unique fine dining experience, it is only fitting that Buchanan, one of Vermont's foremost advocates of local farmers, would be chosen to take the helm of this highly-coveted new kitchen.
With almost ten years of culinary experience, including a recent position as executive chef at the Middlebury Inn, a small hotel known for teaching guests about the Vermont "localvore" movement, Buchanan not only understands how to run a successful restaurant kitchen, but he has also learned the importance of advocating local cuisine. Buchanan’s underlying passion and motivation for his cooking is attached to his philosophy that fresh, native ingredients produce the highest quality and most tasteful cuisine, and supporting local farmers is the responsibility of the entire food community. Buchanan left the Middlebury Inn to take on a sales & marketing role at Wood Creek Farm in Bridport, Vermont, where he dedicated his time to learning first hand about the farming industry while simultaneously encouraging restaurants within the New England area to buy local, farm-raised beef. In just eleven months, he was able to increase the farm's sales of natural beef by 500% and spread awareness throughout the region of the benefits of purchasing locally- and humanely-raised meats. This time away from the kitchen also gave Buchanan an opportunity to travel around the state on behalf of Vermont Public Television, with whom he worked to create and host "Feast in the Making," a television series dedicated to introducing viewers to the state’s meat, dairy and vegetable farmers, artisan cheesemakers, and the chefs who support them.
This young crusader's accomplishments and talents have not gone unrecognized. In addition to consistently being selected by Vermont Fresh Network, a local farm advocacy group, as a chef representative for their movement, the Vermont Department of Agriculture presented Buchanan with their "Buying Local" award in both 2006 and 2007. Edible Green Mountains, the Vermont edition of the renowned national food publication, chose Buchanan to be a regular contributor to their magazine as a way to continue the dialogue between farmers and consumers. Now that Buchanan is once again stepping back into the kitchen, his talent for creating memorable cuisine using indigenous ingredients will bring fresh and inspirational tastes to Stowe Mountain Lodge, ensuring an authentic Vermont experience for diners at the area's most exquisite new resort hotel and restaurant.
The new Stowe Mountain Lodge is located at the heart of the lively Spruce Peak at Stowe alpine village in historic Stowe, Vermont. Opening June 2008, the 139-room lodge will offer an exclusive 18-hole mountain golf course created by the legendary Bob Cupp, a luxurious spa, Cooper Wellness at Stowe, Salon Mario Russo, 12,100 square feet of meeting space, the Alpine Concierge® available to anticipate every need, twice-daily housekeeping, 24-hour in-room dining and artisan-inspired cuisine. The lodge also will offer highly-customized services and personalized in-room amenities. For more information, please contact Stowe Mountain Lodge at 802-253-0320 or visit online at www.stowemountainlodge.com. For real estate inquiries, please call 877-786-9368 or 802-253-0076.
Stowe Mountain Lodge is one of more than 30 independent, upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and golf clubs in the United States managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the fifth largest independent hospitality management company in the country. The company, headquartered in suburban Denver, Colo., features a portfolio of more than 7,000 guest rooms, nine golf courses and 10 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Portland, Palm Springs, Maui and Lake Tahoe. For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.
Editor's Note: High-resolution portrait photo of Sean Buchanan available upon request.
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