David Izquierdo has been named executive chef at The Santa Maria, Panama, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort.
In his new role, Chef 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.
Bringing more than 15 years of culinary experience to The Santa Maria, Spanish-born Izquierdo has helmed the kitchens at The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, Sport Hotels Resort & Spa Andorra, and St. Regis Mexico City. Prior to this, he worked at the Michelin-starred Uno Mas, leading the Spanish restaurant’s expansion into Hong Kong. During this time, he 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.’
“We’re very fortunate to have Chef David leading The Santa Maria’s culinary team,” said General Manager Hector Rodriguez. “He comes to us with rave reviews, a penchant for creativity, and incredibly strong leadership skills. He takes a very organic, soulful approach to cooking and has a passion for creating products from scratch. We’re looking forward to the ways in which he’ll develop The Santa Maria’s culinary programs.”
About The Santa Maria, Panama, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Gold Resort
The Santa Maria Panama, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort is a gateway to experiencing Panama’s cultural riches – in style. Nestled within The Santa Maria Golf & Country Club, the resort provides guests access to state-of-the-art sport facilities, including the city’s only 18-hole, 72-Par Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, baseball fields, tennis courts and basketball courts. With an expansive swimming pool, locally inspired spa, tantalizing dining concepts and world-class service, The Santa Maria offers a tranquil respite while putting Panama’s local culture and opportunities for personal enrichment right at guests’ fingertips.
