Naples Grande Beach Resort has named Juan Carlos “JC” Mendez as Executive Chef. Mendez will oversee all of Naples Grande Beach Resort’s culinary offerings, including The Catch of the Pelican, Mantra Lounge, Rhode’s End, Aura Restaurant, Gulfcoast Oasis Pool Bar, Spressi Marketplace, and The Sunset Veranda. He will lead the resort’s culinary teams, oversee creative ideation and programming, and manage the operations of all food and beverage establishments.
Originally from Mexico City, Mendez moved to Minnesota to start his culinary career, where he spent ten years moving up the ranks in the kitchen. After returning home to train in Mexican cuisine, his next venture brought him to Naples, FL, where he served as Executive Chef at Café Alfredo, serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Throughout his culinary journey in the Sunshine State, Mendez has worked at mom-and-pop restaurants, golf clubs, and with Emeril Lagasse at Emeril Orlando.
“I am honored to be leading the extraordinary culinary team at Naples Grande Beach Resort, where I have been able to meet and serve guests from all over the world,” said Mendez. “I look forward to crafting innovative dishes inspired by the many cultures and cuisines I have experienced throughout my travels.”
One of the more popular resorts in Southwest Florida, Naples Grande Beach Resort has 474 guest rooms, including 29 gulf view suites and 50 Garden Villas, plus more than 83,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Each tower guestroom features a private balcony with direct views of the Gulf. Guests of the hotel have access to seven on-site restaurants and bars, three heated outdoor pools, a full-service luxury spa, golf course, an 8,000-square-foot fitness center, business center and an award-winning tennis facility with 15 courts.
The property is surrounded by 200 acres of a protected mangrove estuary intertwined with a system of bridges and elevated walking paths that afford access to three miles of beachfront on the Gulf of Mexico.
Photo Courtesy of Naples Grande Beach Resort