The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 2017… BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Caleb Lara executive chef for The Essex - Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located minutes from downtown Burlington in the foothills of the legendary Green Mountains. Nic Barger, general manager, made the announcement.
"I am thrilled to welcome Caleb to our resort,” said Mr. Barger. “Highly credentialed and with experience gained at top restaurants in the United States, he is the perfect choice for this important leadership position at Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa.”
Caleb Lara brings over a decade of culinary experience to his new position at The Essex. He was previously chef de cuisine for the Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts. Prior to this he served as executive chef for the Kemble Inn of Lenox, Massachusetts.
Earlier in his career chef Lara worked under the leadership of Certified Master Chef Derin Moore at the Ritz Carlton Resorts of Naples, Florida. He gained experience staging in New York City at the Michelin Star-rated restaurants Le Bernardin and The Modern. Caleb also completed professional chef certification under the mentorship of Certified Master Chef Dan Dumont.
Mr. Lara is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. He developed his love of the culinary arts while growing up in San Diego, California. He has relocated to Essex, Vermont.
About The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa
Set on 18 acres in the scenic Lake Champlain Valley in the foothills of the Green Mountains, The Essex – a Culinary Resort & Spa is easily reached via Interstate 89. The resort is just minutes from Burlington International Airport, and the town of Essex is served by Amtrak’s Vermonter train. The Essex is surrounded by all the attractions of Vermont from skiing, boating and hiking to shopping and antiquing. Guests can enjoy the resort’s full-service spa, fitness center, 18-hole golf course, clay tennis courts, Cook Academy, two restaurants, hiking and biking trails and special services for pets. The Essex also arranges guided family activities, Vermont tours, hot air ballooning and unforgettable team building activities in the Cook Academy. www.essexresortspa.com
About Gemstone Collection
The Gemstone Collection includes distinctive hand-picked properties in spectacular and popular U.S. destinations coast to coast. Each upscale resort and hotel destination provides highly-personalized service and luxury reflective of the charm and unique character of the destination, while in keeping with the collection’s shared mission and passion for excellence. A distinguished portfolio of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, which has been a leading US-based hospitality management company for nearly 40 years, the Gemstone Collection is the preferred choice of guests who yearn for inspiring and transformative experiences, customization over conformity, stimulation over predictability, and adventure over routine. www.gemstonehotelcollection.com To become a fan on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/GemstoneHotelCollection, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GemstoneHotels, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/gemstonehotels, and on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/benchmarkhotels/gemstone-hotels
Contact: Ken Ellens
KenEllens@aol.com /
201-758-2864