The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort Appoints Diego Ortega as Executive Chef

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is delighted to announce the appointment of Diego Ortega as Executive Chef of the beloved resort. Boasting extensive knowledge of the culinary and hospitalit industry, Chef Ortega brings a wealth of experience to his new role at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, where he will oversee the resort’s culinary direction.

Chef Ortega joins The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort from Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, where he served as Executive Sous Chef. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing and enhancing culinary offerings. He also held prior positions at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai and Hotel Arts in Barcelona, where he worked alongside renowned chefs Antonio Saez and Paco Perez at the to Michelin-starred Enoteca. Born in Lima, Peru, Chef Ortega graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2010 with a degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. He furthered his education in Barcelona, earning a Master's Degree in Culinary Management from EUHT Sant Pol de Mar Hotel Management School.

Chef Ortega is thrilled to introduce new flavors that celebrate his Peruvian heritage, Puerto Rican culture, and farm-to-table ingredients. His culinary approach involves frequent visits to local markets and engaging with vendors to draw inspiration from seasonal products. He also loves exploring local restaurants and driving around the island to discover hidden gems. At The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Chef Ortega will incorporate an array of local ingredients, including coffee, longaniza sausages, Creole celery, and a variet of local fruits like pineapples, passion fruits, mango, guava, and coconut, along with local plantains, aji dulces, and herbs grown in the resort's garden.

Guests can look forward to new dishes such as Mediterranean branzino, fire roasted squash with local honey, Caribbean lobster rice, and 18-hour slow cooked veal cheeks with Creole celery at Paros, the resort's signature restaurant. Seagrapes, the resort's poolside lunch venue, will offer enticing new items like Wagyu skirt steak with cassava molongo, Caribbean lobster tacos, local calabaza hummus, red snapper and passion fruit ceviche, and confit pork belly bao buns. Guests cannot miss Chef Ortega's signature dish: ceviche. At The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, several variations are available, including red snapper and passion fruit ceviche, octopus and shrimp with aji amarillo, tuna tartare with Nikkei spices, and Caribbean lobster and king crab with coconut leche de tigre.

In his new role at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Chef Ortega will co-headline the resort’s Epicurean Moments Dinner Series, showcasing the talents of three globally renowned chefs: Manu Buffara, Hong Thaimee, and Alex Dilling. With a calendar of one-of-a-kind dining experiences offered throughout 2024, each collaboration promises to be an unforgettable fusion of flavor and culture in Puerto Rico. Highlights include A Taste of Curitiba with Manu Buffara on July 19th & 20th, An Endless Thai Summer with Hong Thaimee on September 13th & 14th, and Tasting the Stars with Alex Dilling on November 22nd & 23rd. These incredible dining experiences start at $500 USD per person. The resort is also offering an Epicurean Moments package, which includes a resort stay, to tickets to the event of your choice, a bottle of champagne, and a special amenit.

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is committed to delivering exquisite experiences at more than 50 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Beginning with the debut of The St. Regis hotel in New York by John Jacob Astor IV at the dawn of the tentieth century, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by the signature St. Regis Butler Service. For more information and new openings, visit stregis.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. St. Regis is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.