Mammoth Lakes, CA, June 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitebark Restaurant, Bar and Lounge at The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth has named Ian Algeroen as its new Executive Chef. Algeroen, a longtime fixture in the Mammoth culinary scene, comes to the Whitebark Restaurant, Bar and Lounge from Skadi, where he perfected the acclaimed alpine cuisine he's known for.
A thirty-plus year Mammoth resident, Algeroen spent significant time in the Swiss Alps where he served as Chef Tournant under Executive Chef Rolf Struch at the Hotel Biberenbad. He also honed his culinary approach as a chef-instructor at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in Napa, as Chef De Cuisine under Executive Chef Patrizio Sacchetto and owner Giannin Fassio of the Northern Italian restaurant Blue Fox in San Francisco, and sous chef at Annabell's restaurant in San Francisco under Chef Daniel Durand.
His varied experiences result in an elegantly straightforward philosophy towards mountain cuisine that combines the ingredients typical of alpine locales with sophistication gleaned from time spent in some of the world's best kitchens.
"My culinary style blends the freshness of 'hunter-gatherer' type ingredients typical of the mountains with techniques that I learned and fine-tuned in noted culinary destinations such as Switzerland, San Francisco and Napa," said Algeroen. "We're in the process of refining a new seasonal menu and I'm excited about the unique opportunity to create something special for our guests."
During his time in Switzerland, Algeroen completed a master program in baking and confectionary at Fachschule Richemont in Luzern. As a result, he will develop a professional pastry program at the Westin Monache, a first for the resort. The addition will allow for, among other things, the in-house creation of wedding cakes.
"In adding Chef Ian Algeroen, we've raised the bar on fine dining in the Eastern Sierra," said Brent Truax, general manager of the Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth. "Chef often talks about the theater of dining. Well, we just cast the lead role with Chef Ian, and we couldn't be more pleased."
For more information about The Westin Monache Resort, visit www.westinmammoth.com or call 866-716-8132. Throughout the holidays, Whitebark also can be reserved for private parties.
About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With more than 186 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,103 properties in nearly 100 countries and 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, Aloft(R), and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visitwww.starwoodhotels.com.