San Manuel Casino announced the hiring of two best-in-class culinary and hospitality leaders, naming Everton Clarke and Matthew Smith as Executive Chefs. San Manuel Casino is in the midst of a large-scale expansion project adding the property’s first ever resort featuring 432 rooms including 127 suites, new entertainment venue, pool deck featuring its own bar and private cabanas, full-service spa, expanded gaming space, new fine dining options, luxury retail stores and much more. With each bringing over 25 years of international culinary experience, under the leadership of Chef Oliver Wolf, Vice President of Culinary Operations, Clarke and Smith will be responsible for leading San Manuel Casino’s award-winning dining experiences and ensuring that all culinary services and operations are at the highest standard for guests.
“Innovation of experience is at the core of everything we do at San Manuel Casino,” said Peter Arceo, General Manager at San Manuel Casino. “With the casino resort expansion, it was necessary to bring in talented executive chefs like Everton and Matthew who can take our culinary experiences to new heights.”
Everton Clarke previously worked in executive culinary roles at JW Marriott properties – most recently as the Opening Executive Chef at JW Marriott Minneapolis and opening chef at JW Marriott Dubai. He will lead all San Manuel Casino culinary staff toward preparing and presenting food with best-in-class service. In his role, Clarke will create and implement menus across the Casino’s various dining choices based on current food trends and regional tastes, seasonality, and concepts. Born in Jamaica and raised in the UK and Connecticut, he received his Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I., and his Associate Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Norwalk Community College in Norwalk, Conn.
As a former “Chef of the Year” recipient for Hyatt Hotels and Best-in-Show culinary award winner, Matthew Smith joins San Manuel Casino with experience managing luxury hospitality properties and opening multiple restaurants with various concepts. He will oversee culinary operations at San Manuel Casino – specifically leading menu concepts, recipe standardization, labor and food cost control, production and waste control, and purchasing and inventory control. Prior to joining San Manuel Casino, the Northern California native was the Opening Executive Chef for Westin Anaheim Resort, the Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa in Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii, and the Executive Chef at Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Smith graduated with top honors from the California Culinary Academy in 1988.
“We are excited to have Everton and Matthew leading our culinary teams as we expand onsite offerings and continue to provide an award-winning culinary experience,” said David Kopasz, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality at San Manuel Casino. “They will set the tone as we continue to build a best in class culinary team for our resort expansion.”
Recruitment efforts at San Manuel Casino are in full swing with more than 200 culinary openings and 600 additional positions across multiple departments that will be filled before the opening of the resort at the end of 2021. For more information on the current openings and the application process, please visit SanManuelCareers.com. Every Thursday in July San Manuel culinary leadership will be on site at the San Manuel Recruitment Center in Ontario to interview all candidates for cook, chef and baker roles.
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