Stowe Mountain Lodge Appoints Executive Chef

As executive chef of Stowe Mountain Lodge, Chef Vasek will create the menus and provide culinary direction for all of the lodge's food and beverage outlets: Solstice, Hourglass, Aqua, Spa and Wellness Center at Stowe Mountain Lodge, in-room dining, groups and catering.

The dining concept that prevails through all of the lodge's food and beverage outlets is the familiar farm-to-table ideology that complements the local area impeccably. Chef Cody Vasek is dedicated to sourcing the freshest ingredients, creating relationships with local farmers and saturating the menu with dishes that are uniquely Vermont. Farm-to-table principles are second nature to Chef Vasek, as his family owns and operates a successful farm in Bellville, Texas. “My close, personal connection with farmers and farming culture has instilled an organic passion for food and creating dishes that enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients. Through working within the farming community, I have been exposed to a vast variety of produce as well as unique opportunities to sample unusual flavors” reflects Chef Cody Vasek.

Solstice, Stowe Mountain Lodge's signature restaurant, features inventive artisan cuisine in a relaxed yet elegant environment. Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Spruce Peak and décor by renowned husband and wife team Shackleton Thomas out of Bridgewater, Vermont, Solstice reflects the natural foundations of the luxurious alpine lodge. Items appearing on the summer/fall Solstice menu include Dream Valley baby beet salad, rhubarb scallop crudo and Misty Knoll chicken with foie gras emulsion.

With over 56,000 square-feet of meeting space in and around Stowe Mountain Resort, Chef Vasek will also develop a comprehensive catering and events menu that will be executed through the lodge's award-winning restaurant, Solstice. Chef Vasek is able to provide meeting and events attendees with the highest quality of menu choices, upholding the lodge's preeminent meeting and event destination distinction.

Chef Cody Vasek has an impressive 13 years of culinary experience including training directly from some of world's most venerated chefs. Prior to the position as executive chef of the four-diamond mountain lodge, Chef Cody Vasek served as Executive Sous Chef at Bank Jean-George (subsequently Voice Restaurant) at Hotel Icon in Houston, Texas. Hotel Icon, part of the Destination Hotels & Resorts portfolio, allowed Chef Cody Vasek to hone his skills in hotel restaurant management and menu creation.

Stowe Mountain Lodge is the centerpiece of Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Resort, the pinnacle of New England skiing and outdoor recreation and a $400 million alpine neighborhood that has been in planning and development stages for the past 16 years. As part of this new community, guests of Stowe Mountain Lodge will enjoy unparalleled service, 312 guest rooms, a 21,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, ski-in/ski-out access to over 100 legendary trails, exclusive access to Stowe Mountain Club, an 18-hole mountain golf course designed by Bob Cupp, and a heated outdoor pool. The property offers more than 12,000 square feet of indoor event space, with access to 420-seat Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, slated to open in December 2010. The Lodge offers farm-to-table cuisine in Solstice restaurant and Hourglass bar, high-end retail boutiques and access to limitless on-mountain recreational options. In December 2010, Stowe Mountain Lodge will open an additional 173 guest rooms, bringing the total count to 312. In addition, 34 fractionally-owned condominium units are available for vacation home ownership in the Lodge's Front Four Private Residence Club. Special lodging offers and packages available by calling (802) 253-3560 or (888) 4-STOWE-VT or by visiting www.stowemountainlodge.com. For real estate inquiries, please call (888) 403-7739 or (802) 253-0320.