Maria Tobar Appointed Exec Chef for JW Marriott Miami

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. August 12, 2010

MIAMI, FL - August 11, 2010 - The JW Marriott Hotel Miami has named Maria Tobar as Executive Chef for the 296-room property situated on prestigious Brickell Avenue, the heart of Miami's financial district. Chef Tobar will spearhead culinary operations for the hotel's restaurants, including the award-winning Trapiche Room, as well as banquet operations and in-room dining.

Known for exceptional fine dining and wine inspired contemporary cuisine, the Trapiche Room is the recipient of the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. This distinguished award recognizes those restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. Other dining delights featured at JW Marriott Hotel Miami include the American breakfast cuisine of Isabela's Restaurant, the casual fare of La Terraza Cafe & Bar, and the signature appetizers and cocktails of Drake's Bar.

Tobar joined the JW Marriott Hotel Miami in 2004 as a line cook and quickly rose through the ranks, working her way to Kitchen Supervisor, Sous Chef, Head Chef and most recently Executive Chef.

“Chef Tobar has been with the JW Marriott Hotel Miami for the past six years,” said Florencia Rotemberg, the hotel general manager. “A seasoned veteran of the culinary industry, Tobar has a wealth of hospitality experience and genuine passion for food.”

A native of Ecuador, Tobar began her culinary career at age 17, working as her father's assistant at a small catering company in San Miguel de Ibarra. In 1996, she opened her own restaurant, La Casa del Chef, a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant in Quito. After earning her degree in Hospitality Management from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE-I) in 1999, she was given the opportunity to work at Bistro Latino, a five-star restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel Quito. She moved to Miami five years later.

“Food always played a crucial role in my life, coming from a large Latin American family,” says Tobar. “Little by little I began to feel interested in working in the kitchen, and learned about the joys of cooking.”

Her work in the culinary arts has won her numerous recognitions over time, several at the JW Marriott Hotel Miami, including Associate of the Month in September 2004, Manager of the Bi-Month in July 2009 and winner of a Special Achievement Award in December 2008. She was also nominated for an Inn Key Restaurant Employee of the Year Award, the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association's annual awards that honor outstanding employees in Miami's hotel industry.

Located at 1109 Brickell Avenue, JW Marriott Hotel Miami blends the features of a premiere conference and meeting facility with timeless elegance, thoughtful amenities and award-winning service. As one of the most respected luxury hotels in Miami and the city's preferred business destination, each of the 296 guest rooms and suites are elegantly furnished holding the finest of details. Relaxation is as close as the luxurious Spa 1111, well-equipped fitness center and the unique stainless steel pool. Among the list of prestigious accolades are the JW Marriott Hotel of the Year Award for 2008 by Marriott International, the 2007, 2008 and 2009 recognition in Resorts and Great Hotels Magazine and most recently the selection as a World's Best Business Hotel by Travel + Leisure magazine.

For more information on the JW Marriott Hotel Miami, visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miajw-jw-marriott-hotel-miami/