Rhode Island’s Newport Harbor Island Resort Welcomes Jaysen Elrod as Executive Chef
The newly reopened Newport Harbor Island Resort, a quintessential New England coastal destination and the only resort on Goat Island, announces the appointment of Jaysen Elrod to Executive Chef, effective immediately.
In his new role, Elrod has overseen the re-concepting of the on-site dining outlets and will manage all culinary operations for the resort, which just underwent a $50 million renovation in time for the summer season.
"We are thrilled to announce this incredibly well-deserved promotion for Chef Jaysen to Executive Chef of our culinary operations," said David Smiley, General Manager of Newport Harbor Island Resort. "He has been an instrumental part of our culinary team for many years and we feel confident that he will continue to bring innovation and surprise-and-delight moments to our guests in this new role."
Reimagined dining concepts under Chef Jaysen include casual dining at Torpedo Bar & Lounge, fine dining at 1639, poolside delights at the beloved Pineapple Club, and baked goods at grab-and-go The Bakery. Signature menu items at the new Torpedo Bar & Lounge include a crispy cod sandwich and tarragon lobster on parker house rolls, while 1639 features coastal New England classics like wild striped bass and pappardelle with lump crab and wild mushrooms. Guests and locals will enjoy shareable snacks like shrimp cocktail, guacamole & chips, and flatbreads at Pineapple Club, while The Bakery offers delights such as homemade breakfast sandwiches, seasonal pastries and berry parfaits.
In his previous role as Banquet Chef, Chef Jaysen focused on sourcing local ingredients and infusing creativity into each dish, which he will continue to do in his current role. Prior to Newport Harbor Island Resort, Chef Jaysen served as Executive Chef at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, along with several other 4- and 5-star properties across the country.
Owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and operated by Davidson Resorts, Newport Harbor Island Resort reopened in April of 2024 following a massive renovation, consisting of transformed, expansive guestrooms and suites, contemporary Spa, re-concepted culinary experiences, meeting spaces, and 22-slip marina.
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