We are excited to introduce our new US Executive Chef, Dean Milburn
Here at the Vale Resort, we are excited to announce the hiring of our new Executive Chef, Dean Milburn who will be overseeing all kitchens at the Vale Resort and Hensol Castle. We are delighted to have such an exceptional chef, who has cooked for the likes of Snoop Dogg, James Blunt and Barbara and Jenna Bush, daughters of former US president, George W Bush head up our kitchen teams.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland; Dean joins the resort following a decade of working in the catering industry in the United States, with a further eight years based here in the UK. His preceding role was three years spent as the senior head chef, at the University of Bristol, where he catered for thousands of students and academic clients.
As Executive Chef, Dean will be overseeing the Vale Grill, our signature restaurant, which has an AA rosette; the Vale Bar, the Vale Golf Bar, our Italian-inspired La Cucina restaurant, and our forthcoming Hensol Castle restaurant. He will also be responsible for all catering across the resort for conferences and weddings.
Cooking has always been a lifelong passion for Dean and he will be returning to his culinary strength and speciality, which is creating unique and seasonal food on a large scale for the hospitality industry. Since joining, Dean has been developing menus that combine local, fresh ingredients to create innovative dishes with a US twist and a touch of Eastern fusion. One particular favourite that has gone down especially well is wasabi and nori wrapped monkfish with kimchi, yum!
Wasabi and nori wrapped monkfish with kimchi
During his time as Executive Head Chef at a high-end Italian restaurant in Washington DC, Dean learnt a lot about leading by example and how having a team that trusts you, is motivated and is working with the best local producers available can result in incredible food experiences for guests. He believes Wales is a perfect example of how local suppliers can transform a menu, and it’s by using these fantastic ingredients, just in a slightly revamped way, he can bring a new twist to the culinary offering across the Vale Resort.
Since Dean’s appointment, the Vale Resort has been awarded a Food Standards Agency rating of five, the highest mark possible, across its entire resort, something that Dean and his team are very proud of.
Read more about dining at the Vale Resort here
