MIAMI – (July 2019) — The Gabriel Miami—recently reinvented since joining Hilton’s growing brand—is proud to welcome Craig Tooker as Director of Food and Beverage. The newly renovated lifestyle property is located on Biscayne Boulevard and is home to the newest upscale, Latin-inspired dining concept, CVLTVRA.
Craig has a notable career track with more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Through his leadership, Craig has established great credibility in the restaurant business, focusing on quality and service, while guiding and developing concepts with remarkable outcomes in profit. After receiving his Bachelor of Science from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI in 1995, his career path began at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City as Chef de Saucier. Craig was responsible for overseeing the à la carte kitchen there for two and a half years, before joining the culinary staff at The Roosevelt Hotel NYC first as Sous-Chef then as Executive Banquet Chef. After several reputable years working in New York’s fine dining scene, Craig transitioned his talents to Florida, where he became Executive Banquet Chef at the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, and later Executive Chef of the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort, before heading back to The Roosevelt Hotel as Executive Chef in 2005.
Prior to joining The Gabriel Miami, Craig was the Executive Chef/Director of Food and Beverage at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa. Throughout his six plus years at the resort, Craig was responsible for overseeing all food and beverage departments, implementing new concepts for 5 full-service food and beverage outlets.
As the most recent addition to the team at The Gabriel Miami, Craig will be responsible for supervising and administering all details pertaining to the hotel’s food and beverage planning and service, including menu maintenance, presentation, and coordinating special promotions and events. Additionally, he will ensure that all F&B aspects of the hotel, including quality and service remain up to standard with the hotel’s brand.
“Craig Tooker’s leadership of the food & beverage department will be a pivotal transition for The Gabriel Miami. By focusing on creating unique food and beverage programs, along with incorporating the use of sustainable goods sourced from our local markets, Craig will help implant a positive work environment with his ingenuity in order to help promote the hotel’s growth,” said Carlos Molinet, General Manager at The Gabriel Miami. “We are confident that through his passion for culinary arts, craft mixology cocktails, and a solid foundation in the hotel industry, Craig will ensure a high-level brand presence through every dining experience on property.”
