SIMONS ISLAND, GA – August 11, 2021 – The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, a MMI Hotel Group property, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chef Thomas Cook as Executive Chef. Cook is responsible for overseeing menu efforts for the signature restaurant ECHO as well as other culinary outlets on property. His arrival marks the unveiling of a new menu at ECHO, featuring additional fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes along with old favorites.
Cook’s culinary career began in a bakery in the suburbs of Chicago at the ripe age of 15. He ventured down to Florida to attend the American Culinary Academy and immediately fell in love with the culinary scene and unique recipes found on the coast. Later at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, he would discover his passion for seafood and sourcing local products.
At The King and Prince and ECHO, Cook will bring his innate passion for Coastal Southern flavor and exceptional experience to the forefront. A newcomer to St. Simons Island, he’s already cultivated a deep fondness for the charming and laid-back lifestyle of the Golden Isles. “I really appreciate and revere the history of the resort,” said Cook. “My culinary vision here is to reinvent the classics, respectfully nodding to the past but elevating the resort’s offerings ever so slightly.”
Weaving together multiple cuisines, Cook has curated and debuted a new menu for the resort’s signature restaurant, ECHO. Some exciting new options include a sushi-grade Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer, Wild Georgia Shrimp Tacos, and a Grilled Vegetable Focaccia. Don’t miss the new Pecan Crusted Flounder. Topped with caramelized banana & pineapple flambe, this dish is sweet yet savory.
“We’re thrilled to have Chef Tom join the King and Prince family. He’s a talented chef with an impressive culinary background,” said Bart Johnson, General Manager of The King and Prince.
ECHO regulars will be happy to find that traditional dishes like the Pimento Cheese Hummus, the popular Pot Roast and low country style Shrimp and Grits are still on the menu.
Prior to joining The King and Prince, Cook worked in some of the most prominent kitchens on the Los Angeles restaurant scene, including a stint at award-winning Campanile working alongside Executive Chef and Owner Mark Peel. Leaving the west coast with a wealth of knowledge and experience, Cook moved back east and was named Executive Chef at Trattoria ll Mulino at Hilton Nashville Downtown, overseeing a multitude of culinary outlets associated with the property.
The new menu for ECHO can be found here.
