FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Shanna Wolfe, Complex Director of Public Relations (602) 817-5323 – Office (480) 267-5480 – Cell
[email protected] The Westin Phoenix Downtown Announces Allison Bird as New Sous Chef PHOENIX – (March 1, 2016) – The Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel is pleased to announce Allison Bird as sous chef for the hotel and its signature restaurant Province Urban Kitchen and Bar. The addition of Chef Bird comes after a decade long career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and time at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino. “Chef Allison is a great addition to our team,” said John Ford, general manager of The Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel. “Her vast experience both in culinary and with Starwood Hotels and Resorts make her a great asset from which our guests will be benefit.” As sous chef, Chef Bird will work directly with Executive Chef, Martin Scott to plan and direct all food preparation in The Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel kitchen extending to banquets hosted at the hotel and daily activities in the restaurant. The primary expeditor in the kitchen, she will maintain quality control over all food before it reaches the guests, ensuring portions and plating are correct. Further, she will help with mentoring and management of the culinary staff. Prior to joining the hotel, Chef Bird spent two years as the sous chef for Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. In the role she managed the hot banquet and garde manger (cold kitchen), which provided cuisine to all of casino’s food outlets. Before making her move to Las Vegas, she was in Phoenix working with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. She began her career at Phoenician, eventually moving up to lead cook and later became the chef de partie for Sheraton Grand Phoenix. Chef Bird’s role at The Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel marks the first time she will be full time in a restaurant having previous spent her time in banquet roles. A challenge on which she is happy to embark, “I’m excited to learn the restaurant side of culinary,” said Bird. “I really just love to cook. Whether it’s at the hotel or at home, I’m always cooking. I love the passion of culinary, learning and trying new things.”
She attended Arizona Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz. and when not in the kitchen, Chef Bird’s free time is spent with her husband who is also chef and her 18-month old daughter. With chefs as parents, she is convinced her daughter will be a foodie; “She loves to eat and tries everything. She eats what we eat, hummus, salmon you name it. She’ll probably grow up to be a food snob.” The Westin Phoenix Downtown and Province Urban Kitchen and Bar 333 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004 www.facebook.com/WestinPhoenixDowntown @WestinPhoenix About The Westin Phoenix Downtown Hotel The Westin Phoenix Downtown opened on March 10, 2011, as a boutique hotel with 242 guestrooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. Located on floors 11 through 18 in the Freeport-McMoRan Center, the hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the Valley. The hotel offers signature services and amenities such as the Westin Heavenly Bed®, Westin Heavenly Shower® and Westin Workout®. For additional information about the hotel or for reservations, please visit www.westinphoenixdowntown.com.
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