Chef J. Christopher Windus Named Executive Chef at Florida's Newest Boutique Hotel
Winter Park, Florida - June 4, 2013 - Chef J. Christopher Windus has joined The Alfond Inn as Executive Chef of Hamilton's Kitchen, the hotel's new restaurant.
Chef Windus comes to The Alfond Inn fresh from his tenure as executive chef of Todd English's bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. Windus joined bluezoo in 2003 as assistant chef and under his leadership, the restaurant became one of Orlando's most popular fine dining experiences, earning the AAA Four Diamond award annually, Fodor's Choice Award and the Culinary Hospitality Sante Award for Innovation.
Chef Windus, a Winter Park native, is thrilled to come back to his roots and oversee Hamilton's Kitchen. The restaurant design will feature exposed beams, a farmer's table, and Dutch oak floors as the backdrop for Chef Windus' Floridian-inspired cooking at breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Hamilton's Kitchen will also include a private dining room, accommodating from 12 to 36 guests.
Local ties to Winter Park are at the heart of The Alfond Inn, which is owned by Rollins College. As a longtime advocate of local and seasonal ingredients in the creation of his menus, Chef Windus will expand on that community connection by continually altering his menus to incorporate the freshest of these items. The concept of farm-to-table is at the heart of the rich agricultural backdrop of Central Florida. Chef Windus will celebrate the area's bountiful farmland by embracing locally sourced ingredients that are distinctly Floridian, such as citrus, strawberries, corn and tomatoes, adding to that locally raised beef and seafood from the Gulf Coast.
Beyond Hamilton's Kitchen, Chef Windus will oversee The Alfond Inn's extensive catering menu for weddings, social affairs and meetings. The Alfond Inn is poised to become the dynamic new social hub of Winter Park and the hallmark of the property is a spacious and welcoming environment, with expansive indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. That begins with the glass-domed Conservatory, the heart of the Inn and the ideal location for ceremonies, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Outside is 10,000 square feet of lushly landscaped garden space that's ideal for alfresco weddings and events. The elegant 5,000 square foot Ballroom will accommodate up to 350 guests for seated dinners and the 1,000 square foot Board Room can also serve as a private dining room for intimate business dinners.
Chef Windus has showcased his talents at some of the finest events and venues in the culinary world, including the Sundance Film Festival, the Aspen Food and Wine Festival, the American Express Black Card Dinner in Bogota, Columbia, Disney's Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and multiple times at the James Beard House in New York City. In 2009, Todd English named Chef Windus as his co-captain for Israel's cooking competition show, Krav Sakinim, where they claimed the Grand Champion title. In 2012, Chef Windus was selected to be part of the exclusive opening team for the new-concept restaurant Chefs Club by Food and Wine Magazine at Starwood's St. Regis Aspen. Chef Windus has a certificate of food and beverage in hospitality management from Cornell University and an associate degree in culinary arts from the Capital Culinary Institute.
About The Alfond Inn
The Alfond Inn is located in Winter Park, Florida. Owned by Rollins College, a private coeducational liberal arts college in Winter Park, The Alfond Inn is being built with a $12.5-million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation and will open in August 2013.
Net operating income from the Inn will be directed to The Alfond Scholars program fund, the College's premier scholarship fund, over the next 25 years or until the endowment principal reaches $50 million, whichever comes later. The 112-room boutique hotel will have Hamilton's Kitchen restaurant, a pool and fitness center, and 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The Alfond Inn is poised to become the new hub of dynamic Winter Park. The Alfond Inn is 15 minutes from downtown Orlando and 30 minutes from Walt Disney World and Orlando International Airport. The Alfond Inn, 300 East New England Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789. 407-998-8090 http://www.thealfondinn.com
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