Sandpearl Resort's New Executive Chef, Stephen Jordan, will Blend Local Specialties with a Variety of Cuisine

CLEARWATER BEACH, FL (May 9, 2007) – A new flavor has arrived in the Tampa Bay area in the form of the Sandpearl Resort’s recently appointed executive chef, Stephen Jordan. While the new Clearwater Beach resort receives the final touches for its late summer opening, Jordan is working to create a series of menus that fuse local specialties with various cuisines encountered throughout his career. In particular, chef Jordan is putting his artistic talents to play in creating the ambiance concept and development the menu of the resort’s signature restaurant, Caretta on the Gulf. In addition, culinary-themed resort programs are being fine-tuned, such as wine tasting, kitchen tours, and personal chef service in suites and condominium units.

Jordan joins the Sandpearl team with an impressive hospitality background, most recently serving as executive chef at the prestigious Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina. Not only was Jordan involved in the 2004 opening of that property; he was also instrumental in creating sought-after culinary programs and enticing menus that impressed the likes of celebrity chef Tyler Florence, whose wedding banquet he prepared. He has also served as executive chef at the Rivers Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., and at the Emerald Pointe Resort in Lake Lanier Islands, Ga. Jordan earned his Associates of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

“We’re excited to welcome such a talented individual to our growing resort team,” stated Stuart Arp, General Manager of the Sandpearl Resort. “Jordan excels in the kitchen and will build culinary teams for Caretta on the Gulf and our other food & beverage outlets that will create some of the area’s most innovative cuisine.”

Now settling into his new role, Jordan is dedicated to developing new culinary experiences not only for guests of the resort, but also for its condominium owners and area residents. “I plan work with local farmers and fisherman, observe what they can get and what’s selling, and develop a better sense of what locals and visitors are seeking in cuisine. Then, I can come back to Sandpearl and develop menus incorporating these aspects with my own team’s twist,” Jordan shared.

Sandpearl will feature three restaurants: the signature Caretta on the Gulf, which features a ceviche bar, private wine room, lounge and bar, outdoor seating, and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico from every seat; the beachfront Tate Island Grille, featuring casual fare and entertainment; and the Marketplace, featuring quick bites.

In addition, the resort’s 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space will play host to numerous banquets, meetings, weddings and other special events. Jordan’s team will offer starter menus, but he is also open to developing menus from scratch. “I believe that event menus, like restaurant menus, can follow the seasons and offer a fine dining experience,” Jordan stated. “My menus will be fluid, allowing guests to customize any event that they want.”

Those staying in one of Sandpearl’s 50 one- and two-bedroom suites, or its 117 condominiums, have the option to hire a personal chef to prepare a meal in their unit’s full kitchen. This unique service allows guests to choose from an interactive or demonstrative meal preparation, or simply enjoy the luxurious services of a personal chef.

Other offerings include nutritious spa menus, specialty children’s menus, holiday meal packages, cooking classes for kids, wine pairing dinner menus, signature cocktails, breakfasts with chef attended stations, and specialty amenities for room service and welcome baskets.

The Sandpearl Resort, opening late summer 2007, will be the first new beachfront resort in Clearwater Beach in over 25 years. Situated along a 700-foot expanse of pristine Gulf Coast beach, Sandpearl will feature 253 luxurious guest rooms, a lagoon-style beachfront pool with private cabanas, full-service spa, unique lifestyle enrichment programs, fine and casual dining, plus meeting & event space.

Stephen Jordan and the entire Sandpearl Resort team are currently located at the pre-opening office located at 600 Cleveland Street in Clearwater until the resort opens. For more information, visit www.sandpearl.com or call (727) 441-2425.

The Sandpearl Resort is being developed by JMC Communities (www.jmccommunities.com) of St. Petersburg, Fla., and is managed by Naples, Fla.-based Coral Hospitality (www.coralhospitality.com). Other project partners include the Hunter Hotel Group and Greenfield Partners.

Media Contact:
Amanda Jackson
Ypartnership Public Relations
(407) 838-1812
amanda.jackson@ypartnership.com