Naples, Florida – The Club at the Dunes, part of The Dunes of Naples private residential community in Naples, Fla., recently welcomed Executive Chef Gerald Sombright to lead its culinary operations. Chef Sombright will oversee all facets of food service and preparation, across all five of the Club’s dining venues, including The Royal Palm Room, the Terrace, the Tiki Bar, resort-style pool and Sandbar.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Chef Sombright has 20-plus years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Sombright began his career at the Westin St. Louis Cupples Station Hotel, where he worked his way from dishwasher to chef de cuisine. He would go on to work with and train under former James Beard Award nominee, Chef Lou Rook at the iconic St. Louis restaurant Annie Gunn’s Smokehouse and Market. Throughout his career, Sombright has served as a sauté cook, chef de partie, a sous chef, and a chef de cuisine at restaurants in St. Louis; Baltimore, Maryland; as well as Orlando and Marco Island, Florida. He most recently served as the chef de cuisine at Knife and Spoon at the Ritz Carlton Orlando alongside celebrated Chef John Tesar. During his tenure, the Orlando Sentinel named Knife and Spoon “Best New Restaurant.” This past June, the Knife and Spoon was awarded a star by Le Guide Michelin, the acclaimed awards program that identifies a city’s top restaurants. Sombright and Chef Tesar were on hand to receive the prestigious award.
“Chef Gerald brings the perfect combination of skills to enhance the ‘barefoot elegance’ lifestyle that is the centerpiece of Dunes membership. His humble, yet confident demeanor has already endeared him to the team and the members. We couldn’t be more excited for this addition to The Club at the Dunes,” said Club at the Dunes General Manager Robert D. Podley, CCM, CAM.
Sombright was a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 14, which aired in late 2016/early 2017, and in 2021, he was tapped to compete in the inaugural season of The Globe on the Food Network. Sombright is frequently featured at some of the country’s top culinary festivals including Aspen, Atlanta, Charleston and Pebble Beach. In addition to his incredible culinary skills, Sombright is also a level two certified WSET sommelier.
The Club at the Dunes was awarded the prestigious ‘Distinguished Club’ distinction by BoardRoom magazine. Other recent Club at the Dunes-honors include, induction into the Naples Chapter of the Chaines des Rotisseurs Society, the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world; 2021 Golden Fork Award by Golf Inc. Magazine; “Top Ranked Patio, Wellness Facilities, Culinary Operations, Racquet Facilities and Clubhouse” by Club + Resort Business; a 2021 & 2022 CMAA Wine Society Award; and deemed as one of America’s Healthiest Clubs.
The Dunes of Naples, located in the heart of the Gulf coast, is comprised of seven high-rise towers of high-end luxury condos and 40 luxury coach homes. The Dunes offers a plethora of amenities like a resort-style pool, dining, fitness center, and tennis. Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, manages the food and beverage operation as well as the recreational amenities at The Dunes of Naples. For more information on The Dunes of Naples, visit www.dunesofnaples.com or call (239)593-9680.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 750-plus locations, including 725-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com
