Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels International’s Destination Inclusive® luxury resort brand, and U.S. celebrity chef Antonia Lofaso will host an interactive culinary weekend from April 26-28 at the Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Strengthening the partnership with Chef Antonia Lofaso, who will debut in November 2023, guests staying at Paradisus Palma Real will have the opportunity to engage closely with two of America’s leading chefs, including Chef Lofaso and Chef Alan Vargas. The weekend marks the next in the resort brand’s “The Epicure” series, offering interactive dining experiences featuring a rotating cast of local and international guest chefs.
The weekend will kick off on Friday, April 26 with a Chef Masterclass from popular Dominican-American Chef Alan Vargas. Vargas will teach guests the correct way to cut fish for raw dishes like sushi, crudo and ceviche. Participants will learn the ins and outs of making a delicious crudo dish, as well as garnishing and dressing techniques using the finest oils. Chef Vargas has served as executive chef at some of New York’s top restaurants, including The Grange, Monarch Room, Bella and Mela East.
On Saturday, April 27, Chefs Lofaso and Vargas will host an eight-course collaborative dinner at the resort’s Mina Restaurant, blending Chef Vargas’ American fusion style with Lofaso’s deeply rooted Italian culinary background. The menu will range from appetizers featuring fresh seafood ceviche and local fruits and spices to crispy duck breast with orecchiette pasta and rum-braised short ribs.
The weekend will conclude on Sunday, April 28th with a cooking class hosted by Chef Lofaso, who will teach guests how to make authentic Italian ravioli.
Guests who can’t attend a class can still enjoy all of Chef Lofaso’s culinary creations. Mascalzone, Paradisus Parma Real’s Italian restaurant concept, currently includes a three-course custom menu in its all-inclusive rate. The culinary journey begins with a starter of Bolognese rice balls with peas, mozzarella and pecorino. For the main course, enjoy Fra Diavolo, a crispy locally sourced red snapper topped with capers, lemon, sliced fennel and fresh herbs. Finally, enjoy Chef Antonia’s favorite dessert, the Sicilian ice cream sandwich with hazelnut ice cream, Nutella and butter brioche.
The custom menu is currently available across Paradisus by Meliá locations in Mexico and the Dominican Republic through October 2024.
And the sweet treats don’t end there: Guests in the resort’s upgraded suites, Nikté and The Reserve, will enjoy a special check-in amenity curated by Chef Antonia. As is tradition at the chef’s family gatherings, each guest will be greeted with a box filled with handmade Italian cookies as a token of love and hospitality.
“We are honored to have Chef Antonia Lofaso join Chef Vargas in this unique Epicure culinary series,” said Luis Cancellara, Food & Beverage Partner, Melia Hotels International, Dominican Republic. “This will undoubtedly be a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience for our guests, as they will get an up-close look at how some of the industry’s top chefs have mastered their craft.”
Widely known for her work on Food Network’s hit shows “Tournament of Champions” and “Beachside Brawl” and Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Chef Antonia Lofaso is the executive chef and owner of three acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants: Black Market Liquor Bar, Scopa Italian Roots and DAMA. Though diverse in cuisine and style, each of her restaurants combines deeply rooted personal culinary traditions with the influences of her world travel adventures and formal French culinary training.
“It has been a truly special experience to showcase my cuisine to a new audience of global travelers,” said Chef Antonia Lofaso. “I am really looking forward to this exciting weekend of culinary collaborations, spending time with our guests and teaching them how to prepare some of the dishes I love most!”
The Epicure Series is one of many exciting enhancements the resort brand has made to its guest experience, offering visitors a revamped all-inclusive vacation. Epicure is an interactive experience hosted once a month at Paradisus properties, featuring rotating chefs preparing meals. Each Epicure dining experience is curated around a unique culinary theme, with visiting chefs educating guests on various industry topics and their own culinary specialties and interacting with guests before serving their unique dishes.
