Michael Rotondo, Chef

Chef Rotondo's impressive background includes roles at multiple Michelin starred restaurants and Forbes 5 Star hotels across the United States and Europe, including the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges and Charlie Trotter's. In 2008, he received the "Most Promising Chef" award from chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller after competing in the United States Bocuse d'Or culinary competition. Prior to moving to the Monterey peninsula, he held the role of Executive Chef at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco and earned accolades for the hotel's Parallel 37 restaurant from Forbes and Zagat.

In 2021, Rotondo joined the team at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa as Executive Chef where he leads the culinary team for the hotel's dining outlets including Schooners, Tidal Coffee, and Coastal Kitchen.  Coastal Kitchen is an elevated, oceanfront dining experience, highlighting local, seasonal fare. Chef Rotondo helped launch Coastal Kitchen shortly after joining the Monterey Plaza team. Coastal Kitchen is the only menu of its kind on the Monterey Peninsula, ground in carefully crafted tasting menus by using the treasures that abound the hotel's coastal region. The seasonally inspired fare is expertly paired with wines from the world's most prominent coastal regions.