Hermosa Inn Appoints New Executive Chef

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October 3, 2013 by hermosainn

If you hadn’t already seen the article in Phoenix New Times, let us be the first to say that we’re proud to announce the appointment of our new executive chef! Below is the full press release with details.

A round of applause for Chef James Ducas, everyone!

The Hermosa Inn Announces Appointment of New Executive Chef

After the departure of AZ native Jeremy Pacheco from his three-year reign as the Executive Chef of The Hermosa Inn, the search for a replacement has come to a close with the promotion of James Ducas from Chef de Cuisine to Executive Chef of LON’s at the Hermosa and the Inn’s newly opened casual dining concept, Last Drop at the Hermosa.

“We had over 30 chefs interested in the position and really took our time to make a decision due to the fact that we’ve been lucky enough to have only two chefs in the last ten years,” said Managing Director Michael Gildersleeve. “We always like to give an opportunity to chefs who really want it, and because we’ve attracted such a high caliber team, it was only natural that we promote James and now give him the opportunity to continue LON’s legacy.”

From washing dishes at age 14 to creating his own menus as Executive Chef, Ducas’ culinary journey is one of great dedication and displays the love he has for his craft. After honing his skills in New York, Ducas worked his way up the culinary ladder to become executive chef of Pacific Café in Asheville, North Carolina. Shortly thereafter in 2003 he became a partner and executive chef at Savoy in Asheville, North Carolina, followed by his move to Arizona, when he started working for The Hermosa Inn in 2007. After six years, and working under the tutelage of two great chefs, Ducas is now the one in the spotlight as he takes the resort’s artful American cuisine to a new level.

In regards to what guests can expect to see next from the LON’s and Last Drop kitchen, “By having learned from both Rusconi and Pacheco who were in this position before me, I’ve seen many of LON’s signature dishes come and go, so while the spirit and style of our artful American cuisine will remain – now with more bold flavors, unique flavor profiles and cutting edge techniques – I’ll also be ensuring that the signature dishes our guests love, become a mainstay on the menu,” said Ducas. “With Last Drop recently becoming our second restaurant concept at the resort, this too will become a primary focus of mine as we refine our casual dining, all-day fare to complement the handcrafted cocktails for which Last Drop is originally known.”

For more information on LON’s at the Hermosa, call 602.955.7878 or visit online at www.LONs.com, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and the Hermosa Inn blog.