Naples Grande Beach Resort, 474-guestroom luxury resort, announced the appointment of Mounir Loqmane as Chef of the property’s signature restaurant, Catch of the Pelican, a concept celebrating the vibrant flavors of the Gulf Coast in a relaxed-yet-sophisticated setting. Born and raised in Morocco, and with more than a decade of experience under his belt, Loqmane brings his exceptionally innovative cuisine to guests and passion for cooking to guests.
In his new position, Loqmane takes on a vital chef role for Catch of the Pelican. Utilizing the energy of the well-known concept, he plans to add his own global twist to the already successful local seafood and premium steak menus, including adding herbs native to the Mediterranean in the restaurant’s very own garden. Although he leans towards coastal Mediterranean cuisine with Asian influence, he prides himself in not being tied down to any specific style. Alongside Executive Chef Bader Ali, Chef Loqmane’s first new menu will debut early November 2019.
“We are aiming to elevate the resort as a culinary destination serving high-quality options,” says Chef Loqmane. “I look forward to cultivating innovative food and beverage menus, taking the restaurant to a new level, while translating my love for fresh ingredients and international flair into each dish.”
Loqmane brings culinary wisdom from previous positions in the Naples area. Before joining the Naples Grande team, Loqmane was developing new menus and leading strong teams for some of the city’s renowned, award-winning resorts and restaurants, including Veranda E at The Escalante, U.S.S. Nemo and Bleu Provence. With a philosophy that cuisine has no limits, Loqmane’s expertise and background offers diners authentic dishes infused with global flavors, including French, Italian, Japanese, Moroccan, Mediterranean and modern American.
A graduate of Morocco’s ITHT Technical Institute, Loqmane’s degree in restaurant and hotel management arms him with an expertise that spans across multiple management styles and cuisines. Combining his educational background, Gulf Coast experience and ability to speak eight languages, he brings a unique insight on personal chef services, leadership, concept development, event planning and world class guest relations. When he’s not placing the perfect touch on his creations, can be found spending time with his daughter, playing the guitar and dabbling in soccer and track & field.
The news of Chef Loqmane’s appointment follows The Catch of The Pelican’s debut of an Instagram-worthy weekend brunch, complete with a Mimosa Bar and Bloody Mary Bar, featuring an impressive 48,000 possible combinations of toppings, sauces, rims and mixes.
