LondonHouse Chicago, the luxury lifestyle property on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, announces the appointment of Samantha Santiago Torres as Executive Pastry Chef.
Santiago Torres began her culinary career by studying at the prestigious Camilo José Cela University in Madrid, Spain with a Ferrán Adriá Chair Professorship. From there, she developed her expertise with international experiences in the pastry world. Heading to the U.K., she worked at restaurants and hotels in London and Edinburgh, such as Roka, before taking an internship position at the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado. While there, she prepared pastries for the World Ski Championship for which the hotel hosted the Swiss and German teams.
After returning to London briefly, Santiago Torres moved on to teach intern chefs and pastry cooks with Compass Group in Denver, Colorado. Santiago Torres is now excited to add Chicago to her long list of places she has called home.
“We’re thrilled for Chef Santiago Torres to bring her extensive global experience to LondonHouse,” says LondonHouse Chicago Director of Food and Beverage John Belter. “We look forward to seeing the creative confections and imaginative presentations she will bring to the hotel property.”
Santiago Torres works alongside Executive Chef Jacob Verstegen to create reimagined pastries for guests to savor at two LondonHouse establishments, LH Rooftop and Bridges. As Chef Verstegen also has an international culinary background, having cooked at restaurants in Spain and Brazil, he will work with Santiago Torres to craft original, diverse dishes.
Chef Santiago Torres’ pastries can be found at LH Rooftop, the hotel’s tri-level rooftop bar and restaurant on floors 21, 22, and 23, and Bridges, LondonHouse Chicago’s mezzanine-level lobby lounge where guests can enjoy the hotel’s afternoon tea service. Santiago Torres will also support the current offerings and creation of new ones for the hotel’s meetings, events, and weddings packages. Guests staying at LondonHouse Chicago can enjoy her treats from the comfort of their guestrooms via in-room dining.
