Manuel Rodriguez, an award-winning chef bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience and talent, is now the Director of Food & Beverage at Springhill Suites Panama City Beach.
Originally hailing from Washington, D.C., Rodriguez left the big city in fall of 2020 for the opportunity to expand his culinary influence in one of the country’s most-popular oceanside destinations. While making a name for himself as one of the best chefs in the nation’s capital, Rodriguez had the pleasure of cooking for several high-profile politicians, athletes, celebrities and even the Queen of Sweden.
The top chef’s impressive resume includes a slew of awards and accolades, such as: Iron Chef Howard Community College (2005), Titanium Chef AIW (2008), Regional Chef of the Year (2012), Preferred Catering Company in D.C. (2019), and Top Latin American Restaurant in D.C. (2019). Notably, Rodriguez also received the “Judges’ Choice Award” and “People’s Choice Award” at the Embassy Chef Challenge in 2015.
Today, Rodriguez is well-known for the respect and the love that he has for food, which comes through in his Mediterranean and South American cooking. In Panama City Beach, Rodriguez will be bringing those flavors to life using some of the best local seafood the region has to offer in his new role as Director of Food & Beverage. In the coming months, visitors will get to experience a brand-new sushi bar, trendy food and beverage offerings and a greater emphasis on seasonal ingredients courtesy of Rodriguez.
