Eric Chopin Named Executive Chef at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort recently appointed Eric Chopin to the position of Executive Chef. Chopin is a professional chef with more than 30 years of experience. Born in Guerande, Brittany, France, Chopin has been seasoning his way through the cooking world in Europe and America since the early age of 14. He began cooking in Paris as a charcutier and is classically trained in the art of making delicious, unique pastries and savory masterpieces, while always respecting their natural flavors and textures.

After graduating from Belliard Cooking School, Chopin honed his skills at restaurants in and around Paris. After moving to America in 1983, Chopin won the Gold medal in the Colorado Pastry Championships and started to accumulate numerous write-ups in newspapers and magazines. He began catering to Hollywood's elite when he moved to California and joined the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. His next position as executive chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Tyson's Corner in Washington, D.C., gave him the opportunity to cook for heads of state and celebrities such as George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Luciano Pavarotti, to name a few. He also assisted in developing The Fine Art of Cuisine, an annual event which showcases chef talent. 

While working for the Ritz-Carlton, he moved to Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia, where he hosted exclusive affairs and celebrity chefs such as, Iron Chef Morimoto, Jean Banchet, Michel Richard, and Fabio Trabocchi. He has had the chance to try daring, non-traditional recipes as he continued to develop his cuisine described as "Classical with a Twist!” Chef Chopin left his beloved position at The Ritz-Carlton to open a new boutique hotel, The Mansion on Peachtree. Later, he served as the executive chef of The American Airlines Arena in Miami where he was Chef to the NBA World Champions- Miami Heat.

Chef Chopin has now taken on the role of executive chef at the #1 resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. He never loses sight of his passion for his career and continues to learn and evolve. He is a Maîtres Cuisiniers De France, French Master Chef, and a professional member of Academie Culinaire de France and the Chaine Des Rotisseurs. He continues to build on what he knows by enhancing his dishes with fresh modern twists. While the times and tastes of his guests may change, the one thing that stays the same is his focus on delivering fresh, beautifully prepared foods that preserve classic flavors.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort was named the #1 resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The resort invites guests to a world of 2,400 acres and 30 charming neighborhoods featuring 1,300 Destin vacation rentals, condominiums, villas, town homes and the best in Destin hotel accommodations. As a member of Visit South Walton, the resort features more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 113-slip marina, a fitness center and spa, meeting space, and The Village of Baytowne Wharf, a pedestrian village with shopping, dining, and nightlife.