The Caerula Mar Club in Andros, The Bahamas, best known as the hotel on HGTV’s Renovation Island, has named a new executive chef. 

The boutique resort has tapped Carlos Alvarez to the role, it announced during the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace event. 

Alvarez had been serving as the resort’s sous chef since 2018; he also helped oversee the resort’s grand reopening in the first quarter of 2020. 

“Any successful dish starts with natural elements, and the most rewarding aspect of working at Caerula Mar is that the team encourages my holistic and organic approach to cooking,” Alvarez said. “As a child, I was inspired by the way food brings people together. In this intimate resort environment, I can connect with all of the guests and share my passion for fresh, ethically harvested ingredients that make them feel good.” 

Alvarez will be overseeing daily operations for the resort’s culinary concepts, including Lusca, its fine dining eatery; Driff’s Beach Bar and the Switcha cafe. 

The Club says Alvarez’s menus offer “classic, comforting food with Caribbean flair”; that means dishes like jerk cauliflower and lobster pot pie, among others. 

He is working along side sous chef Janet Hoedino, a top chef from Toronto. 

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have Chef Alvarez and Chef Hoedino at the helm of our kitchen,” said General Manager Margaret Gratzinger. “They’re both resourceful, creative and so great with our guests. Since they’ve teamed up, the guest response has been overwhelmingly positive. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for next season.” 

The resort has helped shine a spotlight on Andros, one of the Caribbean’s great adventure destinations, a massive island also home to legendary hotels like the Small Hope Bay Lodge and Swain’s Cay, among others.