Chef John Muriel
Understanding Members’ Tastes Is Key To Satisfaction
Talk about hitting the ground running. When John Muriel took over executive chef duties at Delaire Country Club, it was in the midst of a pandemic with a culinary staff that had been in place less than a year.
The buffet, a staple of life for residents, had to be replaced with meals served à la carte from the kitchen. Many were delivered as residents felt safer eating in the comfort of their own homes.
Two months in, and Chef Muriel has risen to the challenge, putting a tightknit team together to accommodate the residents of this private, boutique-style golf and country club community in Delray Beach. And, with a $6 million renovation of the Delaire clubhouse soon to be proposed, Chef Muriel is excited about his job and what the future holds.
“The renovation would let us accommodate banquets and à la carte in our main kitchen and a smaller bistro at the bar,” he says.
Chef Muriel has spent the past 20 years working his way up the food chain at hotels and country clubs. Unlike hotel guests, country club residents are not on vacation, so it’s important that he get to know their individual likes and dislikes.
“Members don’t look at it like they are going to a restaurant; they look at it like they are going to their dining room,” he says. “If we know Mr. Z likes a lot of sour cream on his blintzes, that’s how we make it before he asks.”
Originally from New York, Chef Muriel draws inspiration everywhere from street vendors to chefs at five-star restaurants to the people of different cultures with whom he works. He believes in work-life balance because a happy and refreshed staff translates to a good dining experience.
“To me, food is organic, and it resonates when people are well-rested,” he says.
Delaire Country Club is located at 4645 White Cedar Lane, Delray Beach. For more information, call 561-499-9090 or visit delaire.org.
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