Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Chef Craig Nazareth: TCHTA Executive Chef of the Year

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Tasked with managing 21 dining outlets at the largest all-inclusive family resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Executive Chef Craig Nazareth from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort recently copped the Executive Chef of the Year at the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourist Association Awards (TCHTA) held in Providenciales.

Craig has over twenty-eight years (28) experience in the culinary arts and received formal training at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia. He then moved to St. Kitts and Nevis where he held the role as Chef de Cuisine at a popular resort. From there he continued his career as a restaurant owner operator in Oakville, Ontario Canada.

In 2017, Chef Craig traded in the snow for the sand and turquoise waters and migrated to the beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands and joined the number one family resort in the Caribbean, Beaches Turks and Caicos. He currently holds the role as Executive Chef; overseeing 210 cooks, 21 restaurants and the development of all his supervisors, sous chefs and executive sous chefs.

Craig’s culinary and leadership expertise, international experience and passion to develop others, propelled him to accept the responsibility of managing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ culinary team in preparation for the Taste of the Caribbean competition.  With the support of other executive chefs from the island of Providenciales, Craig established a vigorous training calendar for the participants. Although the competition did not happen in 2023, they were well prepared and Chef Craig and his colleagues were proud of their journey through the learning and development gained. He is currently on the path of reestablishing the team in 2025, with a goal to successfully compete internationally.

BTC’s Managing Director James McAnally shared, “Craig’s leadership and humility are the major traits that have made him into an exceptional leader here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. His mission of sharing in the professional development of the more than 200 cooks as well as helping the younger generation gain practical experiences through the various projects that he champions makes him a stellar leader. He is truly deserving of this award.”

Another great achievement for Craig over the past few years is the Little Chefs and Junior Little Chefs programmes. Craig, with the support of Beaches, joined forces with the TCHTA and other executive chefs, to make the annual summer camps a success. Through collaboration and passion the camp achieved 100% participation year over year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sous Chef, Gordon ‘Blackz’ Lindsay noted, “for Chef Craig to earn this coveted crown of Executive Chef of the Year at the TCHTA awards means a lot for the culinary team here at Beaches Turks and Caicos. He is deserving of this accolade and we all celebrate with him as he has shown what it takes to be an extraordinary leader. He is always ready to share with his team and continues to maintain an open door policy.”

Chef Craig considers his role in the Little Chefs and Junior Little Chef’s programme as important as any other roles that he plays.  He feels that with tourism being the number one industry in TCI, giving the youth exposure to hospitality and building the talent pool from within, is most important for the community and island.