At a time when restaurants across the country are pulling back, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa is pushing forward with a significant investment in its food and beverage program.
Longtime Executive Chef Beau MacMillan has announced the appointment of two industry powerhouses—Chef de Cuisine Samantha Sanz and Bar Chef Christiaan Röllich—a dream team who will steer the evolution of the resort’s signature elements restaurant and jade bar.
A two-time James Beard nominee, Sanz was most recently chef de cuisine of Talavera, the signature restaurant at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Her appointment marks her return to where her career began as one of the first female cooks at elements.
“I am thrilled to be back at Sanctuary—my culinary roots—and to give fresh expression to the vibrant flavors and colors here,” said Sanz. “The opportunity to work so closely with Beau and Christiaan to fully integrate the culinary and bar programs is particularly exciting to me and recognizes the power of food and drink to connect us all.”
—Samantha Sanz, Sanctuary Chef de Cuisine
Author of BAR CHEF: Handcrafted Cocktails (2019), Röllich hails from A.O.C. and Lucques, two of the most celebrated restaurants in Los Angeles. Forbes has called him “one of LA’s most innovative mixologists” while LA Weekly credits the Netherlands native with the city’s cocktail renaissance.
“I love working closely with chefs, studying their technicques and bringing them to the world of drink,” said Röllich. “I can’t wait to see what Beau and Sam will bring to the table flavor-wise, and look forward to exploring and reinventing so my cocktails match their food.”
—Christiaan Röllich, Sanctuary Bar Chef
