Basil Dean has been appointed as Executive Chef at Margaritaville Beach Resort - Nassau
Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau has proudly named Chef Basil Dean as Executive Chef of the resort. As a native of New Providence, he returns home with more than three decades of global culinary experience.
In this role, he will lead culinary operations across the property’s nine dining venues, including its signature restaurant, JWB Steak & Seafood. From menu development to execution, he will also oversee culinary artistry and presentation for weddings and private events. With more than 12 years of experience as an executive chef, he is known for building strong teams, mentoring emerging talent and delivering exceptional quality.
Chef Dean will manage the day-to-day operations of dining concepts such as JWB Prime Steak & Seafood, Vacation Cafe, Frank & Lola’s Pizza and Wasabi Joe’s Sushi Bar, ensuring each dish meets Margaritaville Nassau’s standards for taste, quality and presentation. Driven by a passion for mentorship, he will play a hands-on role in developing kitchen teams - overseeing hiring, training and ongoing professional growth - while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture. He will also create unique dining experiences for guests from around the world, infusing a little Bahamian flair to dishes.
He began his culinary career at Bahamas Training College, completing the National Apprentice Chef Program and earning a Culinary Arts Certification from the American Culinary Federation. He furthered his education with a Food Protection Manager Certification from the National Association and an Advanced Ice Carving Certification from the Culinary Institute of America.
Guided by a people-centric philosophy and commitment to giving back, Chef Dean has built an impressive portfolio across Grand Lucayan Resort, Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas and SLS Baha Mar, as well as international roles at Warwick New York, Beaches Turks & Caicos and Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Spa.
He is an active member of the World Association of Cooks, Caribbean Culinary Foundation and American Culinary Foundation, and serves as vice president of the Bahamas Culinary Association. His accolades include a Five-Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality and Science and bronze medals from the 2008 World Culinary Olympics.
On the horizon, Chef Dean will oversee culinary operations for the property’s Mother’s Day Brunch on May 10 at JWB Prime Steak & Seafood. Priced at $110+ per person, guests and locals are invited to treat the special mothers in their lives to an afternoon of bold Bahamian flavors.
Learn more about Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau HERE.