Partnerships
Rosewood Baha Mar Announces Culinary Residency, Featuring Michelin-Recognized Chef Alfredo Villanueva at Costa
Taking place through November 2026, guests are invited to experience a taste of Villanueva’s signature Baja California cuisine
Nassau, The Bahamas, September 28, 2026 – This November, Rosewood Baha Mar welcomes Michelin-recognized Chef Alfredo Villanueva for a month-long culinary residency at Costa, the resort's acclaimed coastal Mexican restaurant. From November 1-30, guests will experience Chef Villanueva's signature Baja California cuisine, thoughtfully reimagined with the vibrant seafood, produce and flavors of The Bahamas.
A self-taught culinary maverick, Chef Villanueva is the award-winning chef behind Villa Torél in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's celebrated wine region. Born in Mexico City and raised in Monterrey, he has earned acclaim for refined yet approachable cooking rooted in Baja California's agricultural abundance, open-fire techniques and rich culinary heritage.
Located within the Santo Tomás winery, Villa Torél is an entirely outdoor restaurant recognized by the MICHELIN Guide in 2024, 2025 and 2026. It has also been named one of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants for four consecutive years (2022–2025). Like Costa, Villa Torél celebrates cooking that is deeply connected to its surroundings, making the residency a natural pairing between two restaurants shaped by their landscapes.
Throughout November, Chef Villanueva will work with Costa’s Executive Chef Juan Meza to present a dinner menu that marries the bold flavors of Baja California with the freshest Bahamian seafood and seasonal ingredients. Set among Costa's lush gardens, outdoor cabanas, striking bar and signature koi pond, the experience invites guests to enjoy Chef Villanueva’s cuisine in an atmosphere that reflects the relaxed sophistication of both destinations.
Menu highlights include Conch with a creamy “Vitel Tone” Sauce, Oyster Tiradito and Kalamata Olives; Fava Bean Tlacoyo with Pastrami Picanha, Chimichurri Sauce, Avocado, Cilantro and Mint Salad; Yellowtail Tataki with Avocado and Serrano Chile macha; Octopus Chorizo Tacos served alongside Dried Shrimp Aguachile; Butter Poached Spiny Lobster Tacos with Herb Sauce, Black Beans and Avocado; Zarandeado-style Branzino finished with Green Mojo and Chile Caribe; and for dessert, Marquesita with Ripe Plantain Sauce; Frangiepan with Date and Vanilla Ice Cream from Papantla, Veracruz or his signature Pistachio Flan with Chocolate Sauce.
The culinary experience will be complemented by Costa's beverage program, featuring specialty Agave Spritzes, Palomas and Margaritas crafted to pair with Chef Villanueva's menu.
As part of the residency, Chef Villanueva will also present an exclusive Thanksgiving dining experience, offering a refined four-course holiday menu that blends traditional Thanksgiving flavors with his signature Baja-inspired approach to Mexican cuisine. Available on Thanksgiving Day for $95++ per person (excluding beverages), the special menu will feature Brioche with Roasted Eggplant Butter and Toasted Sesame; Hamachi Crudo with Pomegranate Leche de Tigre and Pecan Hummus; Roasted Turkey Parmentier with Slow-Braised Turkey, Cranberry Jus, Wild Mushroom Duxelles and Potato Purée; and Basque Cheesecake with Roasted Butternut Squash and Vanilla Cream.
“Exceptional dining has always been central to the Rosewood Baha Mar experience, and partnering with chefs who share our commitment to craftsmanship and sense of place allows us to continually delight our guests. Chef Alfredo Villanueva has cultivated an extraordinary culinary perspective, and we're thrilled to welcome him back to Costa for a residency that celebrates the vibrant flavors of Mexico while embracing the incredible bounty of The Bahamas.”
DANIEL SCOTT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROSEWOOD BAHA MAR
“Costa has always celebrated the vibrant spirit of coastal Mexico, making it the perfect place to explore how Baja California's cooking traditions can meet the incredible ingredients of The Bahamas. Throughout the residency, we've created dishes that stay true to my style while embracing the seafood, produce and sense of place that make dining here so memorable.”
Chef Alfredo Villanueva
Chef Villanueva previously participated in the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival presented by Baha Mar in 2024 and 2025 and will return again this year.
For more information and to make reservations, please visit the residency webpage.
Outlet Information
Costa is open daily for lunch from 12–3 p.m, light bites from 3:30–4:30 p.m and dinner from 5:30–10 p.m. Costa’s delectable Sunday brunch is served weekly from 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended.
KEY SUMMARY
Rosewood Baha Mar’s Costa will welcome Chef Alfredo Villanueva, the award-winning chef behind MICHELIN-recognized Villa Torél in Valle de Guadalupe, for a culinary residency from November 1- 30.
Chef Villanueva will collaborate with Costa Executive Chef Juan Meza on a menu combining Baja California flavors with Bahamian seafood and seasonal ingredients.
The residency will include an exclusive four-course Thanksgiving Day menu, reimagining traditional holiday flavors through Chef Villanueva’s distinctive Baja-inspired approach.
About Chef Alfredo Villanueva
Alfredo Villanueva was born in Mexico City, grew up in Monterrey, and eventually moved to Baja California. Trained as a visual artist at the Visual Arts Faculty of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Villanueva is an entirely self-taught chef. He opened his first restaurant, Botanero Santa Lucía, in 1998. This establishment already gestured at certain traits that remain part of this chef’s signature style: a rugged cuisine with challenging textures, unafraid of acidity and bold spiciness; a cuisine that never forgets its popular roots nor its dual northeastern heritage influenced by Middle Eastern migrations. In Monterrey, he also opened Xbox Pizza Bar, and years later, Romero y Azahar, where he matured as a chef, blending old influences with clear original inspiration.
Villanueva later opened Villa Torél at the Santo Tomás vineyard in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California. It is an open-air restaurant and a “proximity” restaurant, with immediate access to resources from the Pacific waters, local orchards and farms of all kinds, and, of course, the entire range of Baja Californian wines. In 2022, Villa Torél was declared number 18 among the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants by S. Pellegrino.
Villanueva has been invited to cook at the National Gastronomy Program in London (2014), at Mallory Court (2015), in Paris (2015, 2016, 2018), as well as at events by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2013. He was a co-founder of Foro Paralelo, an international gastronomy congress held in Monterrey. He has been a member of the Mexican Cooking Collective since 2012; a brand ambassador for Weber Grill Mexico since 2012 and for Del Fuerte since 2021. Alongside SOPA (a consulting company), he has influenced menus and created new concepts in Mexico City, Tampico, London, and Barcelona. His most recent project is Museo Cantina de Vinos in Ensenada, Baja California; where he proposes a vinicultural exploration and an adventurous, nomadic, and refined cuisine.
About Rosewood
Rosewood is an ever-evolving global collection of hotels, resorts, and residences, born through the discovery of remarkable places. With 44 one-of-a-kind destinations, each property celebrates the culture and community that shapes it, upholding the ideal of hospitality as mutually revitalizing. Every detail is intricately woven to tell the story of the place, offering unexpected moments of discovery and connection. Rosewood Residences extends this spirit, inspiring a life where belonging and curiosity enrich every day.
For more information, please visit rosewoodhotelgroup.com
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About Rosewood Baha Mar
Rosewood Baha Mar captures the essence of The Bahamas: a refined, authentic experience of a beach oasis. Perched on the white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach, this stay is shaped by striking natural beauty and joyful Bahamian culture.
Here, natural landscaping, art and comfort converge; the 221 rooms, suites and beachfront villas are infused with the carefree spirit of coastal living. From six dining destinations celebrating local produce to artist-led workshops showcasing the island’s creative soul, every moment invites discovery. Whether unwinding with the power of plants at Sense, A Rosewood Spa, or relaxing beneath swaying palms by a private pool, guests are immersed in an effortless paradise.
Discover more: rosewoodhotels.com/baha-mar
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