Tyler Kineman has been promoted to the position of chef de cuisine at the newly Michelin-starred Knife & Spoon at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. He replaces Gerald Sombright who recently left to accept the position of executive chef at The Club at the Dunes in Naples.
Kineman was previously banquet chef at the Ritz-Carlton and was was Knife & Spoon’s sous chef when the restaurant opened in 2020. The chef de cuisine serves under executive chef John Tesar, who is based in Dallas.
“To lead a Michelin-starred restaurant is a dream of any chef,” Kineman said in a statement, “and I am looking forward to working with the talented team to continue raising the bar and building on the restaurant’s incredible accolades and recognition.”
Sombright returns to Naples where he previously had been chef of Ario at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. At The Club at the Dunes he will oversee five restaurants and bars at the private residential community. He said in a text message that he made the change for “quality of life” reasons. “After the pandemic opening and winning a Michelin star as the first African American male to do so, I was previously approached several times by the club and now was the right time.”
Along with the announcement of Kineman’s appointment comes news that Knife & Spoon will be open for dinner daily beginning Sept. 19.