Tooker, who started his career in New York City at the Carlyle Hotel, brings more than two decades of culinary expertise to the tower’s private beachside restaurant

Fortune International Group and Château Group, joint developers of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach, are proud to announce the appointment of Craig Tooker as Executive Chef of the ultra-high-end tower’s private, Atlantic Ocean-facing restaurant. The condominium, which received its temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) last month, is one of the most anticipated projects to open this year – having been singled-out by well-heeled homebuyers worldwide for its dazzling array of lavish amenities and services. Only accessible to residents and their guests, this restaurant will be a signature component of the property’s highly specialized offerings.

“We are very pleased to welcome Chef Tooker to The Residences,” said Edgardo Defortuna, President and CEO of Fortune International Group. “His passion is going to elevate the experience of living in this spectacular tower.”

“Chef Tooker is an immensely talented individual with a tremendous background in the culinary arts,” said Manuel Grosskopf, CEO of Château Group. “We are confident that our residents will love what he brings to the table.”

In his new role, Tooker will oversee menus and day-to-day operations at The Residences’ restaurant, which is expected to open in the coming months. His vibrant career, which spans more than 20 years, has led him from Manhattan to Miami. Tooker got his start at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City where he worked as the chef de saucier. While there, the Johnson & Wales University graduate was responsible for overseeing the ala carte kitchen for two-and-a-half years before he joined the culinary staff at The Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan -- first as a sous chef then as the executive banquet chef. After years of working in kitchens in New York’s fine-dining scene, Tooker transitioned his talents to Florida, where he became the executive banquet chef at the Don Cesar Beach Resort and Spa -- and later executive chef of the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort -- before returning to the Roosevelt Hotel as the executive chef in 2005. Most recently, Tooker was the Director of Food and Beverage at The Gabriel Miami where he oversaw all of the hotel’s food and beverage planning, including oversight of the menus, special promotions, and events. Prior to his position there, Tooker was the executive chef and director of food and beverage for the Miami Beach Resort and Spa.

“Living in Miami for over a decade, I truly love how the food scene has grown, developed, and matured,” added Tooker. “I have always been fascinated with the diverse cultures and foods that are found within in the City’s neighborhoods, local restaurants, and farm stands. Working with local farmers that are now leading the way towards organic, sustainable, and exotic produce has leant into how my menus and style of foods have grown and taken form over the years. I look forward to combining the elegance and sophistication of The Ritz-Carlton with the inimitable tropical ambiance of this incredible beachside setting and delivering something truly outstanding to our residents.”

Already, Tooker has given a mouth-watering sneak peek of two seasonal dishes that will be served in The Residences’ farm-to-table-style restaurant, including a jackfruit taco with tempura avocado, pickled red onion and queso fresco -- as well as a Wagyu sirloin with salt cured egg yolk, roasted cauliflower, red sorrel, and a golden raisin and olive tapenade. The restaurant’s name and complete menu of year-round offerings will be unveiled soon.

As the first building north of Bal Harbour, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach boast a prime location with 250 feet of pristine beachfront. The building’s designs have been crafted by award-winning architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica with interiors by acclaimed Florentine architect Michele Bönan. Comprising 212 residences and managed by The Ritz-Carlton, the 52-story tower has a private club level on the 33rd floor, beach restaurant, pool deck, kids club, full-service spa, fitness center and wellness center, among other top-line amenities. Residences start at $2.6 million.

Further highlights in each of the homes -- all of which are smart-technology-ready -- include walk-in closets, laundry rooms with full-size washers and dryers, and pre-wiring for high-speed internet access and Wi-Fi. Penthouses feature lush garden terraces spanning 2,000 sq. ft. – 4,000 sq. ft., private pools and summer kitchens, custom-designed Italian cabinetry, service quarters, and well-appointed master suites. The tower is located at 15701 Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach. The address of the sales gallery is 15800 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach. For additional information, call 305.503.5811 or visit  http://www.theresidencessunnyislesbeach.com.

About the Project Developers

Fortune International Group

Synonymous with excellence, quality, customer service and unwavering commitment to the highest standards of luxury, Fortune International Group has been a recognized leader in development, sales and marketing since 1983. The company’s prestigious development portfolio includes many of the most prominent residential properties in South Florida including Jade Signature, The Ritz-Carlton Residences Sunny Isles Beach, Auberge Beach Residences and Spa Fort Lauderdale, Jade Residences Brickell; Jade Beach, Jade Ocean, and Hyde Resort & Residences Hollywood. In addition, Fortune Development Sales is the premier, exclusive on-site sales and marketing representative for third-party development projects in South Florida, having represented some of South Florida’s most successful projects: Missoni Baia, Una Residences, 57 Ocean, 2000 Ocean, Monaco Yacht Club, 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach, Brickell Flatiron, SLS Lux & Gran Paraiso, among others with thousands of sales to date. Led by visionary founder Edgardo Defortuna, Fortune International Group has 18 offices around the world with nearly 1,000 associates. Fortune’s international broker network reaches legions of prospective buyers from South Florida to Buenos Aires, Hong Kong to São Paolo, and Manhattan to Paris.

The Château Group

The Château Group, founded under the leadership of Sergio and Manuel Grosskopf, has more than 35 years of experience in the development of real estate projects in South America and the United States. Château has participated in several major real estate endeavors over the last several years, Château introduced the concept of Mall in Argentina with the development of Alto Palermo and Alto Avellaneda Malls in Buenos Aires and the entry of Wal-mart and Zara to the Argentinian market. In the residential field, Château Group developed of 1.6 million square feet distributed in the two most emblematic towers in Buenos Aires, Argentina: Château Libertador and Château Puerto Madero. In the United States, Château Group developed Château Beach Residences, a luxury high-rise condominium in Sunny Isles and finished the construction of FENDI Château Residences in Surfside, the first real estate development branded by FENDI worldwide. Other projects in the pipeline include 600 and 700 Biscayne (Miami, FL) and a mixed-use development in Hallandale Beach. In addition, Château Group has positioned itself as a high-end residential market leader in the world-renowned city of Punta del Este, Uruguay through the development of the new FENDI Château Residences, Le Jardin Residences, Beverly Tower, Coral Tower and Millenium Tower.