Meet Executive Chef Chad Blunston of Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel
Known for his renowned ‘farm to table’ emphasis, Executive Chef Chad Blunston of Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel, has had a lifelong passion for cooking. Executive Chef Blunston is inspired by local farm partnerships and dedicated to sourcing the best seasonal ingredients at the historic Northern California hotel.
With an extensive knowledge of both international and California specific cuisine, Blunston began his culinary career in 1991 as an apprentice with Canadian Pacific Hotels at The Prince Edward in P.E.I., Canada. Following his apprenticeship, he held Banquet Chef positions at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Blunston began his tenure with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts as Executive Sous Chef at Fairmont Algonquin and served on the opening team at both Fairmont Heliopolis, Cairo and Fairmont Towers. In 2009, Blunston was appointed Executive Sous Chef at Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, Alberta. He then further refined his culinary skills at flagship Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, in the hotel’s fine dining room, Epic. Prior to joining Claremont Club & Spa, he served as Executive Chef at Fairmont San Francisco.
A longtime Fairmont ambassador, with over 20 years’ experience, Blunston has dedicated his career to culinary excellence in the kitchens at three of the six California properties. At Claremont Club & Spa, Blunston oversees four distinct dining venues including the hotel’s signature restaurant Meritage, Claremont Lobby Lounge & Bar, Hillary-Tenzing Room and Bayview Café. In addition, he oversees the food and beverage operation for In-Room Dining and the hotel’s 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including events held at The Club at the Claremont.
Blunston credits his innovative spirit and culinary expertise to his mentors and as a result, thrives on educating and inspiring young chefs. While not in the kitchen, Blunston enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, coaching his son’s hockey team, gardening and various outdoor activities.