Chef Lee Hillson Debuts New Summer Menu at T. Cook's at Royal Palms
Bold Mediterranean Flavors & Vibrant Seasonal Ingredients are on Full Display at T. Cook’s this Spring & Summer
Longtime, Award-Winning Chef Lee Hillson Debuts New Menu of Rustic Mediterranean Cuisine
(PRESS RELEASE) – For more than two decades, T. Cook’s at Royal Palms Resort and Spa has been one of the most celebrated historic restaurants in the Valley known for its creative cuisine, elegant setting and inviting ambiance of rich earthen tones, high-vaulted ceilings and gracious patios with views of the resort’s lush grounds and the iconic Camelback Mountain.
New this season, culinary veteran and Executive Chef Lee Hillson is debuting a spring and summer menu with a focus on hand-selected ingredients prepared in simple, yet sumptuous dishes that highlight bold Mediterranean flavors with notes of regional influences from Northern Italy, Greece and Spain. Chef Lee also hearkens back to his childhood, taking immense inspiration from his mother’s recipes that defined his early years in England.
“As our guests once again begin to safely enjoy dining at their favorite restaurants, we look forward to showcasing what’s new here at T. Cook’s,” said Chef Lee. “This is the most significant menu revamp in a long time and I wanted this new menu to excite, inspire and entice our guests to branch out and experience unique preparations that are still classic and approachable. Fresh, vibrant flavors paired with premier meats, seafood and vegetables create these beautiful and memorable dishes. One flavor can make a dish take off and I’m in constant search of how to do that.”
Some standouts of the menu starters include Salt Springs Mussels with Spicy Sausage, Baby Heirloom Tomato, Spinach, Pernod and Parmesan Cream ($18); Roasted Bone Marrow & Escargot with Pancetta, Onions, Demi and Noble Bread ($20); and Charred Spanish Octopus with Chimichurri, Saffron Poached Potato, Cherry Tomato and Calabrian Hot Chili ($18).
Chef’s personal favorites of the entrée selections include the Bolognese Bucatini with Shaved Parmesan, Herbed Ricotta and Basil ($30); Mary’s Organic Grilled Chicken with Grilled Artichoke, Asparagus, Pewee Potatoes, Candied Radishes, Lemon, Tarragon and Chicken Jus ($35); and the Garlic & Rosemary Lamb Chops with Roasted Spring Potatoes, Snap Peas, Mint Pesto and Pomegranate Seeds ($44).
Accompaniments ($10 each) include Truffle Mash, Foraged Mushrooms, Grilled Asparagus with Truffle Oil and Shaved Parmesan, Roasted Carrots with Horseradish Crema and Shaved Brussel Sprouts with Honey Mustard and Sumac. Chef Lee has partnered with Noble Bread for T. Cook’s dessert selection that includes Citrus Olive Oil Cake and Raspberry Decadence ($14 each).
Hailing from England where he started culinary school at 16-years-old, Chef Lee brings a worldly approach to his cuisine after traveling through the Mediterranean, Hawaiian Islands and Alaska as a guest chef on luxury cruise lines. A chef who has also appeared on the popular Food Network show, Iron Chef America, Chef Lee has created remarkable meals for luminaries such as President George W. Bush, Barbra Streisand, Princess Diana, Richard Branson, Billy Joel and author, Clive Cussler, to name a few.
T. Cook’s menu focuses on simple preparations and uncomplicated dishes that honor the regions of Northern Italy, Greece, Spain and Provence. T. Cook’s culinary philosophy of magnifying the purity of fresh, seasonal ingredients is a celebration of its treasured legacy and offers a captivating environment in every sense with stone fireplaces, al fresco dining and unique design elements.
Located at Royal Palms Resort and Spa, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, T. Cook’s sits within the heart of the resort’s mature, lush nine-acre property at the base of the iconic Camelback Mountain.
With a heritage dating back to 1929, Royal Palms combines the graciousness and sophistication of a storied Mediterranean villa with the intimacy and privacy of a secluded retreat, leaving a lasting impression on all who visit. A true destination for lovers, the resort was originally built as a private mansion as a grand gesture of love by financier Delos Willard Cooke for his wife Florence. Unlike any other resort in Arizona, winding stone paths transport guests past a grove of orange trees, trickling fountains in courtyards, roaring outdoor fireplaces, 100-year-old rustic doorways and hand-painted tiles, and lush gardens filled with magenta bougainvillea, exotic plants and desert flowers.
For more information on T. Cook’s or to book a reservation, call 602-808-0766 or visit TCooksPhoenix.com.
About Royal Palms Resort and Spa: A member of Historic Hotels of America, Royal Palms Resort and Spa is a AAA Four Diamond resort located at the foot of majestic Camelback Mountain. Combining the graciousness and sophistication of a Mediterranean villa with the intimacy and privacy of a secluded retreat, Royal Palms offers 119 custom-appointed guestrooms, intimate clusters of casitas and villas, regal Spanish Colonial architecture, more than 20,000 square feet of estate-like meeting space, Tuscan-style gardens, exquisite tapestries, various antique décor, and stone fireplaces throughout. Designed around the original 1930s historic private mansion, Royal Palms is home to the award-winning T. Cook’s restaurant, the Mix Up Bar, Forbes Four Star Alvadora Spa, a Mother-of-Pearl-tiled swimming pool with private cabanas. Just minutes from Scottsdale’s shopping, galleries, golf, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Camelback financial corridor, Royal Palms is an ideal retreat for business, pleasure and special occasions, offering luxury, privacy and convenience. For more information, please visit RoyalPalmsHotel.com.
About The Unbound Collection by Hyatt: The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand is a portfolio of new and existing premium hotel properties, ranging from historic urban gems to contemporary trend-setters and boutique properties to resorts. Whether it is a fascinating past, an exclusive location, famous architecture and design, or an award-winning dining experience, each hotel has its own distinct narrative and creates novel, story-worthy experiences for guests. Current hotel properties include Hotel SOFIA Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain; Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix; The Confidante in Miami Beach, Fla.; Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., The Eliza Jane in New Orleans; The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia; Holston House in Nashville, Tenn.; The Driskill in Austin, Texas; Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos, British Columbia; Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, France; Hôtel du Louvre in Paris (under renovation); Jinmao Hotel Lijiang in Lijiang, China; Nish Palas in Istanbul, and Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay. For more information, please visit unboundcollection.hyatt.com. Follow @UnboundxHyatt on Facebook and Instagram and tag your photos with #TellYourTale.