Princess Promotes Anthony Daponte Sousa
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club has promoted Anthony Daponte Sousa to Senior Chef de Partie.
A spokesperson said, “Chef Daponte Sousa began working at the hotel after winning a local chef competition held in partnership with Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda College, and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.
“It was during his second year of the Culinary Arts programme at the College, when Chef Daponte Sousa won. He graduated soon after with a Diploma in Culinary Arts, and true to its word, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, hired the graduate as a Demi Chef in its former celebrity restaurant, Marcus.
“While in this role, the Chef was mentored by Samuelsson, learning and executing all aspects of the culinary arts, including assisting Samuelsson at various cooking demonstrations and events in Bermuda.
“Since then, Chef Daponte Sousa moved up the ranks within the kitchens at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club from Demi Chef to Chef de Partie, reaching his current role of Senior Chef de Partie, five years later. He was also recognized as the hotel’s August 2022, Employee of the Month.
“As a Senior Chef De Partie, Daponte Sousa brainstorms monthly menu ideas with his chef colleagues. One of his menu pitches led to him hosting his own Portuguese Dinner [Jantar Português] at the hotel’s Crown & Anchor restaurant this past summer.
“I was able to cook traditional food that my mother and grandmother cooked at home. A highlight was when my family came to have dinner, and it met with their approval,” said Mr Daponte Sousa.
When asked as a young person why he enjoyed hospitality and being a chef in Bermuda, he replied: “Every day is different and you never know what to expect. If the business changes, so will the menu. This allows us to upgrade and keep up with trends.”
He also said: “As for enjoying hospitality, this is my first job and I love the industry. I like that I work in a multicultural environment. My colleagues have shared with me their experiences of working around the world, and I know that I will be friends with them for life. In the future I hope to be able to travel and bring my overseas experience back to Bermuda.”
Tim Morrison, General Manager of Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, said: “I am deeply proud that we have promoted Anthony Daponte Sousa to the position of Senior Chef de Partie at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Anthony’s passion for cooking and his enthusiasm to learn as much as possible is inspirational. We look forward to his next chapter with us and we believe that Anthony has an incredible future ahead of him.”
