Meet The Chef
Chef Okan Kizilbayir
Chef Okan joined Salt in May 2021 and has enjoyed creating exciting new menus and experiences for all his guests. His Chef's Kitchen Table in Salt and adventure menu are some of the most in-demand reservations in all of Florida. When Chef Okan is not in the kitchen, he can be found spending time with his family and friends.
Chef Okan Kizilbayir, Chef de Cuisine at AAA Five Diamond Salt Restaurant, began his long-standing career at a job fair in Turkey. Sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., the hotel had recently entered an agreement with Michelin-starred chef Eric Ripert to open Westend Bistro. Unbeknownst to either chef, it was the beginning of a fourteen-year mentorship and lifetime of friendship.
Chef Okan followed Eric Ripert to Blue at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. As sous chef, Chef Okan collaborated with Chef de Cuisine Thomas Seifried and Eric Ripert to create a daily menu using only seafood fresh from the local docks. Chef Okan also played a vital role hosting Chef Ripert's Grand Cayman Cookout; an annual gathering of international chefs preparing lavish tastings and extravagant cooking demonstrations. After nine years at Blue, Ripert invited Okan to join his three-star Michelin restaurant, Le Bernardin in New York City.
Chef Okan joined Salt in May 2021 and has enjoyed creating exciting new menus and experiences for all his guests. His Chef's Kitchen Table in Salt and adventure menu are some of the most in-demand reservations in all of Florida. When Chef Okan is not in the kitchen, he can be found spending time with his family and friends.
Chef Okan followed Eric Ripert to Blue at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. As sous chef, Chef Okan collaborated with Chef de Cuisine Thomas Seifried and Eric Ripert to create a daily menu using only seafood fresh from the local docks. Chef Okan also played a vital role hosting Chef Ripert's Grand Cayman Cookout; an annual gathering of international chefs preparing lavish tastings and extravagant cooking demonstrations. After nine years at Blue, Ripert invited Okan to join his three-star Michelin restaurant, Le Bernardin in New York City.
Chef Okan joined Salt in May 2021 and has enjoyed creating exciting new menus and experiences for all his guests. His Chef's Kitchen Table in Salt and adventure menu are some of the most in-demand reservations in all of Florida. When Chef Okan is not in the kitchen, he can be found spending time with his family and friends.