Meet Your Chef: Kyle Cox
Get to know your Vail Valley chefs
Grand Hyatt Vail/Courtesy photo
Editor’s Note: The Vail Daily is showcasing area chefs in a new series called “Meet Your Chef” so you can learn a bit more about those creating art in the kitchen. If you’re a local chef and would like to be a part of this series, please email Tricia Swenson (tswenson@vaildaily.com) and Sean Naylor (snaylor@vaildaily.com).
Q: What is your name, where do you cook and what is your official title?
A: Kyle Cox, executive sous chef at Grand Hyatt Vail
Q: How long have you lived in the valley and what brought you here?
A: I have been in the valley since the spring of 2021. What brought me out here was the opportunity to enjoy the mountains and all of the outdoor activities
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Q: When did you first realize that you wanted to become a chef?
A: I was always the prep cook for my mom when we would host family and friends. At 16, I started cooking professionally and fell in love with the team aspect and precision.
Q: Who has inspired you throughout your culinary journey?
A: I have worked for and with a lot of talented chefs over the years and I have extracted as much knowledge as possible. I have also been a fan of Daniel Humm, Thomas Keller and David Kinch throughout the years.
Q: What’s your favorite spice?
A: Cardamon. Not only my favorite but I feel it is under utilized
Grand Hyatt Vail/Courtesy photo
Q: Favorite protein?
A: I love braised meats so lamb shank is one of my favorites.
Q: Favorite fruits and veggies?
A: This is a hard one to narrow down because all fruits and vegetables have their place throughout the seasons, but for fruit I like melon in the summer when it is perfectly ripe. For vegetables I like to work with beets, rhubarb and Swiss chard a lot.
Q: Name your carb: pasta, potatoes, rice, polenta, etc.?
A: Potatoes for sure. I am not sure if it is my Irish heritage or their versatility. Puree, gratin, rosti or just a French fry, I love them all.
Grand Hyatt Vail/Courtesy photo
Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?
A: I like to cook in my Instant Pot a lot at home and I generally make tacos or curries. They always hit the spot after a day outdoors.
A: Is there anything else about you we should share?
Q: Just that I love living in the valley and the people as well. Even after two years I am taken back by how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.
