Sean Kuylen

Chef

Chef Sean Kuylen is a Belizean renaissance man in the truest sense of the word.  He is well versed, well-traveled and multi-talented.  Sean was founder and lead drummer for the popular Garifuna Griga Boyz band before setting out on an international sojourn to expand his passion for the arts. Sean studied at the City College of San Francisco in California where he achieved an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Foodservice Management. Upon graduating, he did his internship first at San Francisco’s renowned Cliff House Restaurant and then at Le Cellier Steakhouse, Epcot Theme Park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Upon his return to Belize, Sean became the Head Chef of Hamanasi Adventure Resort in Hopkins Village and later the Head Chef of Ka’ana Boutique Resort in San Ignacio Town, Belize. During this time he partnered with the Belize Tourism Board and along with fellow Belizean Chefs, was trained and certified by the Culinary Institute of America, New York. Hungry for more, Sean left Belize again and assumed Executive Chef Positions at the Rosalie Bay Resort in Dominica, West Indies and later Petit St. Vincent Resort, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Sean’s notable achievements include being featured in 2012 Destination Belize Magazine, key culinary contributor to the Flavors of Belize Cookbook and Barbados’ Bun Bun culinary cookbook. He was featured in Liat Airline’s Zing Magazine, April 2012 edition, Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine May 2018 as well as frequent appearances on the local Open Your Eyes morning television show to date.  Sean was the celebrated chef for the Belize Tourism Board’s Taste of Belize and is now the Chef Judge for the annual culinary event. Sean has been the chef for First Lady Kim Barrow’s Frontline Black and White Gala for 8 consecutive years and he is the Culinary representative for regional and international conferences and trade shows for the Belize

Tourism Board including Travel and Leisure in New York City and the 2015 See & Taste Belize event in Miami. He was the featured chef in Taiwan at the first Global Cuisine Festival, Culinary Consultant of Belize to El Salvador and Belize Chef representing Belizean Cuisine twice at the Jornada Gastronomia, Chetumal Mexico and in 2016 & 2017 at the Primer Encuentro Global De Cocina Mexico City. Recently, Sean was published in Weight Watchers Magazine, selected as Speaker for TedX Belmopan 2017 and chef on Voyager with Josh Garcia on NBC television. Chef Sean is currently in production for his second season as chef/host of Great Belize Cooking on Channel 5 Belize and Belize Mek We Go travel show featuring local tourist destinations and continues to cater from his fully equipped mobile kitchen throughout the country of Belize. Sean inspiration remains true by fusing learnt French Techniques with local ingredients, a dash of passion, expertise and notoriety. His focus always celebrates local food and culture, which he coined as ‘Inspired Belizean Cuisine’.