WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Palm Beach County is known for its luxury hotels and resorts, but tucked away in West Palm Beach is a hidden gem known as The Belgrove Resort and Spa.
Behind the delicious dishes being served to guests and locals alike, is a chef who has traveled the world, using what he’s learned along the way as inspiration for his cuisine.
With a last name that translates to “parsley” in English, it seems Ron Pietruszka may have been destined for the kitchen before he was even born. But before becoming the Executive Chef at The Belgrove Resort and Spa in West Palm Beach, Pietruszka came from humble beginnings in the Chicago suburbs.
“I started as a young kid, in high school, washing dishes.” Pietruszka told CBS12 News.
He went from washing dishes to working as a short-order cook.
After high school, Pietruszka decided to attend culinary school and eventually landed an apprenticeship at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Chicago.
That’s where he had the opportunity to learn a new skill.
“For my first two years, I was learning pastries,” he told CBS12 News.
From Chicago, his career would take him around the globe.
Since then, he has worked at hotels in 12 different countries, drawing inspiration from each place and incorporating what he’s learned into the dishes he creates today.
“Thailand and Japan have influenced me, but at the same time, Dubai, Middle Eastern cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Singapore cuisine — I mean, everywhere has its own little nuances,”Pietruszka told CBS12 News “So if someone comes in and wants Indian food, sure, I could do it!”
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In Japan, Pietruszka says he was part of teams that earned Michelin stars for at least two restaurants.
After working as a chef in Dubai for seven years, his family brought him back to the United States.
He eventually landed in South Florida, where he found a new home at The Belgrove Resort, a hidden oasis just off Congress Avenue.
Now, he spends his days feeding hungry guests with an American brasserie-inspired menu served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
And while he can make just about anything in the kitchen, one of his favorite kitchen toys is the pizza oven.
“What would be your advice for an aspiring chef?” Asked CBS12 News Reporter Stefany Valderrama.
“Be sure it’s what you want to do, and learn as much as you can,” the executive chef answered.
“Chef Ron” has another unique hobby: He’s also a beekeeper. He has an apiary right on the hotel grounds, which means the honey used in some of the dishes he serves comes straight from the bees living on the property.
Dining and Cooking