Dean Thomas

Executive Chef Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in San Diego, California

Travels From Travels From:
San Diego, CA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Categories Categories:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Dean Thomas Biography

A native of the Midwest and the Chicago-land area, Dean began his career in the hospitality industry as a young dishwasher for an Italian Chef who took Dean under his arm. Dean went to Joliet Junior College to study Culinary Arts and soon moved on to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to gain experience at opening many of the plantation developments. Dean took a sabbatical in pastries working for Chef Kurt Buchi at the Intercontinental Resort and soon became the outlet chef for the Carolina Café at the Westin Hilton Head 5-Diamond Resort. Chef Dean met his wife Nicole and adopted family of Olivier and Frederic. 

After Hilton Head the Thomas family departed to Tucson, Arizona were Chef Dean took the realm at the Westin La Paloma Resort’s Country Club. After 2 years, Chef Dean took another sabbatical to Caneel Bay Rock Resort on St. John, United States Virgin Islands were Yanik, son number 3 was born. A return to the La Paloma Resort soon followed. Chef Dean’s professional career exploded on the competition scene on a number of avenues including winning the 1993 Pork Recipe Grand Prize and champion of the “Arizona Taste of Elegance-1994” and competing at the National Taste of Elegance held in Chicago that year. Chef Dean is truly a seasoned veteran to competition with numerous A.C.F. medallions to his portfolio accomplishments.

New England Culinary Institute recruited Chef Dean in 1995, accepting the position of Executive Sous Chef-Essex Campus. This hands-on challenge of developing new generations of young talent lasted for 8 ½ years. The experience taught Chef Thomas that one must be a lifetime learner.

In 2004, Chef Thomas became the Executive Chef at the aspiring Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in San Diego, California. Chef Dean oversees twelve food venue concepts and a culinary staff of 320. Chef Dean has established a Barona Culinary Institute on property that trains associates on three various levels: Management, Houlry and an A.C.F. Apprenticeship Program of 16. In 2005, one of Barona’s apprentices received first place in the F.E.N.I Cooking with Pork Recipe Contest. Chef Dean is a board member of the San Diego Chapter of the American Culinary Federation.

BOOK Dean Thomas

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/28/2023.

FAQs on booking Dean Thomas

  • How do I book Dean Thomas to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dean Thomas for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dean Thomas, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dean Thomas or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Dean Thomas

    Speaking fees for Dean Thomas, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dean Thomas are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dean Thomas, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dean Thomas speak about?

    Dean Thomas is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage.
  • Where does Dean Thomas travel from?

    Dean Thomas generally travels from San Diego, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Dean Thomas’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Dean Thomas for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dean Thomas for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dean Thomas or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Dean Thomas is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Dean Thomas for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Dean Thomas generally travels from San Diego, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Stephan Pyles, Marc Murphy, Eli Kirshtein, Alain Ducasse and Ben Ford. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dean Thomas for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP