Gulf Coast Village announces two promotions on culinary and dining services team

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (July 2023) – Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s only life plan community, has announced the promotion of two culinary and dining services team members.

Chef Xavier Duclos has been promoted to culinary and dining services director. In this role, Duclos oversees Gulf Coast Village’s dining team and program, collaborates with his team to carefully craft dining menus, and ensures that residents are receiving high-quality meals. Duclos strives to create a kitchen that is filled with not just top-tier chefs, but with culinary experts, to provide each resident with a healthy meal that improves their wellbeing.

Duclos joined Gulf Coast Village in 2021 as an executive chef and brings three decades of unparalleled experience and flair. Trained in France and seasoned in top kitchens from New York City to Florida, Duclos has worked alongside culinary legends like Julia Child and Jacques Pepin and served renowned figures like Sidney Poitier and Tony Bennett.

Chef Dulce Bassett has been promoted to executive chef. As executive chef, Bassett is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of dining services at Gulf Coast Village. Bassett joined the community in 2017 and brings 15 years of experience to her role. Raised in the hustle-and-bustle of food trucks, seafood houses, and local Florida island living, she now leads a team dedicated to fresh, from-scratch cooking.

In her current role, Bassett adopts a hands-on approach, engaging with residents through food forums, cooking classes and personal chats to ensure meals are tailored to their tastes.

To learn more about the dining program at Gulf Coast Village, please visit GulfCoastVillage.org/Dining.