STHS grad returns to the South Shore as Hard Rock's new Executive Chef

Nothing like returning to your hometown with a bang in the midst of the biggest thing to happen in South Lake Tahoe in quite some time. Jonathan Snyder, a 1991 graduate of South Tahoe High, returned to his roots Wednesday as the Executive Chef at the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Snyder greeted the media on Wednesday during the media tours of the hotel, restaurants and casino.

“After almost two decades away from Lake Tahoe, I am thrilled to return home. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s level of quality and commitment to excellence is perfectly suited for Lake Tahoe, and I look forward to creating something unique to the market that both visitors and locals are going to love,” Snyder said.

"We wanted to do something a little different," Snyder said as he talked to reporters in Park Prime, the Hard Rock's new steakhouse. "We took the stuffiness and formalness out of the traditional steakhouse." Prime has a welcoming bar, modern decor and a touch of class with their unique menus and attitude and will feature live music.

The name of the steakhouse reflects the ranching history of Jon and David Park's family. The Park brothers are the owners of the casino and hotel.

Snyder is also the chef for the property's other restaurants, The Oyster Bar and Fire Break Kitchen and Bar. Fire Break has outdoor fire pits (which can be seen at the entrance near the new metal guitar), reclaimed wood and concrete interior and will feature a menu that reflects the outdoor/indoor atmosphere. It will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Oyster Bar will feature an interactive dining experience with gumbos, jambalaya, oysters and more Louisiana style food.

“We couldn’t be more excited to announce Jonathan Snyder as our executive chef,” Don Marrandino, chief operations officer of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. “Trained by the best in the world, Snyder brings a unique perspective and creative flare to everything he does. I have no doubt that we can expect Snyder to bring fresh and innovative culinary concepts to the South Lake Tahoe food scene.”

Snyder is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of American (CIA.) in Hyde Park, New York. His accomplishments include opening the Bellagio’s acclaimed Prime Steakhouse alongside French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, where Snyder played a key role in developing the pre-opening menu, in addition to food production and kitchen management. During Snyder’s tenure at Prime Steakhouse, the restaurant received top reviews and is widely recognized as one of the best steakhouses in America, receiving the coveted AAA Four Diamond award for quality of food and service.

“I’ve been extremely lucky in my career to have worked with such legendary chefs like Jean George, and to call him a mentor and friend,” said Snyder. “Working alongside him is a dream for any chef. Under his mentorship I learned modern, cutting-edge culinary techniques and kitchen management skills that make me the chef I am today.”

Among his other achievements, Snyder spearheaded PURE Management Group’s rapidly expanding restaurant division as its assistant corporate chef, where he developed menu concepts and oversaw restaurant openings. This was followed by a collaboration with executive leadership in 2009 on the design and development of Rare 120 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, which was quickly established as a Las Vegas celebrity hot spot. Snyder left Las Vegas for San Diego, where he worked as executive sous chef at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Before long, he was back in Las Vegas to work with House of Blues Las Vegas as chef at the Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay.