Introducing LUX’s New Executive Chef and Sous Chef

With the retirement of Chef Don Sanchez, LUX was in need of another wonderful culinary powerhouse.

Chef Tuli Ibanez joined the LUX family two and a half years ago as a culinary staff member and quickly showed us her talents. She was born and raised in Colombia, and has lived all over the world, including Chile and South Africa with her husband and two beautiful daughters. While living in these various regions she spent her time mastering new trades, from electronic engineering to teaching children to paint, Chef Tuli has done it all.

After moving to Utah in 2011 she attended culinary school alongside multiple LUX culinary team members. After graduating from culinary school she began a mentorship with a wonderful chef at the Alta Club. Her passion for food and flavor truly began with that opportunity.

Shortly after her time at the Alta Club Tulia opened her own food truck! Her food truck showcased sandwiches and flavors from around the world. She loved having her own food truck, creating the menus, and meeting new people through that venture. After the success of her food truck, she decided to sell it and found her home on the LUX team.

Chef Tuli joined the LUX family in the busy month of August as a member of our culinary prep team, soon after we realized just how talented she was! She was promoted to our Sous Chef by December of the same year. In her time as our Sous Chef she had the pleasure of training under Chef Don Sanchez and getting to know him as the amazing culinary artist he was. When retirement came into conversation for Chef Don he knew who he wanted to take over for him! Chef Tuli has been working side by side with Chef Don for many years and the transition was bittersweet to see him leave, but thrilling to be able to showcase her own talents as LUX’s new Executive Chef! 

One of Chef Tuli’s biggest passions in the kitchen is experimenting with the colors! She loves the colors of the menus, the creativity, and the wonderful people she gets to interact with and lead every day! We are ecstatic to be announcing Chef Tuli as our new Executive Chef and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and team LUX!

While we’re introducing you to our new Executive Chef you’re probably wondering who our new Sous Chef is. We are also very proud to introduce you to Chef Tyler Kay, or as he’s known at LUX, TK.  

Chef TK got his start in the food industry at the young age of 14 while working at Tiburon Fine Dining Restaurant. He did everything from plating to doing dishes, and everything in between. After his start in culinary he decided to follow another passion – Chef TK received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah in Sociology and Criminology, all while playing on the U’s baseball team. After graduation he worked with troubled youth for nearly 10 years before he was drawn back to his passion for food. 

Chef TK attended the same culinary program as Chef Tuli, in fact they were in the same classes! In order to fulfill all of his culinary hours for his program, Chef TK began working with a private chef in Park City and gained a fine dining background and experience. After his externship he worked in various kitchens in restaurants as a head chef until he found his home at LUX.

Chef TK was introduced to LUX by Chef Tuli! She told him how much she was loving the kitchen she was working in, and that he should come check it out for himself. He was brought on to our team as our Chef de Partie and maintained that role for about a year. Chef TK’s passion for the culinary arts made him an outstanding candidate for our new Sous Chef!

His love for LUX stems from his team, or as he likes to say, his work family. Chef TK loves new challenges and scenarios that are brought to him on a daily basis, and that each day is a new day to utilize his creative abilities. 

We are thrilled to be introducing you to both Executive Chef Tuli and Sous Chef TK as the powerhouse duo heading up our culinary teams. LUX is full of growth and opportunity for our teams, and we can’t wait to see what these two dream up next!

You can read more about the retirement of Chef Don Sanchez here.