Chef Nicole Heaney Takes The Helm At Ember Steak At The Meritage Resort And Spa

Published on September 21, 2025

The Meritage Resort and Spa has appointed Chef Nicole Heaney arsenic nan caller Chef de Cuisine astatine Ember Steak, nan resort’s signature good eating restaurant. Known for its innovative attack to steakhouse cuisine, Ember Steak is group to acquisition an breathtaking improvement nether Chef Heaney’s leadership, blending bold flavors pinch her committedness to sustainable, locally originated ingredients.

A Culinary Journey Rooted successful Authenticity and Sustainability

Chef Heaney’s culinary travel began successful nan mini municipality of Douglas, Wyoming, wherever she grew up connected a family ranch. With her hands successful nan ungraded and a relationship to nan land, she learned nan existent principle of ranch-to-table dining. Harvesting Longhorn cattle, fishing, and foraging from her grandmother’s garden, Chef Heaney’s upbringing laid nan instauration for her profession rooted successful seasonality, authenticity, and respect for nan ingredients she useful with.

These formative experiences gave Chef Heaney a heavy respect for nan onshore and nan animals that supply food. “The measurement I grew up connected nan ranch made maine recognize really important it is to understand wherever your ingredients travel from and nan attraction it takes to bring them to nan table,” said Chef Heaney.

A Rising Star successful nan Culinary World

Chef Heaney’s travel took her to Scottsdale, Arizona, wherever she earned a danasiwa to nan Scottsdale Culinary Institute, a Le Cordon Bleu school. Despite nan tragic nonaccomplishment of her father, Chef Heaney remained successful Arizona to create her skills, moving astatine 2 of Sedona’s apical culinary destinations: L’Auberge de Sedona and Enchantment Resort. At Enchantment, Chef Heaney roseate quickly done nan ranks, yet becoming nan Chef of Mii Amo, nan resort’s acclaimed destination spa.

After honing her trade successful Arizona, Chef Heaney moved to California, wherever she further developed her culinary expertise, moving alongside immoderate of nan astir renowned chefs successful nan industry. She collaborated pinch Chef James Waller astatine Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa and Chef Tim Wood astatine Carmel Valley Ranch. Her clip successful Napa Valley included cardinal positions astatine River Terrace Inn, Carneros Resort, and MacArthur Hotel & Spa, wherever she continued to refine her skills and attack to ingredient-driven cuisine.

In her astir caller role, Chef Heaney worked astatine Farmstead astatine Long Meadow Ranch, wherever she was portion of nan esteemed culinary squad nether Chef Stephen Barber. There, she helped create menus inspired by nan property’s integrated workplace and grass-fed Highland cattle, a existent testament to her committedness to sustainability and locally originated ingredients.

Leading Ember Steak into Its Next Chapter

Now, Chef Heaney brings her extended acquisition to Ember Steak, wherever she is fresh to lead nan restaurant’s adjacent chapter. Chef Heaney’s imagination for Ember Steak focuses connected bringing retired nan bold, flavor-forward dishes that are a hallmark of Napa’s modern steakhouse scene. But her power will besides widen beyond nan kitchen, arsenic she emphasizes mentorship and leadership, guiding nan adjacent procreation of culinary talent.

“I judge successful nurturing nan adjacent procreation of chefs,” said Chef Heaney. “I want to create a abstraction wherever my squad tin study and grow, each while creating exceptional dishes that item nan beauty of nan ingredients we use.”

Ember Steak is known for its rustic and refined attack to steakhouse dining, and nether Chef Heaney, nan edifice is poised to turn moreover further. Signature dishes specified arsenic nan 45 oz Black Angus Tomahawk Ribeye and nan table-side torched Potato Pavé proceed to captivate guests, offering a sensory eating acquisition that blends method pinch artistry. Chef Heaney’s attraction connected mentorship, mixed pinch her dedication to constituent integrity, promises a agleam early for Ember Steak.

A Bold New Era for Napa’s Signature Steakhouse

Ember Steak has quickly go 1 of Napa Valley’s astir breathtaking eating destinations, and pinch Chef Heaney astatine nan helm, nan edifice is poised to scope caller heights. Known for its attraction connected sustainable, locally originated ingredients, Chef Heaney’s attack to good eating is simply a earthy fresh for nan region, which is celebrated for its fresh, seasonal nutrient and high-quality meats.

Chef Heaney’s activity astatine Ember Steak signals a agleam early for The Meritage Resort and Spa, further cementing its position arsenic 1 of Napa Valley’s premier culinary destinations. Whether guests are indulging successful a decadent steak aliases savoring 1 of nan restaurant’s different exquisite offerings, they tin remainder assured that each crockery astatine Ember Steak reflects nan artistry and passion that Chef Heaney brings to nan table.

As Chef Heaney leads Ember Steak into a caller era, nan restaurant’s culinary programme promises to stay arsenic bold, flavorful, and unforgettable arsenic Napa Valley itself.

Photo: The Meritage Resort and Spa