Talavera Debuts New Talent, Menu at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North announces the appointment of two key members to the Talavera team, coinciding with the release of the new fall menu. Joining the team are Chef de Cuisine Emmanuel Urban and Talavera General Manager Vera Kvashnina, who together will oversee the operation, menu and overall experience of the property’s signature Spanish steakhouse.

“We are thrilled to have these talented individuals join the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale family,” says Director of Food and Beverage Rita Vale. “Chef Emmanuel’s international culinary experience will serve him well at the helm of Talavera, coupled with Vera’s extensive time spent in luxury hospitality. Together, they will bring an enhanced level of refinement to Talavera and continue to elevate the experience for our visitors and guests.”

Urban joins the Talavera team most recently from Denver, Colorado, where he was chef de cuisine at Narrative restaurant in Cherry Creek, located inside the Jacquard Hotel. Urban was born in Detroit, Michigan, but raised primarily in Mexico for 20 years. He studied in Ambrosia Centro Culinario, a leading culinary school in Mexico that routinely graduates chefs of worldwide culinary acclaim. Urban’s passion for the culinary world and desire for personal growth led him to Barcelona, Spain, in 2018 for an internship in Michelin-star restaurant Disfrutar. Here, Urban had the opportunity to work with renowned Chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, formerly head chefs at legendary restaurant El Bulli and currently owners of Disfrutar. Following his time in Spain, Urban travelled back to the United States to join James Beard-awarded restaurant Rioja, in downtown Denver.

Urban is passionate about serving elevated, refined cuisine. A key focus in the coming months will be enhancing the menu’s tableside offerings. He also plans to introduce more sustainable culinary experiences and dishes, using the “waste” from one dish to create the base for another. An example is using all parts of a tomato to appear in everything from tomato butter to clarified tomato water to comprise granita in another dish.

Working alongside Urban will be Talavera General Manager Vera Kvashnina. Kvashnina’s most recent appointment was at 1212 Restaurant in Santa Monica, but she has previous experience working with Four Seasons. Born in Saratov, Russia, Kvashnina was part of the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow pre-opening management team in the room service department. She relocated to the United States and was excited by the prospect of one day rejoining Four Seasons. She loves the challenges of opening new properties and rebuilding a team. Kvashnina’s attention to detail and passion for the guest experience will serve her well in her new role in Talavera. In her leisure time, Kvashnina enjoys travelling and trying new restaurants, and is fluent in Russian, English and Spanish.

Located at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Talavera is a contemporary Spanish steakhouse that focuses on traditional Iberian ingredients and specialties such as paella, dry aged steak, jamón Ibérico, fresh seafood and a flavourful selection of tapas all complemented by a selection of crafted cocktails from its Gin Bar and a large selection New and Old World wines. Expansive patio seating offers al fresco dining and sweeping desert and Valley views.