The Strater Hotel’s Mahogany Grille welcomes head chef, Renee Proto.

Proto has been a chef for more than 20 years and has been in Durango for four years. She loves to create new things and experiment with new bold flavors.

Renee has a strong Italian heritage, complete with plenty of food at large family gatherings. Growing up, She spent a lot of time in her family’s restaurant in West Haven, Connecticut, and flourished in the restaurant industry when she moved to South Carolina.

Renee’s specialties include clean, fresh local food creations, as well as no-nonsense cooking that shows the beauty of the food. She loves to make and eat desserts. She is talented in making dishes that fit in with daily trends, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and keto-friendly.

When Renee is not busy whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, she likes to swim, garden, hike, lift weights and walk with her dog.