CHEF NORMAN FENTON

WILD features an internationally inspired cuisine with a Mexican twist created by Executive Chef Norman Fenton.

Fenton’s passion for food began at the age of 15, when he obtained his first job in a kitchen in Detroit where he was introduced to new ingredients and cooking techniques. He went on to attend the Art Institute of Michigan where he gained experience and honed his skills in many restaurants across southeast Michigan before deciding to move to Chicago. While in Chicago, he joined Michelin-star fine dining restaurant, Schwa, where he rose the ranks and was awarded the Chef de Cuisine position, for which he earned a Michelin star.

In 2019, he took a nine-month road trip from Chicago to Mexico to explore and immerse himself in the local and innovative food scene, finding inspiration from Mexico City, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan and Monterrey, and finally settling for a period in Tulum. Following a 'Day of the Dead' pop-up dining experience at WILD Tulum, a friendship and passion project was born, becoming Executive Chef at WILD Tulum.

In December 2023 Norman and Karen opened a joint entity, Cariño in Chicago, where Norman is unleashing his passion and love in a 16 course Latin inspired tasting menu and a late night taco omakase.

Norman’s ethos is that food should always provoke fun or emotion. Renowned for his elaborate and extravagant tasting menus in Chicago, Fenton brings a casual progressive-dinner style and a 9 course tasting menu to WILD Tulum, featuring culinary influences from all over the world—all with a touch of fun thrown in.