Sarah Thompson
Casa Playa at Wynn Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV
April 2026
Sarah Thompson never doubted her inherent calling to the kitchen. She enrolled at the The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park right out of high school. After graduating, Thompson took flight as a young line cook at Marea in New York City, absorbing all Chef Amador Acosta had to teach while helping the restaurant earn its second Michelin star. Thompson moved on to Rising Stars alum Wylie Dufresne’s Alder, known for its progressive cooking techniques, where she took on her first sous chef position. Thompson then became an executive sous chef at Cosme, working under Rising Star alum Daniela Soto-Innes.
At Cosme, Soto-Innes taught Thompson how to explore the cuisines of other cultures through distinctly Mexican approaches and flavor profiles, and encouraged her to be confident in both her ability and palate. Thompson stayed at Cosme for three years before briefly transitioning into a corporate executive sous chef role at NoHo Hospitality.
In 2019, Soto-Innes invited Thompson to partner in leading her new concept, Elio, at Wynn Las Vegas. Although the restaurant closed as a result of the pandemic, Wynn offered Thompson the chance to lead her own, entirely new concept at the property.
Today, at Thompson’s coastal Mexican restaurant, Casa Playa, dishes like the pattypan squash tamal with coconut milk mole verde exemplify her nuanced and studied approach to Mexican ingredients. Thompson continues to be a champion for her employees, whether by leading her green cooks to become chefs themselves or uplifting the community at-large in the Women’s Hospitality Initiative, a nonprofit that supports women in hospitality in Las Vegas through education and mentorship.
