Marriott Marquis Houston Taps Joseph Graffeo as Executive Chef

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USA, Houston, Texas. January 05, 2024

Marriott Marquis Houston has named Joseph Graffeo as its new executive chef, charged with managing the hotel's popular eateries which serve up everything from gourmet breakfasts to elevated sports bar cuisine and poolside fare.

Chef Joe's career in the kitchen began at eight years old, making pasta from scratch alongside his grandmother. At 14, he entered a professional kitchen as a dishwasher, and has ascended the ranks in the restaurant industry ever since. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Joe has held positions at numerous Marriott properties in Philadelphia, Phoenix, and most recently at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel.

"From Day 1, Chef Joe has infused his creativity and cutting-edge ideas into every aspect of his dishes, elevating offerings across our F&B outlets and dazzling customers with elaborate presentations and exciting flavor profiles," said Bernard Hamburger, Director of Food and Beverage at Marriott Marquis Houston. "For our new executive chef, we wanted a leader who could inspire our F&B team to curate distinctive culinary experiences for locals, leisure guests, and group business. Chef Joe's dedication to excellence will help us emerge as a leader in an already-outstanding foodie destination."

Chef Joe will spearhead culinary innovations and programming across the Marriott Marquis Houston's plethora of Texas-inspired eateries:

- Biggio's pushes the envelope by reimagining signature Texas-inspired restaurant and sports bar dishes, which include "big dogs" and street tacos featuring chicken tinga, chipotle bison, and habanero mango lobster. Savor something sweet from the "extra innings" dessert menu while surrounded by a lively, casual atmosphere with more than 30 screens for catching your favorite sporting event.

- The hotel's lobby space features Cueva—one of Houston's premier wine and cocktail bars, highlighting more than 200 wines, a menu of curated cocktail offerings, and Mediterranean-style tapas—and Texas T, an intimate, contemporary coffee house with artisanal coffee, tea, and pastries.

- Walker Street Kitchen offers locally sourced, farm-to-table homestyle breakfasts, brunches, and lunches with a Gulf Coast-style twist.

- Alongside its panoramic views, High Dive is a rooftop eatery serving New American fare and craveable poolside snacks (think bánh mì sandwiches and totchos). The bar is known for its Insta-worthy cocktails, which can be sipped while floating down the world's largest Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river.

Additionally, Chef Joe will oversee limited edition dining experiences, like the six-course Gastrodome dinner added to the 2023 slate of programming for Texas Winter Lights, the resort's signature holiday event. In-room dining will also be under Chef Joe purview, as will the banquet kitchen for the 1,000-room hotel and its 52 versatile event rooms, including the property's exclusive M Club.

"I've never had a taste for the ordinary," said Chef Joe. "I enjoy pushing culinary boundaries and exploring the endless possibilities of gastronomy, leaving a lasting impression on every palate. There's great diversity in the menus of the Marriott Marquis Houston's restaurants, and it allows me the opportunity to experiment and challenge my extraordinary team of chefs to dream up some of Houston's most memorable dishes."