CUMBERLAND — Nick Alvarez still remembers the moment when he first considered a career in culinary arts.
He was in middle school, watching TV at his uncle’s house. Alvarez was watching “Iron Chef,” a Japanese competitive cooking show that aired in the ’90s.
“I was kind of blown away by this activity that I hadn’t really seen before,” Alvarez said. “This very high level of cooking, and all the energy and excitement, and ingredients I’ve never heard of. And something about it really just resonated with me.”
Alvarez was recently hired as executive chef for the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, which manages Cobb’s premier convention center and performing arts venue — the Cobb Galleria Centre and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
“I really want to build a program that’s going to put out some fantastic food, that’s going to be memorable food, that’s going to be delicious and clean looking. I want people to come away from their experience at the Galleria … (and say) ‘I can’t wait to schedule my next event,’” he said.
As executive chef, Alvarez is responsible for feeding the thousands of visitors the two venues receive annually. He manages the kitchens at the Galleria and Performing Arts Center, which make food for everything from small meetings to large banquets, trade shows and conventions, and concessions sold at Performing Arts Center performances.
Michele Swann, Exhibit Hall Authority CEO, said Alvarez is “already proving to be an invaluable addition, not just to the food and beverage team, but to the overall organization.”
The chef’s broad experience in different kitchens is critical, she said, because of all the different events the venues host.
Alvarez was attracted to his new job, having always thought of the Galleria as a “big name” in the north metro area.
He spends about…
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