Executive Chef Nkulenu Brings Inter-

Continental Flair to Bethesda Marriott

March 30, 2009 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BETHESDA, Md BUSINESS WIRE)--The Bethesda Marriott recently named George

Nkulenu their new executive chef. A 23-year Marriott veteran, Chef Nkulenu brings with

him experience in culinary design from around the globe and plans to take the newly

renovated Agio restaurant and the hotel’s banquet services “to a new level.”

“My goal is to bring in more local customers to enjoy the best food and service that

Marriott has to offer for an affordable price,” says Chef Nkulenu. “I’m creating new

menus, using high quality food and creative presentations from continents across the

globe.

Agio was developed as part of a $2.1M renovation and offers the best of Italian-

American cuisine. Agio has a relaxing yet cosmopolitan atmosphere with all the décor

you’d expect at a trendy gathering place. The space is designed so that couples can enjoy

an intimate dinner for two, or families can sit around a larger table for gatherings of their

own. Agio also offers a private dinning room, where groups can dine or meet behind

closed doors without distraction. Chef Nkulenu is already planning signature wine

dinners where vintners from select regions of Italy will be hosting wine tastings. The

menu those evenings will be made up of specially created food pairings developed by

Chef Nkulenu to compliment the wines that will be presented.

After graduating from Kumasi Polytechnic,Ghana with a certificate in catering.

Chef Nkulenu’s quest to learn new skills took him to a variety of culinary destinations

throughout Europe, including Austria and Switzerland, and later to Bermuda and the

United States, where he worked for a variety of hotels, resorts, and a country club. Chef

Nkulenu credits exposure to these various cultures for his unique cooking style and

presentation.

Since joining Marriott in 1985, he has held a variety of culinary positions beginning at

the Tysons Corner hotel. He later moved to Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs,

and then to the Washington Marriott, the Georgetown University Conference Hotel, and

the Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center. Chef Nkulenu. Whilst at Georgetown University

Conference Hotel, he cook for world leaders and celebrities, such as President Bill

Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and others.

Chef Nkulenu is not only passionate about food, but about working within the

community. He was recently part of a panel of judges who oversaw a student culinary

competition from high schoolers who attend Thomas Edison High School as part of Skills

USA. These hospitality students were judged on their culinary food preparation,

knowledge, and service.Chef Nkulenu. “By the time I was high school aged, I knew the

culinary arts were for me. I’d like to develop a program for these hospitality students that

will boost their exposure.

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