About Marc Borel

chief operating officer / beverage director

Growing up on the Louisiana coast, Marc has always had a flair for entertaining and hospitality. However, his path to the hospitality industry was curly, at best. While working as a radio personality in Beaumont, Texas, he handled the radio stations group's advertising and design, which led him to run the graphics department of a national oil company's headquarters here in Houston. Craving something more, Marc took a part-time job at the Houston City Club, where he started studying and collecting wine. He became the Member Relations Director there and honed his hospitality knack.

After a stint at local wine bar 13 Celsius, he went on to open downtown darling Samba Grille, an acclaimed Brazilian Rodizio where he was the author of one of the top 100 wine lists of 2011 in the United States by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He also received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for that very list. He became an industry staple as the General Manager of heritage powerhouse Backstreet Cafe, before a stint with Clark Cooper's Coppa Ristorante.

A popular and affable local Sommelier, Marc has consulted on well-known local beverage programs. He travels extensively to continue learning, and tasting. His experience as a restaurateur, operator and beverage professional has ignited a spark in our midtown community - a really tasty spark.

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