The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, has streamlined culinary operations with key personnel moves and a focus on innovation.
The Authority promoted several members of the culinary department and hired a new Sous Chef. Leading the way is Nicholas Walker, who has been promoted to Culinary Director/Executive Chef. Previously he was Executive Chef at Cobb Galleria Centre for six years. Walker has built a team of chefs with diverse backgrounds and abilities to produce just about any type of cuisine that a client desires.
“By focusing on the needs of our clients, using the highest quality of food and tapping the creativity and talents of our chefs, we are building stories through food that elevate the customer experience.” Walker said.
Walker’s team includes Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Panter and Sous Chefs Josh Pacheco and Camilo Aguirre. “We have grown our culinary talent from within,” Walker said. “This community offers top-notch resources such as the culinary education program at Kennesaw State University, local farms and manufacturers where we purchase our food, as well as non-profit organizations and community events that allow our chefs to give back.”
Chef Walker’s cuisine is inspired by his Georgia roots, with many of his dishes sourced from local and regional farms and small businesses. A Milledgeville native, Walker came to the Centre from the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead, where he served as Sous Chef for Au Pied du Cochon and later Banquet Chef for the hotel. Walker is a graduate from the Art Institute of Atlanta’s Culinary Arts Management Program (magna cum laude / Bachelor of Science). Walker has worked in almost every kitchen setting including restaurants, country clubs, resorts, hotels and off-premise catering. Chef Walker currently is an instructor with Kennesaw State University’s Institute for Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality Management.
Panter joined the Cobb Galleria Centre in 2015 as Sous Chef. Prior to joining the Centre, Panter held the roles of Chef de Cuisine for Center Stage Catering, Sous Chef at both the Georgian Club and Waterfront Topside Restaurant, and most recently as Head Chef for Delish Bistro in Greensboro. He has been cooking professionally for 11 years.
Pacheco joined the Cobb Galleria Centre in 2011 as an intern and was then hired as a Line Cook. He is a graduate of The Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality at Kennesaw State University.
Aguirre comes to the Authority from the Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island where he was the Executive Sous Chef. He has worked as the Sous Chef for the Montaluce Winery, Atlanta Athletic Club and several Buckhead Life restaurants.
Cobb Galleria Centre and Cobb Energy Centre operate their own food and beverage departments, servicing banquets, conventions, corporate meetings, social events, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, concessions and more.
About Cobb Galleria Centre
The Cobb Galleria Centre is located in the beautifully landscaped 88-acre Galleria complex in prestigious northwest Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Centre is Atlanta’s premier convention facility with 320,000 square feet of event space, four exhibition halls, 20 meeting rooms, four executive boardrooms and a grand ballroom. Cobb Galleria Centre had more than 344,000 visitors to 669 events in 2016, resulting in an overall economic impact of $123 million. For more information, visit cobbgalleria.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CobbGalleria, on Twitter at @CobbGalleria and on Instagram at instagram.com/cobbgalleria/.
About Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in northwest Atlanta, inside the Perimeter. Cobb Energy Centre is a premier venue for opera, concerts, Broadway shows, ballet, educational shows, family shows and corporate meetings and events. The Centre hosts two resident companies, the Atlanta Ballet and The Atlanta Opera. The facility includes the 2,750-seat John A. Williams Theatre, 10,000-square-foot Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom and full-service food and beverage capabilities. The Cobb Energy Centre had more than 279,000 visitors to 270 events in 2016, resulting in an overall economic impact of $19.8 million. For more information about the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, visit cobbenergycentre.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CEPAC, on Twitter at @CobbEnergyPAC and on Instagram at instagram.com/cobbenergypac/.
