Something Is Cooking in the Kitchen at the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel

RICHARDSON, TX--(Marketwire - Dec 6, 2011) - In his last year of culinary school at Oklahoma State University Technical Institute, David Secrest took a job as an evening line cook at a new John Q Hammons/Renaissance hotel. Little did he know that years later he'd find himself working for the same company, this time as the new Executive Chef at the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel.

With his new position, Secrest now heads the kitchen at one of the top restaurants in Richardson, TX, and brings with him experiences from new, boutique and large hotels. His evening line cook job, at what was a brand-new hotel at the time, afforded him the rare opportunity to develop systems and operational standards. He stayed there for 6 years, during which he was promoted to executive sous chef. During his tenure, he oversaw the hotel's 60,000 sq ft of banquet space, producing galas for up to 2,000 guests, and developed menus for the hotel's Mediterranean restaurant. He also ran the hotel's club lounge, bar and room service food operations. "I gained extensive experience in hotel food and beverage operations as well as banquets," he says. Secrest helped the hotel win two Renaissance North America Food and Beverage awards; it was also voted number one by guests for the best quality of food for all of Renaissance North America.

While Secrest had already achieved a lot, there was still a bit more time before he'd reach our north Dallas hotel. In 2009, Secrest, his wife and two kids relocated to South Padre Island, where he served as the food and beverage director at the Renaissance Casa De Palmas Hotel in McAllen, TX, where he had the chance to "gather an understanding of the whole operation and develop customer service and sales skills."

At the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel, Secrest will overlook our Richardson restaurants, including Maestro's Restaurant, with a menu of eclectic cuisine, and Take 5 Lounge, offering light bites, creative cocktails and wines by the glass. "Now that I am here," he says, "I look forward to working with the great people at this property and meeting all of the wonderful people in our market."

To learn more about the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel, visit our hotel website at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dalrd-renaissance-dallas-richardson-hotel/, where you can book rooms, explore our north Dallas conference space and discover nearby attractions.

About the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel
Located in the heart of the North Dallas Telecom Corridor and convenient to both Dallas Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field airports, the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel features modern design and superb service. In the center of our 4-star hotel is a garden atrium, with water features, modern decor and glass artwork. The atrium is also home to an eclectic menu at Maestro's Restaurant, and our Take 5 Lounge, featuring creative cocktails, wines by the glass and light bites. Amenities include an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and new fitness center. Guestrooms are outfitted with 32-inch flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels, large desks with ergonomic chairs and high-speed wireless Internet, plush bedding and coffee and tea service. When it's time to go out and explore, we're just next door to Galatyn Park and the DART light rail, and near sports and concerts at the American Airlines Center, shopping at Allen Premium Outlets and downtown Plano. We are the preferred hotel for large companies including Raytheon, Samsung, Dell, Alcatel-Lucent, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Fujitsu, and offer 19 meeting rooms in our 30,000 sq ft of event space at our north Dallas conference center.