Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Poldoian.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began working in kitchens on Martha’s Vineyard while I was pursuing my undergraduate’s degree at Tufts University. I worked for pastry cooks and sous chefs during the summer season, and maintained a collegiate cooking blog. After graduating with a double major in economics and Spanish literature and a minor in English, I transitioned into the “front-of-house” and worked for the Hillstone Restaurant Group: a nationally recognized group of upscale restaurants, most notably Houston’s Restaurant. I managed restaurants for the organization in Newport Beach, San Francisco, Dallas, and Houston before taking over Camerata Wine Bar. When I took over the bar, I made it my goal to apply the hospitality standards I learned at Houston’s to Camerata. I have taken the bar from an exclusive haven for wine geeks to inclusive bar for the masses.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, not easy. Wine can intimidate, so presenting information to guests in a welcoming way requires a lot of attention-to-detail and humility. This change in mindset required a total rehaul of our training, staffing, and infrastructural planning. I’m proud to say that our bar has never been more diverse in clientele: with people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying wine from all over the world. Also, on a personal level, being surrounded by alcohol all the time is challenging. I have found balance through marathon-running. I have completed 12 marathons, with the London Marathon coming up at the end of April.
Camerata – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a wine bar that focuses on small-production wine from around the world. We are a welcoming space for people of all wine knowledge levels. We introduce people to new grapes and regions by changing our by-the-glass list every single day. Through this dynamic menu, we ensure that you’re always bound to try something new.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Helping Chris Shepherd raise over a half-million dollars for Hurricane Harvey Relief in 2017. It felt great to give back to the Houston community that has supported Camerata for all these years.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1834 Westheimer Road
- Website: www.cameratahouston.com
- Email: @braisedthoughts
- Instagram: @cameratahouston
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
