SAN ANTONIO, TX (August 24, 2015) – Pearl, San Antonio’s top culinary and cultural destination, has announced the team that will lead the culinary operations of Hotel Emma, its new gourmet-centric boutique hotel, slated to open in October 2015. Inspired by San Antonio’s gastronome resurgence, the hotel’s innovative approach to service also includes an in-house culinary concierge.
The epicurean direction for Hotel Emma will be led by Culinary Director John Brand. Chef Brand oversees three epicurean properties at the hotel that include Supper, the hotel restaurant; Larder, the in-house market and cafe; and the Sternewirth bar. Guided by Chef Brand’s vision, Hotel Emma will boast an array of contemporary cuisine and dining options that are comforting and imaginative.
His philosophy and approach to food centers on developing approachable meals that showcase hyper-seasonal offerings and un-manipulated flavors, and simple food perfectly prepared. During Brand’s tenure in the culinary industry, he has left his mark at several top-rated fine dining restaurants across the country including The Little Nell in Aspen, Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, and the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Brand has garnered significant acclaim and recognition for his cuisine that includes being named to Esquire’s “Top 20 Best New Restaurants” for Fossett’s. Brand was also tapped by the Culinary Institute of America to develop four culinary master programs for executive chefs.
Joseph Adamczak joins the Hotel Emma team as Food + Beverage Director, a key position at the property that will have a significant focus on culinary offerings and experiences. Adamczak hails from Chicago having worked at two of the city’s premier boutique Kimpton properties including the Hotel Palomar in Chicago where he served as General Manager of the Sable Kitchen & Bar and was a member of the restaurant’s launch team in 2010. In addition to his service at Palomar, Adamczak also held a post at The Burnham Hotel’s Atwood Café. Working directly with Culinary Director Chef John Brand, Adamczak will oversee the dining and kitchen service for Supper, the restaurant focusing on comforting and seasonally fresh greenmarket cuisine; Sternewirth, the hotel bar and clubroom, offering a selection of classic cocktails and gourmet bites and plates; as well as Larder, the gourmet market.
Rounding out the executive team is Culinary Concierge Hugh Daschbach. Daschbach’s unique role is indicative of the hotel’s commitment to providing guests with incomparable service as he helps visitors realize amazingly authentic culinary and travel experiences. Hailing from Louisiana, a bonafide globetrotter with deep Southern roots, Daschbach has visited over two dozen countries, exploring and furthering his love for culture and cuisine.
After extensive travel; living as an expatriate in Mexico at the helm of a bed and breakfast; and entrepreneurial forays in the sustainability and environmental sectors, Daschbach’s love of all things culinary led him back to the hospitality industry and to Hotel Emma. Daschbach and his team will provide guests access to San Antonio’s unique South Texas Culture with a bounty of opportunities to “live like a local” with an insider’s look at the warmth and richness of the city’s cultural and culinary scene.
The 146-room property, designed by the acclaimed firm Roman & Williams, will be housed within the original 121-year-old brew house of the Pearl Brewery founded by Otto Koehler. A truly unique property, Hotel Emma highlights Pearl’s long history by reusing and repurposing elements salvaged in the renovation of the building. The name Hotel Emma pays homage to the legacy of founder Otto Koehler’s wife, Emma Koehler, who helmed the brewery successfully through prohibition after the untimely death of her husband.
For more information on Hotel Emma, visit www.thehotelemma.com and Pearl at www.atpearl.com.
