Chef Coppola to oversee culinary direction for seven new Downtown restaurants located at AC Hotel Greenville Downtown
Auro Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Chef Fernando Coppola as executive chef of AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown, a new hotel located in Greenville, SC that will boast luxurious accommodations, unique amenities and numerous dining opportunities when it opens early 2021. As executive chef of AC Hotel Greenville Downtown, Chef Coppola is responsible for overseeing the culinary direction for seven restaurants located at the hotel, each one presenting a distinct dining experience unlike any other to the Upstate. Located at the hotel will be Juniper, The Secret Garden, Fire Box, The Press Room, Paloma, Social Burger and AC Kitchen. In his role he will also lead the catering and banquet services for the hotel’s nearly 10,000 square feet of dedicated space for meetings and events.
“Chef Coppola has cooked in kitchens all over the world, and we are proud to have him here with us in Greenville,” said John Deck, general manager of AC Hotel Greenville Downtown. “Under his direction, we promise the Greenville community and visitors alike a first-class dining experience they will not find anywhere else in the area.”
Chef Coppola boasts extensive knowledge of the culinary and hospitality industry and he brings more than twenty years of experience from some of the most esteemed kitchens all over the world, including those in Qatar, Puerto Rico and Uruguay, as well as his home country of Argentina. His passion for cooking developed as a child when spending time with his grandparents. Together they would make breads, pizzas, pastas, paellas, and other specialty dishes from scratch and inspired by their native countries of Spain and Italy.
With a strong belief that the best dishes start with great ingredients, specifically organic and local produce, his own cuisine gravitates toward highlighting simple and unadulterated flavors.
“I am excited to be in Greenville and contribute to its growing reputation as a leading culinary destination in the Southeast,” said Chef Coppola. “My cooking style is influenced by my international travels and I look forward to bringing new and creative dishes and concepts to the Upstate as well.”
A graduate of Alicia Berger Cooking School with a certificate in culinary arts, he trained under Maurice Lacharme and Alicia Berger, members of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Académie Culinaire de France and former Bocuse d’Or jury members, and credits his signature cooking style to the fundamentals he developed under their tutelage. Chef Coppola has developed expertise in Spanish, Italian, French, South American and Modern Fusion cuisines, and he comes to AC Hotel Greenville Downtown from W Chicago City Center, where he served as executive chef and director of beverage and food. He has also served as executive chef at W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island and as chef de cuisine at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Qatar. His vast culinary career additionally includes leadership roles at restaurants in Buenos Aires and Uruguay among other international destinations.
About Auro Hotels
Based in Greenville, SC, with additional offices in Atlanta and Surat, Auro Hotels has developed, owned, and operated hotels for 47 years. The company currently owns and operates 35 hotels with over 6,450 guestrooms, located in the United States and India, operating under such well-known brands as Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. For more information, visit the website at www.aurohotels.com.
About AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown
Greenville Owned and operated by Auro Hotels, the 8-story hotel features 196 guest rooms and suites, and nearly 29,000 sq. ft. of space available for meetings and events. Guests will enjoy multiple dining concepts, and Juniper, a 16,000 sq. ft. all-season, immersive rooftop space. AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown is scheduled to open early 2021 and is part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. For more information, visit @ACHotelGreenville.