Chef Marcel Cooks & Advises

Experienced Culinarian and Restaurateur / Caterer / Lecturer

Chef Marcel brings over 46 years of experience in the culinary arts. Born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Chef Marcel’s culinary journey began at the age of 13 in a French bistro, and his passion led him to spend 8 years in Culinary Arts School, where he earned 3 culinary degrees. He apprenticed under several Master Chefs and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, and the United States, refining his craft along the way. Chef Marcel is particularly skilled in Dutch cuisine, as well as French, Belgian, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, North and South American, and Nuevo Latino cuisines. In 1998, Chef Marcel opened Bistro M, a small, intimate restaurant in North McAllen, which he operated for 11 years. After the restaurant’s sudden closure due to his wife Sylvia’s cancer diagnosis, Chef Marcel responded to the requests of clients and friends to offer cooking classes, leading to the creation of the McAllen Culinary Academy.

Things I Can Do

Chef Marcel’s impressive career includes his role as Executive Chef and his teaching positions at the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship at UTRGV, where he teaches Culinary Arts and Food Production, Restaurant Management, Catering Management, and Food Safety. He is also an instructor for the Texas Department of Health. In addition to his teaching, Chef Marcel offers hospitality business consulting, helping restaurateurs and hospitality businesses improve operations, create menus, and ensure quality service. Despite his demanding career, Chef Marcel dedicates his time to charitable causes including the RGV FoodBank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, Our Lady of Sorrows, Junior League, Texas Oncology, and Renaissance Cancer Center, among others.

A Few Accomplishments

Chef Marcel’s culinary philosophy is simple: “To cater to his guests as if they were his finest friends, and to cook the most excellent food possible.” As he puts it, “Perfection is Attainable.”