Monterey Bay Aquarium Acquires New GM For The Aquarium's Portola Cafe and Restaurant

By Kasia Deuel

Monterey, CA - Doug Hamilton has been named general manager of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Portola Cafe and Restaurant. The café, restaurant and the aquarium’s special-event catering are run by the national food service provider Bon Appétit Management Company, known for sustainable food sourcing and environmentally responsible business practices.

The Portola Restaurant features spectacular views of the Monterey Bay, delighting aquarium visitors and staff with seasonal, local menus that protect ocean resources, support the local farm economy, and are healthy for the body. Palate-pleasing options range from local seafood delicacies like Panko-crusted Monterey Bay Farm Raised Abalone with Pumpkin Purée and Roasted Pearl Onions, to classics like Clam Chowder and Dungeness Crab Fritters.

There are plenty of local vegetarian options like Local Castroville Baby Beets with Roasted Walnuts, Watercress, and Pecorino and elegant creations like Sautéed Chanterelle Mushrooms with Midnight Moon Cheese and Roasted Garlic Custard accompanied by Crisp Pancetta and Parsley Sauce. The self-service café features reasonably priced family-friendly meals such as pizzas, sandwiches, and salads made with seasonal, local ingredients.

Special event catering serves more than 200 evening and private events at the aquarium each year.

“We’re delighted to have Doug Hamilton as the new general manager of Portola Cafe at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, along with a strong commitment to the conservation mission that we and Bon Appétit Management Company share,” says Ed Prohaska, chief financial officer for the aquarium.

Hamilton comes to Portola with 10 years’ experience working for Bon Appétit Management Company, serving as both a general manager and district manager. His organizational skills were
most recently honed at prominent Silicon Valley corporations with large, multi-unit food services operations.

As a former science educator, Doug possesses a passion for mentorship, and the ability to integrate all aspects of operations effectively and efficiently. Prior food service experience over the past 25 years includes serving in management positions for the prestigious Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley, and the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.

About the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The mission of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans. Through its award-winning exhibits, education programs and cutting-edge marine research, it has established itself as a leader among aquariums worldwide. It is consistently ranked as the No. 1 aquarium in the United States and the top aquarium for families. It has reached more than 43 million visitors, and tens of millions more through its website and through outreach programs like Seafood Watch. The Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative works to transform the seafood market in ways that support sustainable fisheries practices and fish-farming operations. www.montereybayaquarium.org; www.seafoodwatch.org

About Bon Appétit Management Company

Bon Appétit Management Co. is an onsite restaurant company offering full food service management to corporations, universities and specialty venues. Bon Appétit is committed to sourcing sustainable, local foods for all its cafés throughout the country. A pioneer in environmentally sound sourcing policies, Bon Appétit has developed programs with Environmental Defense Fund, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, the Humane Society of the United States, and other leading conservation organizations. Based in Palo Alto, California, Bon Appétit has more than 400 cafés in 29 states, including Oracle Corporation, American University and the Getty Center. www.bamco.com