d-mars.com Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas
Don Bowie 2022 TOP P&E
entrepreneurial realm. Bowie quickly became known as the taste engineer as he perfected the ability to morph cutting edge culinary concepts into edible masterpieces. During this time Bowie used his skills and savvy business acumen to assist a private investment group in creating, implementing and executing a new vision for several struggling restaurants that they owned. This resulted in a new concept for the investors by delivering a streamlined menu, better processes and staff training. With very few resources, Bowie proved to be a valuable asset and proceeded to attract with his new menu an enclave of notable celebrities to their establishments including Jermaine Dupri, T.I., Jazzy Pha, Shaquille O’Neal, Polow Da Don, Raheem Devaughn, Gucci Mane, athletes, media personalities, and more.
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ard work, dedication, and intelligent effort. These words have marked the fanciful career of one Don Bowie. Bowie is a chef, taste engineer, and visionary and has continuously used adversity and opportunity as a launch pad to jumpstart his career choices. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, an early injury put a temporary halt to his collegiate career in Atlanta, Georgia, but Bowie maintained a sense of unwavering determination that brought him to the University of Houston, where he majored in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. While still in school, Bowie joined his father at Bowie’s Country Kitchen as coowner and marketing manager. During this time, as Bowie’s career aspirations began to morph into the culinary business, he became an understudy to restaurateur Rasheed Rafaey, owner of Red Cat Jazz Cafe and Tasca Kitchen and Wine in downtown Houston. Still a full time student, consultant, and business owner, Bowie delved into his newfound restaurateur understudy position with his trademarked gift and decided to pursue his passion of entrepreneurship full time.
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These successes and accomplishments helped to further expand Bowie's business portfolio and influence. Over the past few years his projects and endeavors have included NoBar Kitchen and Bar (Brooklyn, NY) with actor Anthony Mackie, Sweetie Pies (Houston), Featured Chef for BMW, USA, and the Executive Chef for Flower Child Houston, which is one of the fastest growing concepts in the nation developed by Sam Fox, proprietor of Fox Restaurant Concepts.
During this time, Bowie became a partner and operating manager at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe and spent the next two years restructuring and rebuilding the business helping to bring the cafe to great success. Bowie’s charisma and ability to take a vision and bring it to fruition has proven to be his greatest skill set. His ability to connect with anyone that he comes in contact with has helped to bring awareness to any project that he aligns In early 2019, Bowie opened up his himself with. own venture, Taste Bar + Kitchen, a In 2010, Bowie received nearly 400k votes crafted cocktail bar and restaurant that from fans for Oprah’s OWN Network – Your serves elevated chicken and waffles and Own Show competition. Additionally, Bowie comfort food. Taste is one of Houston's was a top 15 finalist for the Food Network’s top restaurant destinations, and Bowie is Next Food Network Star online competition. already working on expanding the concept After much success in the kitchen, Bowie to Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles. decided to take his newfound culinary Bowie also has 2 new projects, Rare HTX skills to the next level and in 2011, Restaurant and Lounge, a steak focused st Bowie decided to begin culinary school concept set to open 1 Qtr 2022, along at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta, Georgia. with Sugar Frk, a dessert bar concept nd Upon entry into the culinary program, he opening 2 Qtr in Midtown. quickly accepted an offer to become an understudy for Bravo’s Top Chef Season Don Bowie 7 contestant, Chef Tracey Bloom. Tracey’s Chef & Owner fast paced style, coupled with Bowie’s Taste Bar + Kitchen 3015 Bagby Street schooling and ingenuity catapulted Houston, Texas 77006 him into the next phase of culinary and www.tastebarkitchen.com
TOP 50 BLACK P&E 2022 - 10TH ANNIVERSARY
