Marcus Bar & Grille

Louisiana native Gary Caldwell brings over two decades of culinary experience from renowned restaurants across the country to his role as executive chef at Marcus Bar & Grille. Caldwell's official culinary journey started at the age of 15 working at a Popeyes in downtown New Orleans – quickly adapting to the lively restaurant environment, especially throughout Mardi Gras with the frenzy of parades passing by – but, before that, soaked in his hometown heritage in his grandmother’s kitchen. ​​After graduating from the Culinary Institute of New Orleans in 2001, Caldwell launched his career in fine dining at Pascal’s Manale, known for its Italian-Creole cuisine. His path then led him to Las Vegas, where he spent 15 years – some of which was spent on the opening team for the Wynn Las Vegas – before moving to Atlantic City and joining the team at Borgata Hotel. Ultimately, he made his way back down South, working as executive chef at Ludacris’ Chicken and Beer in Atlanta and Covington’s City Pharmacy before joining the Marcus Bar & Grille team in 2024. Known for his “modern Bayou” cooking style and crowned a winner on Food Network’s Chopped in 2024, outside of the kitchen, Caldwell finds joy in family time, fishing trips, gardening, and exploring small towns to support local businesses.