HOUSTON – Space Center Houston is pleased to announce its new hospitality partner, Wolfgang Puck Catering, which will offer visitors a broad selection of food options inside The Food Lab, the center’s all-new eatery experience, as well as innovative event services for private events. This new partnership aligns with the center’s core objective to provide mission-based guest experiences inspiring people of all ages through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“Together, we aim to enhance the guest experience with unique culinary offerings to drive curiosity through educating people how food and nutrition fuel space exploration,” said Mary Baerg, chief operating officer, Space Center Houston. “It’s our commitment to continue to innovate and provide meaningful connections to space exploration for people of all ages.”
Pamela Brunson, chief creative officer of Wolfgang Puck Catering continues, “The Houston market has been wonderful to us since launching our off-premise catering and event services in 2019. We are thrilled to expand our footprint in the city with such a great partner as Space Center Houston and to create truly one-of-a-kind culinary offerings to visitors at the center.”
The nonprofit plans to provide unique dining and event experiences, with Wolfgang Puck Catering bringing thoughtfulness, creativity and seasonality to the table. It will be a phased roll-out of offerings with health and safety as a top priority. Space Center Houston continues to monitor COVID-19 to ensure its guest experiences are in compliance with health and safety guidelines.
Later this year, the center plans to fully open The Food Lab, which will provide an elevated, mission-driven, hospitality journey for guests. The Food Lab, located in the former Zero-G Diner, will provide interactive learning experiences about how NASA is keeping astronauts healthy and is preparing astronauts to live and work on the Moon and Mars. Additional information about offerings and educational programming inside The Food Lab will be revealed at a later time.
Currently, The Food Lab offers new amenities including a fully redesigned coffee bar (Grounds Control) and marketplace (The Market). The Market features a variety of individually packaged, freshly prepared grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, hot entrees and snacks for a convenient, versatile and contactless shopping experience. Grounds Control, the remodeled modern coffee bar, offers a selection of espresso drinks and on-tap offerings highlighting local and regional roasters, alongside a selection of all-day pastries and hot sandwiches.
Fort Worth-raised Bruce Ross will serve as the executive chef at Space Center Houston. Ross brings more than 20 years of experience from some of the country’s premier private clubs, hotels and corporate dining establishments in Houston, Dallas, Seattle and Santa Fe. Most recently, Ross led culinary operations at ExxonMobil headquarters in Houston.
