by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com
Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles has opened her first restaurant, Taste of Gold, at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The upscale café, which launched on March 24, is situated in Terminal A, close to Gate A8, and its design pays tribute to her legendary career.
Biles said in a statement, “As a frequent traveler, I am thrilled to partner with Athlete Playermaker Group to help create a place for people to relax and share meals during their travels through my hometown airport. Whether you’re a fan of gymnastics, football or any sport, or just hungry for something yummy before or after your flight, I’d like to welcome you to Taste of Gold the way fans have welcomed me into their hearts over my career.”
The 29-year-old gymnast told the Houston Chronicle that Athlete Playmaker Group came to her with the idea for the restaurant. “It was like a dream come true because when you’re younger, you want to do crazy things like this, but you don’t know how attainable it’s going to be. So, whenever they came to us with the idea, which was a couple years ago, I was like, ‘Absolutely, I’m on board.’”
The menu at Taste of Gold, custom-designed by airport restaurant specialists Athlete Playmaker Group, includes a variety of sandwiches, salads, and shareables. Among the offerings are “Simone’s Skewers,” a personal favorite of Biles, featuring chicken, steak, shrimp, and vegetable options, along with a selection of desserts. This menu aligns with other restaurant and bar concepts the group has co-created with elite athletes in airports across the country.
Athlete Playmaker co-founder Derek Missimo stated, “Airports are the front door to a city, but too often feel interchangeable.” Missimo added that “Taste of Gold supports our goal of creating places that feel familiar and local, without sacrificing quality, speed, or consistency.”
Francisco Cuellar, Houston Airports’ chief commercial development officer, called the launch of “Taste of Gold” a major success for their concessions program.
He expressed honor that a “global icon” like Biles chose Bush Airport for her first restaurant, crediting the airport’s strong platform and its service to millions of annual travelers. Cuellar concluded that “Taste of Gold” reflects the spirit of Houston—”excellence, energy, and ambition”—and raises the bar for passenger experience at IAH.
The restaurant, which includes multiple televisions around the bar for watching sports, showcases original 3D art by Texas designer Jody Dodson including hand-crafted and painted wood, with gold embellishments that highlight Biles’s leotard.
The 29-year-old athlete shared the news on social media, which was met with a positive response. She also posted a photo to her Instagram Story, showing her standing under the restaurant’s banner.
One netizen said, “Welcome to the restaurant world.”
Another added, “Congrats!! Love this!”
Her husband, Jonathan Owens, also shared his support by reposting the same image on his respective Instagram Story.
Discover more from InnerCity News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
