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John Watt is partner and executive chef at Prego
He received his B.A. degree from the University of Tulsa, with a major
in philosophy.
Gifted with talents in many creative areas, Watt has played
guitar with Johnny Lee Wills and the Texas Playboys and The Gap Band during
the late '70s. He created jingles for television commercials with a member
of The Platters, the singing sensation of the late '50s, and recently
composed original music for the Alley Theatre.
While managing a night club in Oklahoma, Watt learned the ins-and-outs
of the kitchen. He worked his way through the ranks at some of Tulsa's
top restaurants, learning classic French technique and using his talents
to create new dishes.
After a stint as chef at the Wentltrap Restaurant in Galveston, Watt was
appointed executive chef of the respected Tremont Hotel, where he hosted
a series of highly acclaimed wine and food events, inviting some of Europe's
and America's most famous chefs to join him in the kitchen.
In the fall of 1989, Watt accepted the position of executive chef for
Prego and Backstreet
Café in Houston. Using classic cooking techniques updated with
unexpected twists, Watt dramatically transformed the menus from both restaurants.
Today, Watt focuses his talents on Prego, where the food is more exciting
than ever. He and partner Tracy Vaught meet
weekly to discuss the restaurant operations and he lends suggestions for
Vaught's other restaurants, Backstreet
Café and Hugo's,
but Prego is
his "homebase."
Watt is a two-time guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House in
New York City, and has annually received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
since 1998.
Watt and his wife Susan have one son, Nicholas Jude Watt.
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