CHEF BIOS

HOWARD FOER, CEO of Festive Foods Catering and proprietor of Poplar Springs

Education & Training
Raised and educated in Potomac, Maryland; Attended The University of Maryland where he received his BA in Business; Employed by American Cafe Catering as Operational Chef; Worked under Chef James Papovich at Le Chardon d'Or (Morrison House Hotel, Alexandria; Along with Lauren Levine, Mr. Foer formed Festive Foods Catering, where he served as Executive Chef until 1999, when we began (full time) the development and creation of Poplar Springs, The Inn Spa. Today, Howard oversees all food and beverage operations on the property, including oversight of The Manor House Restaurant, Corporate and Social Events.

HIStory
"At some point, most everybody - every foodie, for sure - fantasizes about owning a restaurant ... or even an inn. Burdened by more than my share of those fantasies, I wanted both! One day, I just decided to make it happen. (This was no easy process, though -- it took many glasses of fine wine to convince myself to finally stop dreaming and start making my dream a reality.

It all started many years ago, when the hospitality bug bit me. You either like to serve people or you don't. I don't think it's an acquired taste...you either do or you don't, and god knows, I do! My wife, Lauren, and I started our first business, Festive Foods Catering, in 1987. The economy was bad, and we both had full time jobs for the better part of the first year in business. There were many ups and downs in our growth, but we persevered, and eventually succeeded. Perseverance was probably the first valuable lesson we learned. To be successful, you need to believe in yourself and hold tight to the vision and philosophies that are the foundation of your business. "Stay the course," I'd remind myself, and I did. I firmly believe that fear and hesitation are the twin mothers of failure. So, I tried to avoid either and both (This required more glasses of that fine wine I mentioned earlier!).

The second valuable lesson I had to learn is that no man or woman can do it alone. Lauren and I are a great team! We surrounded ourselves with great teammates - people with the skills we could trust and who shared our vision. A cohesive team can achieve objectives well beyond their numbers, when they share common goals.

Our mission and our philosophies are fairly straightforward and simple, and they have carried us on a wild ride for the past 18 years. Create a great product, provide excellent customer service and you'll succeed. We aren't perfect, but we strive to be each and every day.

After many years in the catering business, the "inn thing" continued to pull at me. I wanted or needed to take this "serving people thing" to a grander level. My vision: A combination boutique hotel, first class spa, fine dining restaurant located in the bucolic countryside, yet close to a major metropolis. So, we built Poplar Springs. Yes, it is a very special place, and there are pieces of our hearts entrenched in the property. But now, not only do I get to create and serve the wonderful people who come to enjoy what we have built, but I also get the opportunity to teach. Being such a believer in the tremendous opportunities available within the hospitality industry, I am now able to use my resources to teach the younger generations the many skills, perspectives and benefits this industry has to offer anyone who has the drive and energy to work long, hard hours. This industry has something for everyone!

So, if you are like me, and ever thought how grand it would be to own a restaurant or inn, come meet me at Poplar Springs to see how one person's vision plays out in reality. Oh, and by the way -- I have that glass of that fine wine waiting for you, too!"