WBDC Hospitality LLC, a New York–based franchise of Wahlburgers, appointed celebrated chef and restaurateur Maurizio Marfoglia as president and COO. Marfoglia will oversee all operations at Wahlburgers in Coney Island and future locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Wahlburgers is the Massachusetts-based burger restaurant founded by executive chef Paul Wahlberg and celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie.
“I am thrilled to be joining the very passionate Wahlburgers team,” Marfoglia says. “After meeting Paul, I was enthused by his integrity and commitment to only serving the freshest ingredients. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a five-star restaurant or a fast-casual concept; the proof and success are in the quality of the ingredients first and foremost.”
“We knew right away that Maurizio was the right person for the job,” says executive chef Paul Wahlberg. “In addition to being an extremely talented chef, his eye for detail and keen understanding of how to create a welcoming guest experience makes him a real asset for Wahlburgers.”
Wahlburgers features a chef-inspired menu featuring freshly ground beef burgers served on fresh baked buns, signature sandwiches, crispy fries, onion rings, tater tots, and sweet potato tots, along with tasty made-from-scratch sauces and thick, creamy frappes.
Born and raised in Lake Como, Italy, Marfoglia is a classically trained chef with more than 25 years of success in the hospitality industry. He developed a passion for cooking during his college years and by the age of 27 he owned his first two restaurants. After training in Italy, France, and Germany with culinary legends like Ferran Adrià and Alain Ducasse, Marfoglia left in 1994 to embark on a career in the United States. Landing in New York City, he worked at highly lauded hot spots such as Sette MoMa, Coco Pazzo, Le Madri, and Tuscan Square with Pino Luongo. After garnering much respect in the hospitality world, Marfoglia became the private chef for the Italian Ambassador to the United Nations (2002–2003) and taught classes at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Prior to joining Wahlburgers, Marfoglia served as executive chef and partner at Tutto il Giorno, a New York–based, high-end Southern Italian restaurant group with locations in TriBeca, Southampton, and Sag Harbor.
