Chef Bettina Ridolfi Tolin is currently the owner and Executive Chef of Marcello’s Ocean Grille & Spirits, overlooking the historic lighthouse in Port Isabel, Texas. As a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas, she is classically trained. Prior to joining Marcello’s, Chef Bettina cooked in the kitchens of the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida. Her philosophy on food and cooking is one of classic simplicity, “food should be simple, beautiful, fresh and delicious”, she says. Chef Bettina hails from a long line of restauranteurs. Her grandfather, Ben Ridolfi, owned Italian restaurants and bars in the 1940s and 50’s.
The daughter of Rick & Gloria Ridolfi, a career Air Force family, Bettina was born in Dayton, Ohio, and consequently lived all over the world. Her mother’s family is from Brownsville, which despite the Military family moves, allowed Bettina to enjoy the Laguna Madre area as a young child and every summer throughout her life. Bettina graduated from Annandale High School, in Northern Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, in 1985. She continued her formal education with Graduate studies in System Management at USC and the Darden School for Executive Management at University of Virginia.
After college, she began her professional career working for the Defense Department in Navy Acquisition and Logistics within the Department of the Navy. She lived and worked in the Washington D.C. area as well as San Diego. CA supporting the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Project. As a project manager, she developed and executed plans to procure, install, and support major weapon systems at fleet training sites.
She later joined Science Applications International Corporation, in San Diego, CA. working on a variety of classified Government projects and initiatives. Spending 14 years with that employee owned company, she advanced to Corporate Vice President before being recruited to Northrop Grumman in a similar capacity. It was here she met her husband Tony Tolin, the love of her life. Sadly, he was lost to cancer shortly after they married but they did get to enjoy a few years of happiness, love and adventure together.
In 2008, Bettina moved to Laguna Vista and purchased her within the South Padre Island Golf Course Community.
In 2009, with two law-enforcement partners, she formed the company Gold Star Investigations, LLP, a private investigations firm.
Bettina is a devoted giver to the Laguna Madre community. She is a long time member of our local Rotary club (and 3 time past President and currently serves on their Board). In addition she currently serves on the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In recent past years, she has served on the SPI Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, and as also on the Texas State level Keep Texas Beautiful Board of Directors for 2 terms.
Email Council Member Tolin HERE
Johvonne Hernandez Howard was elected to represent the City Council of Laguna Vista in May 2017. During her time on City Council, she has been a champion for public health, open and transparent government, and inclusivity for all residents.
I was born and raised in Port Isabel, and I am the youngest of seven brothers and sisters. I enjoyed the Laguna Madre area as a child and young adult before the construction of the Queen Isabella Causeway.
