Chef David was born in San Diego and raised in Peru. He has been cooking since he was 6 years old and been exposed to a vast array of cuisine in the Culinary world. He has worked in the food service since he was 15 and secured a European style apprenticeship at the age of 22 and served under Chef Andre Lengacher at the Hilton in Mission Bay. This apprenticeship required 6000 hours of hands on training plus taking related instruction at the Culinary department of Mesa College.
Upon graduation in 1985, Chef David worked in corporate hotels in lead positions and became an Executive Chef of Cavanaugh’s River Inn in Spokane WA by the age of 30 in 1990. He has worked for Rancho Bernardo Inn, Hyatt Hotel, Omni Hotel, Hotel Del Coronado, Catamaran, Embassy Suites, Premier Food Service and Consummate Catering which managed the food services for the Coronado Yacht Club & Coronado Cays Yacht Club. Currently Chef David manage Food and Beverage at the Silver Gate Yacht Club in Point Loma San Diego He caters to a clientele of many private residences on Coronado Island, Fairbanks Ranch, Poway, Rancho Bernardo within San Diego.
Chef David is the Chairman of the Board for the Chefs De Cuisine Association of San Diego and the Vice President of the Chefs de Cuisine of San Diego Educational Foundation. He is an active member on both board of directors and in his spare time has involved himself over the years in fundraisers and charitable causes that help several worthy causes. Becky’s House, Meals on Wheels, Fallen Officer Fund, Lymphoma and Leukemia Society and San Diego Stand up for the Children are some of the charities that he has volunteered for. In his current capacity he is the Culinary Apprenticeship Program Director for the San Diego Region.
Along with the Board of Directors of the Chefs de Cuisine Association, Chef David is involved in planning seminars, competitions or culinary workshops for the culinary students and Professional Chefs of San Diego. In 2010 Chef David and the Chefs chapter organized the San Diego County Fair theme, “Taste the Fun” which featured 22 days of culinary competitions and culinary educational seminars featuring Chefs from all over San Diego and the Southland of CA. Also featured was the Nations first Navy Culinary Competition featuring SPAM and SOS that brought Navy Chefs from Hawaii, Alaska and Seattle on July 4th 2010.
Professional Awards:
1995 – 1998 Ensenada Seafood Competition, overall winner
2005 Founder, Iron Apprentice competition
2005 Presidential medallion Chefs de Cuisine Assoc of San Diego
2007, Founder, Taste de Cuisine Beer and Food competition
2008 Chefs de Cuisine Assoc of San Diego Chef of the Year Award
Bronze Medal, ACF Fancy Food Show
2010 Founder, San Diego Culinary Challenge, Culinary Specialists, USN
2010 Kitchen manager, Taste de Cuisine
2011 50th year Presidential Medallion recipient Chefs de Cuisine Assoc of San Diego
2011 American Culinary Federation Cutting Edge Award
2013 National Presidential Medallion, American Culinary Federation
Community Recognition Awards
1996: San Diego City Schools, Student Apprenticeship Program
1997: Mamas Kitchen
2006-2014: Organizer of the Fallen Officer Breakfast fundraiser at the Hall of Justice
2007 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society appreciation certificate for 2007 firestorms Rancho/Jamul evacuation site
2006-2012 Becky’s House Christmas Buffet
2010 Fisher House fundraiser
2011 ACF Chef and Child outreach, Dallas Texas
2012 ACF Chef and Child outreach, Orlando Florida
2013 Nominated as Man of the Year by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Membership:
1995 to 2000 Member of the ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2001 to 2005 Board member, ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2006 Treasurer/Secretary, ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2007/2008 Secretary and Vice President, ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2012/2015 President, ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2016 to present, Chairman of the Board, ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego
2016 to present, Chairman of the Board, Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego Education Foundation, Inc
2010 to present, Professional Member of the Chaine de Rotisseurs
2007/2008 Irish Congress Board of Directors
2008 to present, member at large of Irish Congress
2012 to present, Friendly Sons of St Patrick, Member at large
2014 to present: member of the Chula Vista Elks Lodge #2011
2016 to present, San Diego ACF Culinary Apprenticeship Program Coordinator