| An O’ahu, Hawaii native, Chef Pahk began his career as an apprentice in Waikiki. After receiving training in French cuisine at Michel's and JB's, he worked at local restaurants - Nick's Fishmarket and Rex and Eric's where he added gourmet seafood and Continental cuisine to his repertoire.
His formal education took place at Syracuse University, and at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. Upon graduating from the CIA, Chef Pahk embarked upon his career with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 1983. While there, he established an impressive following for his Asian-influenced California cuisine as Executive Chef at the Ritz Carlton - Atlanta and Marina Del Rey. He traveled extensively abroad to Hong Kong, Bali, Singapore, Korea, Australia and Mexico as a member of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company's opening team. Domestically, he helped open hotels in Hawaii, Laguna Niguel, Pasadena, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Aspen, Kansas City and New Orleans.
In 1993, Chef Pahk was named “America’s 2000,” an award given to outstanding chefs in North America. In 1994 he was honored with an invitation to cook the New Year’s Eve Dinner for the members of The James Beard Foundation in New York.
In 1997, after 15 years of service with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Chef Pahk joined the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley as the Executive Chef. This is a four diamond resort with two dining facilities plus the most sought out conference services and catering facility in Northern California. It also hosts 1,200 private members on 1,200 acres of golf and tennis activities.
Chef Pahk is a member of the American Culinary Federation, the James Beard Foundation, Chef's Collaborative, Slow Foods Napa Valley, Board Member of the Resort Food Executive Committee founded by Herman Rusch (an elite membership of 35 nationwide independent resort Exceutive Chefs), Board Member of the Mustard Festival Napa Valley, Chairperson for Share Our Strength Napa Valley, Charter Member of the Local First, a division of BALLE, devoted to supporting local businesses, and a professional member of Common Vision, an organization devoted to making sustainable oceans a reality through The Seafood Watch Program and The Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Chef Pahk is a 4-time Napa Valley Mustard Festival Award winner. He received the People's Choice Award in 2005, 2006 and again in 2008. He also won the Critic's Choice Award in 2006.
There's always more to celebrate when Chef Pahk is around. On May 1st, 2008, his recipe for Venison Shabu Shabu won the Cervena Venison Dish of The Year 2008. It will be featured in The Grill at Silverado on the dinner menu under Alternative Cuisine.
He currently resides within the resort community of Silverado Resort with his wife Pat and three daughters Sarah, Emily and Noelle.
Interested in learning more about Chef? Chat with him on his Facebook page.
