Steve Barkwar, Former Executive Chef, Culinary Journey, and Other Club Updates

Club President David Bramley  - Travel and Event Updates

David shared updates about his recent travels and personal achievements, including reaching his 100th country visited. He announced an upcoming event, Island Fest, on October 10th and 11th, and encouraged club members to volunteer.

Pat Bauer

Rotary Library Dedication Event

Pat Bauer, Literacy Committee Chair, discussed the dedication of a free library at a homeless empowerment program site, funded by the Rotary Club of Dunedin's Foundation and in cooperation with the North Pinellas Women's Club. Pat encouraged attendance at the 10:00 AM event and mentioned upcoming Foundation board meetings that are open to the membership.

Bev Fisher - archive photo

David mentioned, thanks to Bev Fisher, that our club is now recognized as a founding member of the Peace Builder Club for Florida.  

Thank you, Bev, for all the hard work you have put in over the years supporting the International Committee and setting the standard for our District!

Julie Scales, our Program Committee Chair, introduced Steve Barkwar, a former executive chef at Bon Appétit, as the day's speaker.

Steve Barkwar, Executive Chef

Steve's Culinary Journey to Germany

Steve shared his journey from growing up in Largo to becoming a chef, starting with his early interest in the hospitality industry despite having no family background in it. He described his education at P Tech and his first job at Innisbrook golf resort, where he learned the basics of cooking. Steve then detailed his experience working under a German executive chef who helped arrange a training opportunity in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, where he worked for four years in an informal apprenticeship, eventually reaching a respected level in the culinary industry.

Steve's European Culinary Adventures

Steve shared his experience working in a Bavarian restaurant in Germany, where he took over the kitchen after the chef's injury and learned from chefs from various European countries. He described working at a convention center built for the World Skate Cup finals and participating in international culinary teams. After returning to the US, Steve visited his mentor Carl Riedel, who offered him a job at Bona Petite Restaurant, which he initially declined but accepted.

Steve's Culinary Career Journey

Steve shared his career journey, starting as a chef and later transitioning into food service sales. He worked at various renowned establishments, including a fine dining restaurant in New Orleans and a luxurious hotel, before eventually returning to Bon Appétit, where he spent 37 years as a chef. Despite his success, Steve felt unfulfilled in sales and ultimately decided to retire, having served 65 million people during his career.

Steve's Retirement and Restaurant Insights

Steve shared his experience of retiring in 2018 after a 50-year career in the restaurant industry, where he worked six days a week, with his day off always on a Tuesday. He described his current retirement routine, which includes a busy morning followed by afternoon work and an easy evening. He emphasized the importance of communicating his work schedule to family and spouse. Steve also discussed the challenges of the restaurant business, noting that while some dishes can be simple or complex depending on execution, prime rib is particularly challenging due to its long cooking time.

Parking Event and Wendy Scholarship Fund Update

David thanked everyone involved in the parking event, which raised $834 for the Wendy Scholarship Fund, bringing the total to over $20,000. By reaching the $20,000 mark, the fund is now fully funded. What an outstanding achievement for our club in such a short period!