Monterey County’s finest chefs will showcase the versatility of the artichoke and share their own preparation techniques at our chef demos.
CHEFS! If you’d like to demonstrate your fabulous artichoke recipes, call the
Festival Office at 831-633-2465, or send an email to Candace here.
Daniel Elinan is the Executive Chef at The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, joining the hotel in November 2018. Elinan has extensive experience in hotel restaurants. As Executive Chef, Elinan successfully opened The Cavalier Hotel, a luxury Autograph by Marriott property with three outlets — Becca, Hunt Room, and The Raleigh Room — in early 2018. Shortly after opening, Elinan and his team earned an immediate 4-diamond rating for the hotel’s prized dining venue Becca.
Prior stints include executive chef positions at the Hilton Virginia Beach, Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington D.C., Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa and Grand Hyatt San Francisco. He was also Executive Chef at Primetime Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary, Executive Chef at Carlo IV & New York Palace, Boscolo Hotels in Prague and Budapest, as well as Chef de Cuisine for Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He attended the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, New York. His first job after graduating CIA was as Garde Manger line cook at acclaimed chef Eric Ripert’s Michelin three-star Le Bernardin in New York City.
Throughout his career Chef Elinan has worked under three Michelin Star-rated chefs and has been a guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. Instead of a signature dish, he says he has “signature sauces, spice blends, powders and techniques that can be used in the creation of a variety of entrees and accompaniments.”
Pat, Manager of the Artichoke Advisory Board, knows Artichokes like no other. Hailing from the anthracite coal mines of Pennsylvania, Pat found her way to the artichoke fields of Castroville as a military spouse. Today, her annual ABC’s of Artichokes presentation at The Festival unveils the mystery and flavor of California’s official state vegetable!
Her career began early on growing up in a bakery, inspired by her Latin heritage and the love and respect for quality and tradition. Savory and sweet is her style. Her skills as baker are well known around our Monterey County with a great following on social media and the success of her business is always “Balance” as Catering has become her passion. Growing up without limits on food, and always as the chubby child she now focuses on sensible eating that nourishes the body and the mind.