Chef Michel Bardavid was born and professionally trained in Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. He began his culinary career at the young age of ten, cooking in his mother’s provincial kitchen for family and friends. In particular, his father, Maurice, was indifferent to chocolate until he tasted his son’s rendition of a chocolate soufflé. Years later in his early twenties, Chef Michel Bardavid visited the United States and fell in love. Many years later and now a proud American citizen, he has been cooking at high profile restaurants in prestigious locales ever since.
A few highlights from his resumé include working at the Five-Star Hotel, Checkers, with the renowned Thomas Keller of French Laundry, as well as other high profile Four and Five-Star Hotel Restaurants such as Ma Maison Sofitel and Fenix at the Argyle Hotel. He also worked at the Five-Star Hotel Bel Air, the number one rated hotel in the world and favorite meeting place for film and society elite. He has also worked at the prestigious Lake Sherwood Country Club, one of the finest in Southern California. He has been interviewed on CNN, featured on the Gabby Gourmet and his food has been favorably reviewed.
As you can see, Chef Michel Bardavid has an extensive background in fine dining and has had the honor of cooking with some of the nation’s greatest chefs. He enjoys being a ‘working chef’ and looks forward to the opportunity of serving you and sharing his culinary gifts with you, when you come to the Secret Garden. Chef Michel is a perfectionist in the kitchen and hopes you will always be able to "eat your food with your eyes before taking the first bite." His culinary style is one of the traditional European influence with an emphasis on a creative architectural presentation. His talked about sauces are made the old fashioned way, from French classic origins, however, his final interpretation of them become a much lighter rendition. He is always seeking to prepare the freshest and finest ingredients to bring integrity and flavor to your memorable dining experience.
He currently resides in Simi Valley with his wife, two children, four dogs and two cats.
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