Chef David Bakker: Chef Instructor

David J. Bakker, CCC

Owner/Culinary Director –
Liaison College Toronto West

Team Member – Culinary Team Ontario 2008

David was born and raised in the rural farming community of Glencoe, Ontario, but garners a true Dutch heritage with his height, blonde hair and blue eyes. First inspirations were to go into the field of business and engineering, but between first and second year at University of Ottawa, David discovered his passion for food, and focused on changing his career objectives to Culinary.

In 2000 David attained fundamental skills and knowledge of classic French cuisine and pastry at the newly renovated Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Academy.  In 2001, David enrolled at George Brown and fast tracked through the Culinary Management Program graduating with honours in the spring of 2002.  After working at several small bistros in Ottawa, David dedicated himself to mentoring under Executive Chef and Captain of Culinary Team Canada, Shawn Whalen at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel. In 2007, David moved on to the position of Executive Sous Chef at the Westin Prince Hotel.
David has now gone into partnership with Shawn Whalen, CCC, CEC and Lesia Burlak at the Liaison College Toronto West Campus on Lakeshore Boulevard in Etobicoke.

In 2003 David entered the Toronto Escoffier Society Apprentice Cook-Off and won the Gold Medal and the title of Top Apprentice in Toronto. This qualified David to compete in the Provincial Competition.  At the Provincial Competition, David won the Gold Medal and the Top Overall Apprentice in Ontario, which qualified him to move on and compete against each Provincial Gold Medallist from Canada.  In Moncton New Brunswick, David competed in the National Cook-Off and once again won the Gold Medal and was crowned 2003 National Junior Culinary Champion. Under the tutelage of competition expert Chef Shawn Whalen, David also won Grand Gold, and Best Apprentice of the Show at the 2003 Escoffier Society Culinary Arts Salon.  David also accompanied Culinary Team Canada to Chicago as a support member in 2003 where they won 4 silver medals. In 2004 David entered the Escoffier Culinary Salon once again, this time as a professional and won the Grand Gold Medal and was crowned Best Overall Professional of the Show.

David was selected as a member of Culinary Team Ontario for the 2004 World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt Germany. Team Ontario won the Gold Medal and place Second Overall in the World in the Regional Category.

David recently challenged the Canadian Culinary Federations CCC or Certified Chef de Cuisine Examination which is the highest designation for a chef in Canada. The exam has a 2-day kitchen component along with a theory test. David scored one of the highest kitchen marks to date with his outstanding display of flavours and presentation.

David is now a member of Culinary Team Ontario, preparing for the World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt Germany in October of 2008.

David is a member of the Toronto Escoffier Society and the Canadian Culinary Federation.

Canadian and International Competition Resume

2003	Toronto	Escoffier Society Salon	Grand Gold Best Overall Apprentice
2003	Toronto	Ontario Apprentice Cook Off	Gold Medal Top Apprentice Ontario
2003	Toronto	Toronto Apprentice Cook Off	Gold Medal Top Apprentice Toronto
2003	Moncton	Knorr/CCF National Junior  Individual Culinary Competition	Gold Medal Top Canadian Apprentice
2003	Chicago	Culinary Team Canada, Support Team	4 Silver Medals
2004	Toronto	Escoffier Society Salon	Grand Gold Best Professional
2004	Germany	Culinary Team Ontario	Team Member Gold Medal 2nd Overall
2006	Luxembourg	Culinary Team Canada	Team Member  2 Gold Medals 4th Overall
2007	Chicago	Culinary Team Canada	Team Member 3 Gold Medals 2nd Overall