DENISE PARÉ-WATSON – CHEF PROFILE
Meet Denise Paré-Watson: The Urbnspice Chef Profile and her world in the culinary arts. Her passion for food and nutrition was developed early in her life, whether it was helping her father tend his extensive gardens or preparing sumptuous meals with her mother in the French Canadian tradition. Denise truly discovered her passion when she chose to enroll in a professional cooking program as her second career.
The UrbnSpice Chef Profile
Her time at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) allowed her to excel, with Denise earning top honours upon completion of the Professional Cooking program and a full scholarship to continue her education in her true culinary love, the pastry arts. Once again, her skill and her artistic flare became evident with her graduating top student in the Pastry Chef Program.
She quickly started to build her expertise with Pastry Chef roles at the prestigious Calgary Golf and Country Club and the Calgary Hyatt Regency Hotel. In that time, she prepared desserts for such dignitaries as former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, numerous international corporate leaders and distinctive desserts for Bocuse d’Or and Chaine de Rotisseurs elite fundraising dinners. As well, she was asked to be part of Culinary Team Alberta during the 2004 Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany, where the team distinguished itself by placing fifth in the world and coming home with a Gold and High Silver medals.
Denise has actively participated in numerous culinary activities that have promoted the growth of education in her profession by serving as a board member for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Baking and Pastry Arts Advisory Board, and as an executive board member of the Alberta Pastry Chef Guild.
She continues to pursue her passion through teaching, coaching & recipe development and food writing. She is the author of four top-rated books in a series called, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy & Delicious”. Denise is currently working on a new cookbook series, as well as creating the new additions to the Urb’n’Spice line of Confitures and chutneys.
Denise invites you to enjoy some of her personal creations that draw upon her passion for all things culinary, her childhood experiences and her professional expertise as a chef and pastry chef.
Denise lives in Kelowna, British Columbia having recently moved from Parksville, Vancouver Island with her husband, Harold, to be nearer to their family and grandchildren. They often happily spend time cooking together over a glass of wine.
“there is no love sincerer than the love of food”
George Bernard Shaw
