Award-winning Chef Philippe Padovani brings more than 35 years of culinary experience to Padovani's Restaurant & Wine Bar. Chef Padovani has an impressive resume, which includes opening several resort hotels in Hawai'i and work in some of the world's top restaurants. Born in Marseilles, France, Chef Padovani was only nine months old when his family moved to Australia. Raised in the Australian outback, he moved back to France in 1968 and soon began his apprenticeship under Georges Acchini and Gilbert Battard at "Les Mesanges" restaurant in Montbonnot, in the suburbs of Grenoble. He then worked at some of the world's top restaurants: La Wurtzmuhle (Strasbourg), La Pyramide (Vienne), La Mere Blanc (Vonnas), and worked side by side with such celebrated chefs as Michel Rostang and Georges Blanc. When he took over the kitchen at Restaurant La Tour Rose in 1983, he promptly achieved acclaim.

Chef Padovani arrived in Hawai'i in 1984 as the consultant of the famed La Mer restaurant in the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki where after two years doing consulting work he was named Executive Chef in 1986. By 1988 he was named Corporate Chef and remained so until 1990 when he moved to the Big Island to open the Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani (now the Orchid at Mauna Lani). From there he moved to the Manele Bay Hotel on Lana'i in 1992 where he was named Executive Chef. Chef Padovani finally moved back to Oahu in 1998 to open Padovani's Bistro, the predecessor of his present restaurant. He is one of the original twelve members of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, Inc., a coalition of Hawaii's most celebrated chefs formed to celebrate the remarkable diversity and sophistication of food in Hawai'i. Taking advanvantage of the freshness and array of Island produce, and combining this with the bounty of seafood available in Hawai'i, Chef Padovani brings an elegant French twist to the hawaii Regional Cuisine equation. His food is French-Mediterranean using bountiful flavors of Hawai'i, much like his mentor, George Blanc created dishes using the freshest ingredients from the French countryside. Classic Hawaiian dishes, such as poke, are transformed by Chef Padovani into a unique fusion of flavors. Equally comfortable with Asian flavors, having studied Thai cooking in Bangkok, he adds sophisticated French touch to Asian curry dishes. His culinary creations are sophisticated and sublime by rich in French cooking tradition.

Chef Philippe Padovani was a participant of the World Gourmet Summit 2002 in Singapore. He was one of only ten chefs worldwide invited to an international showcase of the best of food and wine. The event featured culinary masterclasses, vintner dinners, wine masterclasses and activities such as the Masterchef Safari and the James Beard Foundation Charity Dinner.

Chef Padovani's culinary experience:

• Manele Bay Hotel, Island of Lana'i: executive chef.
• The Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani, Big Island of hawaii: pre-opening and executive chef.
• The Halekulani Corporation, Honolulu, Hawaii: corporate chef.
• La Mer Restaurant, Halekulani Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii: executive and consulting chef.
• Restaurant La Tour Rose - owner P. Chavent, Lyon, France: executive chef, executive sous chef.
• Restaurant La Wurtzmuhle, Strasbourg, France: executive chef.
• Restaurant Michel Rostang - owner M. Rostang, Grenoble, France: sous chef.
• French Military Service, West Germany: sous chef.
• Restaurant La Pyramide - owner Madame Point, Vienne, France: sous chef.
• Restaurant La Mere Blanc - owner G. Blanc, Vonnas, France: sous chef.
• Restaurant La Bonne Auberge - owner J. Rostang, Antibes, France: first cook.
• Restaurant Les Mesanges, - owner G. Acchini, Monbonnot (suburb of Grenoble), France: culinary apprenticeship.
• Ecole Gaston LeNotre, M.O.F., Paris, France: extensive pastry training.
• Mr. Remon, M.O.F., Grenoble, France: extensive pastry training.

Chef Philippe Padovani's participation in culinary events:

• Founding Chef: Big Island Bounty (The Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani)
• Guest Chef: Honolulu Wine festival (Lupus Foundation of Hawai'i)
• Guest Chef: French Festival of Hawai'i (Royal hawaiian Shopping Center)
• Guest Chef: Cuisines of the Sun (The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows)
• Guest Chef: Tastes of the Hawaiian Range (Kamuela, Hawaii)
• Guest Chef: Chefs of Aloha Tour (Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau)
• Guest Chef: Experience Aloha Tour (Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau)
• Guest Chef: Ohana Tour to Japan (Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau)
• Guest Chef: James Beard Foundation (New York City)