Chef Pierre Padovani is the co-owner and Executive Chef of Padovani's Restaurant and Wine Bar. Born and raised in Australia in the Queensland outback "Charleville", he moved to France in 1968 to the city of Grenoble. After 25 years of culinary experience in France he traveled to Hawai'i in 1998 to consult for Padovani's Bistro and Wine Bar pre-opening. After opening he brought his family in 1999 when he began personally overseeing the production of Padovani's Chocolates as well as all of the pastries, desserts, and artisan baked breads in Padovani's Restaurant and Wine Bar. His desserts reflect the use of Hawaiian flavors, such as liliko'i, coconut, mango, and lemongrass, in traditional French-style desserts. His chocolates are fine, European-style chocolates using the finest couvertures. In his short time in Hawai'i, Chef Padovani has earned a loyal following with his luscious desserts and chocolates.

Chef Pierre Padovani's culinary experience:

• L'Abbaye de Collonges Paul Bocuse, Collonges au Mont D'Or, France: cook.
• Ecole LeNotre, Plaisir, France: extensive pastry training.
• Boulangerie Gentil, Grenoble, France: extensive pastry training.
• Ecole de Cuisine Georges Pralus, Briennon, France: culinary vacuum training
• Patisserie Gillmann, Strasbourg, France: confectionery training
• Restaurant Le Berlioz, Grenoble, France: chef de cuisine
• Hotel Gray D'Albion, Jacques Chibois, Cannes, France: sous chef
• Grand Hotel, Souillac, France: sous chef
• Restaurant Monte Cristo, Lyon, France: chef de cuisine
• Restaurant La Tour Rose, Philippe Chavent, Lyon, France: sous chef
• Restaurant le Bacon, Chef Serge Philippin and the Sordello family, Antibes, France: pastry chef
• Restaurant La Wurtzmuhle, Strasbourg, France: sous chef
• Restaurant Aux Trois Maries, Jack Monnet, Lyon, France: sous chef
• Restaurant Aux Mesanges, Georges Acchini and Gilbert Battard, Montbonnot, France: apprenticeship

Chef Padovani's participation in culinary events:

• Guest 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: Chefs of Aloha Tour (Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau)
• Guest Chef: Ohana Tour to Japan (Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau)
• Guest Chef: James Beard Foundation (New York City)