Travel Institute of the Pacific Presents the Chefs of the

Chef Gottlieb 'Gordy' Dambach, C.E.C., A.A.C., C.F.B.E.

Chef Gordy brings to the Institute over 40 years of experience as Executive Chef and Food&Beverage Manager of some of the finest Hotels in the world. Born and raised in Switzerland, he completed his training and apprenticeship with some of the finest hotels in Geneva, Basel and Lusanne. Having mastered classical European cuisine he moved to Canada where he spent nine years with Canadian Pacific Hotels. While with CP Hotels Chef Gordy served as the Executive Sous Chef at the Chateau Frontenac and Executive Chef at the Chateau Lake Louise and the Baniff Springs Hotel. During this time Chef Gordy had the honor of serving as the Chef in charge of Queen Elizabeth's tour of Canada. After CP Hotels he spent several years as Executive Chef / Food& Beverage Manager with some of the most prestigious hotel in North America, including Squaw Valley, Sheraton Place in San Francisco, Hyatt Regency - Chicago and Del Webb's Towne House. In 1975 Chef Gordy came to Hawaii as the Executive Chef for the Sheraton Waikiki. After 4 years with the Sheraton he accepted the position as the opening Food&Beverage Manager for the new Prince Kuhio Hotel. In 1982 Chef Gordy returned to Sheraton, as the Executive Chef for the Sheraton Maui, returning to the Sheraton Waikiki, where he was promoted to Food&Beverage Manager in 1990. Chef Gordy is a Gold Medal recipient at the Culinary Olympics in 1976 and again in 1988.

Chef Otto Luther

Chef Otto began his culinary career over 40 years ago in the Bavarian region of southern Germany where he was trained in all aspects of Haute Cuisine at the Culinary School of Munich. From Germany Chef Otto's career took him to Switzerland, England and Holland where he eventually signed on as a Chef with the Dutch Merchant Marines with whom he traveled the world. After a period with the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada Chef Otto was brought to Hawaii for the opening of the Kahala Hilton where he worked as Sous Chef and was instrumental in the training of local chefs in the art of fine French cuisine. In 1983 Chef Otto was selected to head up the Garde Manger for the opening of the Halekulani Hotel where he remained for 3 years. In 1986 Chef Otto returned to Hilton Hotels to head up the Garde Manger operations of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Chef Eric Gotz - Executive Pastry Chef

Born in Germany, Chef Eric has over 45 years experience working throughout the world's finest bakeries and pastry kitchens. He comes from a distinguished family of Pastry Chefs spanning three generations with nearly 150 years in the baking industry. After apprenticing for 7 years, Chef Eric joined the Alster Pavillion Hotel in Hamburg. He later left for Canada and joined the staff of the Vancouver Hotel in British Columbia. Nine years later he came to Hawaii as the Executive Pastry Chef of the Royal Hawaiian and the Ilikai Hotels. While in the Islands he also served as the plant manager for Holsum Bakery and Certified Corp. Venturing out on his own, Chef Eric founded the highly successful Bakery Europa, which he later sold, having accepted the position as Executive Pastry Chef of the Food Production Center for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Chef Eric remained with Disney World for ten years prior to joining the Institute. Chef Eric is a member of Toque Blanche, a master baker and is renowned for his artistic creations.

Chef Daniel Bannwarth

Chef Daniel was born in France where he started his training in 1964. He graduated from his apprenticeship and continued to work in France till 1969. He joined the military and worked as a Chef in the General Headquarters of the French Army. After leaving the military, he worked at the Saint Cuerguet in Switzerland, Dusseldorf Hilton, Bermuda Princess Hotel, Concord Restaurant (Canada) and at the Guam Hilton Hotel. In 1980, he moved to Hawaii and accepted a position at Bagwells in the Hyatt Waikiki. He later moved to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel where he has worked for the past 18 years as a Sous Chef.

1314 South King Street, Suite 1164 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 (808) 591-2708

Top of Page