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Chef Lisa Dupar
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Lisa Dupar, Owner and Chief Creative Officerlisad@duparandcompany.comAs chief creative officer and owner of Lisa Dupar Catering, the Pacific Northwest’s premiere full-service catering company, Lisa Dupar found her passion for food in her family’s kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia. Memories of family gatherings and southern-style meals are the foundation of her success as one of the Northwest’s leading caterers. Dupar’s career started when she was a child. Her mother, not interested in cooking, offered Dupar a compromise—she would clean if Dupar would cook. Thinking the deal was perfect, Dupar agreed. Utilizing this hands-on experience, she developed sharp culinary talents and soon embarked on her first business endeavor selling decorated cakes to friends and family members. Following high school, Dupar followed her dream and took an apprenticeship at the Westin hotel chain’s Peachtree Plaza hotel in Atlanta, Georgia where she gained broad-based culinary training under the watchful eyes of executive chef, Waldo Brun. Three years later, Dupar spent time traveling through Switzerland and cooking in elegant European restaurants including stints at the Baron du Moulette in Zurich and hotels Du La Paix and Hotel Du Rhone in Geneva. In 1981, Dupar returned stateside to help open the Palm Court restaurant in Seattle’s Westin hotel, serving as the hotel chain’s first female chef. She built on this success opening Southern Accents restaurant in 1984, followed by Lisa’s Restaurant and Catering in 1986. Shortly thereafter, in 1997 Lisa renamed the company Lisa Dupar Catering. In 2005, Dupar, and husband Jonathan Zimmer, opened Pomegranate Bistro, a southern comfort infused, neighborhood bistro in Redmond, Wash. Throughout her 30 year career, Dupar has received numerous accolades and awards for her flavorful and innovative cuisine. Recently, KING 5 awarded Dupar their “Best Catering Facility” award, Seattle Bride and CitySearch.com recognized Dupar as “Best Caterer,” and Seattle Magazine and Seattle Metropolitan highlighted Pomegranate Bistro as “Best” restaurant. Dupar is also a certified “Woman-Owned Business” owner and a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. When not in the kitchen, Dupar can be found volunteering for FareStart, Operation Frontline, the Women’s funding Alliance, the March of Dimes, several culinary arts programs and various Children’s Hospital guilds. Additionally, Dupar sits on culinary-related boards including the Art Institute of Seattle and the Seattle Chapter of Les Dames d’ Escoffier International. She is also a member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. In her spare time, Dupar teaches culinary classes, takes Pilates, hot yoga and spends time with her family and dachshunds. She and her husband, Jonathan Zimmer reside in Bellevue with their two Dachshunds, Mia and Pele.
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