Chef Steve Parker

California Native Creates Intriguing California Cuisine

San Jose/Silicon Valley, 2002 - - Born and raised in Napa Valley, California, Steven Parker, is The Dolce Hayes Mansion’s executive chef. He has been with the Mansion since March of 2004.

Parker grew up making pizza for the Parker family’s pizza parlor in Napa, starting early at the age of 4. His spent his freshman summer of 1980 at the South Lake Tahoe Sahara Casino, where he cooked for the dinner shows and Sunday brunch. After graduating high school in 1983, he continued working as the assistant to the Executive Chef at the Caesar’s Resort/Casino.

In the summer of 1987 Parker left the family business to pursue his dream of a culinary career by working at various upscale restaurants, private residences and catering companies throughout the Napa Valley. To pursue his culinary dream in 1987 he participated in the California Apprenticeship Council Culinary Division, a three-year extensive training in contemporary & classical cuisine and worked at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, San Francisco.

Once graduated he transferred to the Seattle Westin’s award winning fine dining Palm Court restaurant as the Line Chef. Then in 1990 he re-located to Zachary’s fine dining restaurant in South Lake Tahoe’s Embassy Suites and Resort where the culinary staff won the national contest for the prestigious “Restaurant of the Year” Award. In 1993

Parker re-located to San Francisco Bay Area and accepted the position of assistant Chef du Cuisine at the Claremont Resort/Spa in the Berkeley/Oakland hills. Recipient of numerous prestigious awards and accolades for various winemaker dinners, Parker was promoted to Executive Sous Chef in 1998 at the Fairmont San Jose. He moved to the Dolce Hayes Mansion in 2004. He continues to receive accolades for his creative Chef’s Tables and menus for Orlo’s and Sunday Brunch.

His innovative style combines fresh California produce and meats with the Mansion’s own herb garden. Parker is married and enjoys snow skiing, mountain biking, SF Giants baseball and spending time with family and friends.