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Derek
Dickenson is proprietor of Derek's restaurant and Dickenson
West Fine Catering, both located in Pasadena, California.
Dickenson, a native of Waterford, Ireland, discovered his
passion for fine cuisine in his early teens when he worked
after school and during summers in the local fine dining establishments.
At 21, after two years of Business School in Basil, Switzerland,
Dickenson decided to follow his true calling and moved to
London to pursue a career in the restaurant business. He received
classic training under the close watch of proprietors at such
landmark European restaurants as the Waterside Inn, La Gavroche
and the Interlude. In 1983, he moved to Pasadena, California
and became manager of the revered La Couronne.
After four years at La Couronne, Dickenson decided to take
on the challenge of running his own catering business. Armed
with the skills to create a moveable feast for four to 4,000,
Derek established DDC, Inc. Fine Catering a high-end
catering business with clients spread between Beverly Hills
and San Marino.
In 1995, he teamed up with former La Couronne associate Barbara
West to form Dickenson West Fine Catering. At the urging of
clients, they opened up a small dining room off the kitchen
for lunch and dinner a few selected days a week. The popularity
of the in-house dining rapidly grew and led to the 1996
opening of Dickenson West Cafe & Bistro.
"Dickenson West grew out of my enjoyment for offering clients
and friends an extraordinary dining experience within the
confines of our own casually elegant restaurant," says Dickenson.
"The bistro offered clients and friends traditional French
cuisine prepared with our own California flair as well as
an award-winning wine list and full bar to complement the
dining experience."
In September 1998, Dickenson took over the restaurant and
catering operation closing the bistro's doors. In September
1998 Derek's opened its doors as a newly refurbished restaurant
that serves California contemporary cuisine.
Dickenson resides in Pasadena, California. What little time
is left from his restaurant and catering business is spent
in the renovation of his classic Spanish Mediterranean home
and garden.
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