Meet Executive Chef Dana Hauser
In firsts for both The Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, in February 2012, Dana Hauser was appointed as the luxury brand’s first female Executive Chef. Chef Hauser brings over 14 years culinary experience, joining Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1998 at the Jasper Park Lodge. Holding several progressive positions at the Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda and the Royal York in Toronto, she is now at The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver.
With a true devotion to fresh, sustainable, seasonal ingredients she is intrigued by nurturing relationships with the neighbouring farmers who source the very elements which constitute her culinary creations. Chef Hauser has dedicated her time to organizations which educate consumers about the issues surrounding sustainable food, such as Food Day Canada 2012, a celebration of our farmers, fishers, chefs and researchers, and the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Program, which supports sustainable seafood practices.
In 2012, under the guidance of Executive Chef Dana Hauser, the 2,100 square foot urban garden which sits on the third floor terrace of The Fairmont Waterfront has been reinvigorated to be a fully functioning herb and vegetable garden, providing savings of approximately $10,000 annually. Chef Hauser uses everything harvested from the garden in Herons West Coast Kitchen + Bar menus, and for in-room-dining, banquets and Fairmont Gold. She works hard to ensure each of her team members can easily navigate the garden with a keen eye. Guests can often find the Chef’s grazing the garden space for readily available ingredients for that day’s dishes.
Dana received her culinary diploma from Canadore College in Ontario and has her Journeyman, Red Seal certificate from SAIT in Alberta. Chef Hauser has travelled as a guest chef, and most recently in 2012, as an honorary Chef at the James Bear House, in New York. She has been featured on CityTV, CBC TV, Global TV, the Food Network, and has contributed to a number of charitable causes including the 2012 Les Dames d’Escoffier Julia Child 100th Birthday Gala Dinner in support of women in the culinary industry, and also participated in the Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival catering to celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain.