The Culinary Council
"Original five"
Pilar Sanchez
Napa Valley, California
Maria del Pilar Sanchez, or simply ‘Pilar’ as the world now knows her, grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She has quickly developed a following of food lovers from California to Paris and back again. Following chef duties at the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara, Ernie’s and the Four Seasons Clift in San Francisco, Pilar and French born husband, Didier Lenders, opened Café del Sol, in Paris, happily an overnight success, garnering rave reviews from critics and patrons.
Following Café del Sol, Sanchez next spent five years as the Chef de
Cuisine and Banquet Chef for the tony resort owned by the Chateaux et
Relais group, Meadowood, Napa Valley. While at Meadowood, Sanchez and
reality TV chef, Rocco di Spirito co-hosted the TV Food Network’s
“Melting Pot Mediterranean Table.”
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) was delighted to welcome Pilar
as their Executive Chef in the CIA owned, Wine Spectator restaurant.
While working for the CIA, it was here that Pilar began her series of
televised cooking shows and educational videos for Moonshadow
Productions. Additionally, Sanchez appeared in the PBS series,
“Chefs of
the Napa Valley.”
Sanchez majored in Biology at Santa Barbara City College before
completing a pastry major at UCLA’s Extension in Los Angeles. In
addition, Pilar earned her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and
Culinary Arts from Oxnard College, receiving triple scholarships, one
each from the California Restaurant Association, the San Francisco
Restaurant Association and the Oxnard College Foundation.
Sanchez has served as both Culinary Chair and Grand Master Chef for the
Napa Valley Wine Auction. It is at this acclaimed event where she
orchestrates the creation of nearly 4,000 gourmet meals in less then 24
hours.
Pilar was named one of the “Best Hotel Chefs of America” at the James
Beard House and was awarded “Star Chef” by Lodging Magazine. In the
beginning of her northern California culinary career, Sanchez was
showcased by San Francisco Examiner Magazine as one of the “Top Ten
Undiscovered Chefs.”
Pilar, the namesake restaurant venture of Chef Pilar Sanchez and her
husband, opened on Main Street in downtown Napa Valley in 2004. Focusing
on locally grown items, often organic and natural foods brought to her
restaurant by true food artisans residing in her beloved California,
Pilar has basked in the praise from the food community. Reviews from the
New York Times, San Francisco papers, and New Yorker magazine, give
accolades, praising her talents, her attention to detail and her style
of pairing fine California influenced cuisine, with European flair.
