Michael Batke, Executive Chef
Award winning Executive Chef Michael Batke of the Calgary Westin Hotel Kitchen is featured on the front of the Hendrix Fall and Winter 2007 Flyer. Hendrix has handled the massive renovation to the Calgary Westin Hotel Kitchen, and has teamed up with Chef Michael Batke to ensure that all his kitchen needs are satisfied.
Chef Michael Batke started his career at Selkirk College in Nelson, British Columbia. Moving on to the Chateau Lake Louise (Chateau Fairmont), Chef Michael worked there for three years under Dominique Guyot finishing his apprenticeship. Michael then worked for three years at various restaurants in British Columbia: Iones Restaurant, South Slocan (Russian Cuisine), and Riviera in Nelson (Greek Cuisine). Chef Michael found his passion was in the hotels. Michael then went back to Calgary Alberta were he joined the team at the Delta Bow Valley. While there, he worked in the Conservatory Restaurant rated in the top 2 in Calgary at the time (1998).
Michael worked for the Coast Plaza Hotel as Sous Chef until he found an opportunity to work at the famous 4 diamond rated Owl's Nest at the Calgary Westin Hotel in the heart of the down town. There he won numerous awards: Best fine dining in Alberta, Top 100 Best Restaurants in North America, and many more. Chef Michael then decided to help out a friend and accepted the Executive Chef position at the Radisson Hotel in Ft. McMurray Alberta.
 He had been there for 1.5 years, when one day the Executive Chef John Jackson from the St. Regis San Francisco offered Chef Michael a Sous Chef position. He jumped at the opportunity to work at
the 5 Star- 5 Diamond Hotel where he was inspired by the California cuisine, as well as working with Master Sashimi Chef Masaki Sasaki, learning new techniques using amazing ingredients from Japan. Michael also staged with Hiro Some (Hiro
was Wolfgang Puck’s Executive Sous Chef). Michael worked with Chefs from the French Laundry in the Napa Valley.
He was also fortunate to meet Connie Green, the Mushroom Lady, and to purchase her product for the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Also, he was privileged to create events in conjunction with world renowned Chef Marcos Samuelson. Chef Michael has cooked for many high profile people, including Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, Santana (The band) Nick Nolte, and Al & Tipper Gore, just to name a few. Now Chef Michael has made his way back to Alberta to accept the position of Executive Chef for the Calgary Westin. It's
GREAT to be back..
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