Dagan Lynn, Westin Houston Memorial City

Dagan Lynn, Westin Houston Memorial City

Chef Lynn's well-traveled background brings flavors from around the world to Houston's doorstep. His most recent endeavor as Executive Chef of the W Retreat & Spa on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico featured Cuisine by the internationally known chef Alain Ducasse. Prior to working in Puerto Rico he was Executive Chef at The Westin Minneapolis which featured a local favorite Bank Restaurant. Dagan's experience has also included Thomas Keller's Per Se, Alain Ducasse (ADNY), Essex House in New York as well as Cannery/Rampart Casino in Las Vegas. His passion and sense of creativity have received culinary and critical acclaim from both food writers and his many frequent clients.

Chef Dagan is currently the Executive Chef of the Westin Houston Memorial City. He is committed to utilizing organic, local and sustainable products throughout the hotel. "There is a wide range of product being raised, grown and created in Texas and we are researching products in the entire state of Texas for the best businesses, growers and ranchers to include them in our menu development," Lynn says.

Chef Dagan trained at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts. Chef was raised in upstate New York on a dairy farm.

2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost

Chefs Advisory Board

Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.

These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Get in touch and get started today!

The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.