Brenden Darby, IV Sammic Scholar for BasqueStage

Brenden is a recent graduate from Johnson & Wales University In Providence Rhode Island where he received a Bachelors in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management as well as a concentration in Sommelier Studies. Brenden grew up in Lake Tahoe California with his parents and older brother. Throughout his college career he has worked and volunteered at restaurants in San Francisco, Denver, United Kingdom, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia but his favorite place he had ever been is Bukit Lawang, Indonesia where he had the honor of learning how to cook a traditional tribal wedding dinner. Traveling has been one of Brenden’s biggest passions second to cooking.  His favorite cuisine to cook is Japanese because he loves the preciseness and the elegance of the food. His food mentor was his first chef Clark Robb who showed him how to do every job in a restaurant from washing dishes to cooking entrees. Brenden is most looking forward to experiencing the culture of San Sebastian and learning new things in the kitchen.