David Hardie

Raised in California's Central Valley, Chef David Hardie’s love of food started with exploring produce at local farm stands, canning jams & jellies with family, and making ice cream from recipes handed down from his great-grandmother.

David’s food career started as a barista, a dishwasher at a conveyor belt sushi joint, and a sandwich maker at Togo’s. In Monterey, he joined the team at Wild Thyme Deli and Michael's Catering where he experimented with a wonderful variety of cuisines from Thai to Vietnamese, Lebanese, Indian, and so much more. He cut his teeth preparing dishes at Laguna Seca, the Concours d’Elegance, and the Carmel Jewish Food Festival.

In 2021, David was named Culinary Director and Executive Chef at Elroy’s Fine Foods—the perfect place for him to express his passion for clean, local ingredients and expose the Monterey community to diverse cultures through food. David’s mission has always been to understand food to its fullest—not just by looking at ingredients, but by understanding the history, science, and culture behind them.