About Chef Willem Reinders

Born in Gramsbergen, The Netherlands, Willem finished his culinary degree at the MHS Hanze College in the town of Zwolle.

His cooking career started in Les Grand Hotel Trois Epis (Alsace) in the northeast of France. He served under the reigns of Chef de Cuisine Francois Stephan and continued his French culinary education in Le Normandy Hotel in Paris, run by Chef Stephan Laine.

After his French training years, he crossed the channel to work in London for Chef Anthony Worall Thompson’s Menage a Trois in Knightsbridge. A popular London “jet-set” restaurant and well known as the favorite restaurant of the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana.

Willem then moved back to the European mainland and apprenticed at the Sir Anthony van Dijck Restaurant in Antwerp, Belgium under supervision of Owner-Chef de Cuisine Marc Paesbrugghe. At the Carlton Hotel in the in the “Diamond District” of Antwerp, Willem took his first Chef de Cuisine position, with the opening of the hotel in 1987.

After several years, Willem returned to his homeland to lead the kitchens in several restaurants in the Dutch countryside. From here the adventure of travel called and Willem set sail working on a 2,000 passenger cruise ship for Holland America Line. Inspired by the Caribbean, Panama Canal and Alaska itineraries, Willem was fortunate to work with a vast multi-cultural crew. This combination extended his culinary resume with the addition of fruit and vegetable carvings.

While on a break between tours in Alaska, Willem spent some time in the Pacific Northwest and fell in love with the natural beauty of Puget Sound. He soon found himself working with Chef Brian Scheehser at The Hunt Club at Seattle’s Sorrento Hotel. Willem soon married and moved to Bainbridge Island to become the Executive Chef for the Wing Point Golf and Country Club. He created a series of “wine dinners” at the club that soon became a favorite event with the members.

Willem would now like to share these elegant wine dinners with Kitsap County. Chef Willem opened Willem’s Table on February 14, 2008 with an elegant Valentine’s Day dinner held at Farm Kitchen in Poulsbo. This series of monthly fine dining will be available to the public on a “reservations only” basis.

Hotel Normandy:www.hotel-normandy.com or www.normandyhotel.parishotels.it

Anthony Worall Thompson: www.awtonline.co.uk

Sir Anthony van Dijck: www.siranthonyvandijck.be

In de Groene Lantaarn: www.indegroenelantaarn.nl

Sorrento Hotel: www.hotelsorrento.com

Wing Point: www.wingpointgolf.com