Chef Mike Panfil
Chef Mike has a deep passion for cooking thanks to his Mom. It comes alive each time he connects with other cooks who share his values of sustainability, plant-forward inclusion and most importantly, deliciousness.
Chef is a core member of the Teaching Kitchen program team, supporting the field with culinary development, training, and content. He also drives programming for ChefNet to coordinate guest appearances at client locations and manage relationships with celebrity chefs and local talent.
What Passion Makes Chef Mike Thrive at Work?
“Teaching is by far my greatest culinary passion. I love to see the light bulb go on when they learn something new and make it their own.
Working at Compass allows me to take what would have been a one-on-one lesson and, by embracing technology, deliver it to thousands of managers and associates. It’s wild to see that extensive reach and impact in action. The seeds planted in the trainings our team has written -- Chef Finance, Sustainability 101 and Re-Plant Your Menu, as examples – continue to grow long after the course is completed.”
The Benefits Are Immeasurable.
“My hope is the individual who takes the training applies those learnings in their unit and at home when possible, creating a halo effect of education. This benefits the chefs directly, along with their teams, clients and, ultimately, the entire community.
We focus on topics that can help everyone: reducing food waste, improving margins and maintaining the highest standards for food safety.”
My Advice for Chefs of Today, and Tomorrow:
“Be humble. Never stop honing your craft and learning from others. Ask questions, explore new ingredients and challenge the status quo.”
More about Chef Mike:
After years of restaurant work and more than a decade as executive chef of a full-service hotel, Mike joined Compass Group in 2008 with Morrison Healthcare at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. During this time, partnering with Envision, Mike was hired as corporate executive chef and was promoted to director of culinary. His passions in life are for family and faith, the Chicago Cubs and Bears, tennis and pickleball. Creating and enjoying delicious food is also near the top of his list.
