by: Jessica Valenzuela

There a few people in my Facebook network of friends who I find quite entertaining social personalities. Skipping the usual hi and hello and fast forwarding to a common favorite topic: kiteboarding. Beyond the wind and our kites, the cheeky engagement over food, wine, community, family and travels keep things interesting. Engagement with your subject is immensely helpful specially when you put it upon yourself to share someone’s story. Meet Chef David Mopin, he cooks for good wind!

Chef David, gets big wind in Western Australia

There are many who dream. There are gems who dream and do.

Chef David, will cook for good wind.

Like me, David migrated and journeyed far, far away from his homeland France — just because. In 2002, he left Paris to check-out life down under. Yes, Australia. Besides the discovery of kangaroos and the big bad outback he also discovered that Australians have an appreciation for fabulous food. This hinted to an opportunity to jump start La Gourmandise. La Gourmandise is a catering business with a flair for concept home entertainment and personalized service in Western Australia where David currently resides. Aha, yes David is another kiter entrepreneur!

Question: So how does a Chef become a Chef?
Answer: There are many roads to cuisine enlightenment, mine came when I was 11-years old. A box of recipes fell on my head. I started organizing the recipes that were all scattered on the floor. As I placed each carefully into its alphabetical order, I found myself magnetized by the ingredients and the process of preparation. At that moment, I decided that cooking will be my life.

At 14, David ventured into his first cooking school and has not looked back since. He continued to invest 8 years of studies at the Rabelais University in Tours, France learning the art of Hospitality and graduated with the highest qualifications in the areas of Chef, pastry Chef, Hotel Manager, Maitre D, Chocolatier, Glacier and Caterer.

Todate, La Gourmandise has created memorable feasts for fabulous milestone events like weddings, engagements, baptisms, etc.. The unique flair that I love is their home catering offering for those who cannot find the time to prepare special dinners for small family and friend gatherings. A concept that once upon a time I toyed on back in Chicago. Yes, had I chosen that path I would not be in tech and media today. Nevertheless, I continue to hold a huge appreciation for food and wine as part of my lifestyle. Remember, When in Western Australia check out Chef David’s divine creations at La Gourmandise!

Chef Who Kites
We’ve featured entrepreneurs, techies, VCs, former bankers, a media mogul — never a Chef. Yet there is more than one common denominator that brings David in the same league as our previous Kite Buzz individuals: kiting and creation of products, service and now, food. All doers pursuing a belief and passion, no theorists. Totally right on!

Chef David, French kiter in Western Australia

Chef David was first inspired about six years ago when he chanced upon a competition in the North of France Dunkerque. That moment lead to a few years of waiting, watching the sport and saving money to purchase his quiver. In between working and finishing up on his studies, kiting became the creme brulee at the end of the rainbow for Chef David. He didn’t lose focus. When he held that control bar for the first time since he saw the sport there was no turning back. Chef David adds “kiting takes time. It took a while for me to progress to where I am now. I find that you go through different stages of success, which is very dependent on your personal focus. The main thing I learned is to spend as much time in the water as possible. Even when the wind is weak, practice on working your safety system. I have found myself in uncomfortable kiting situations and ever so grateful to fellow kiters who have saved my life so many times. I love the sport and am so addicted to it as much as food and wine.”

His personal passion for the sport has led to a second company, KitElements which is a clothing brand. A team of kiting designers work with him each season to produce creative clothing ideas that cater to wind and water worshippers.

“I’m an old school kiter. I prefer big throwdowns and now I am learning surf riding. The surf in Western Australia is amazing, so why not give it a whirl. My most memorable kiting experience ever? “I think it was at Safety Bay, when I first did a massive jump in 35 knots of wind. Adrenalin was there for sure, but I was caught in the moment watching all around me and underneath me seeing the beauty of nature, so peaceful as I hung on as long as I could to my control bar and thought “wow this is what flying is about. That image will never leave my mind.”

Australia is one of his favorite kite spots. Chef David loves his adopted homeland. Read about it in his post for Just Kite It on Kitestock in Perth, Australia.

Quiver

Chef David, heading out to enjoy big wind and the big blue

Unlike our previous Kite Buzz feature, Ari Horowitz CEO of Blackbook Media, Chef David does not have a kite cave. Nevertheless his quiver does not disappoint, comprised of North Vegas 7m, 9m and a 12m. His board collection is comprised of underground board, 137×42 Slingshot surfboard and the addiction board 135.

Giving back to your family and community
To commemorate his father’s 20th death anniversary, Chef David is participating in a 12km (7.5 miles) race the Rebel Sport City to Surf. He is dedicating his race to his father who he lost to diabetes and Juvenile Diabetes Research the largest non-government funder of Type 1 Diabetes. He adds in his usual French charm, “it is always good to give back to your community. My small effort could help improve the chances of diabetes patient.” To help support Chef David and the JDR you can donate a dollar or more to Everyday Hero/Kitelements. More of Chef David in our Flickr set.