MEET OUR TEAM
OWNERS JEFF AND LISA WARD
Jeff and Lisa Ward purchased the Silver Star Café business in March of 2010, when it was a breakfast/lunch deli and market. The goal? To evolve it into a community gathering spot that celebrates the diverse regional foods of the American melting pot, with live acoustic roots music and warmly welcoming hospitality reflected in our service and atmosphere. We work exceptionally hard, and are humbled to receive many formal acknowledgements recognizing our dream. But we measure our success in the faces of our guests, with the absolute privilege of getting to know them and their families. We are honored to be part of their lives as they come through our door every day and night. What we know as well, and with certainty, is that our staff is at the heart of what we are able to accomplish. It is their talent, skill, demeanor, and commitment that we count on day in and day out, to provide consistently excellent levels of service and hospitality to our guests. We are proud that these wonderful people choose to share their talent with us and our guests at Silver Star Café.
CHEF
We are thrilled that Chef Derek Gherkins joined our team at Silver Star Café in December of 2019, bringing a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience with him. Armed with a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition and Food Science, with emphasis in Culinary Arts and Management from Utah State University, Derek has over 20 years of experience working his way to senior management/Executive Chef positions in the properties he has represented, including over 12 years working with the Bill White Restaurant Group. Derek specializes in a variety of cuisines, including Old and New World Italian, Asian, Southwestern, Comfort Cuisine and baking/pastry. His interests include catering and chef-featured special events, and he was featured in international culinary events representing the Park City business community in the Dominican Republic. Fluent in Spanish, he comfortably participated in extensive media events there with no need for an interpreter. Derek has also served as a culinary instructor, training and developing chefs, students and staff at Park City Culinary Institute, and as Director of Culinary Arts at Davis Technical College. He has the unique ability to develop a strong culinary team that works with him in a friendly, respectful kitchen culture that also demands the highest level of culinary craft and professionalism. When not in the kitchen, Derek enjoys fishing, camping, hunting, traveling, and the mountain lifestyle.
GENERAL MANAGER
General Manager Keenan Ward has over 11 years of experience working in restaurants in Park City, Deer Valley and Salt Lake City. Growing up in a restaurant family, he developed a passion early on for great food and hospitality. Keenan earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management, is a certified Sommelier, and is fluent in Spanish. Keenan is an extensive traveler, interested in food and wine found around the world, and works closely with our wine brokers to create a distinctive boutique wine list to complement our menus. He works closely with our staff to ensure their professional development and consistency of service, builds and nourishes our business culture, and oversees daily operations of our restaurant, from kitchen to front of house.
