Walter Burke, President and General Manager

Walter was born into a family interested in food. His mother was in the catering business and as a child he developed a love of food by assisting her in the kitchen. During summer break from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Religion, he got a job assisting on a private yacht which soon turned into a cooking position. He later went on to work at some of the nations finest restaurants including The Breakers in Palm Beach Florida, Tavern on the Green, Windows on the World, and The River Cafe, all in New York City. Realizing there was a niche for high quality food prepared in private homes, he began cooking for some of his restaurant clientele. In 1981, he moved to Santa Fe with his wife Diane and started a family and a catering company. In addition to catering more than 1000 events per year, Walter Burke Catering operates the scenic Museum Hill Cafe, in Santa Fe. When not in the kitchen, Walter plays a mean game of squash and is the president of the New Mexico Squash Racquets Association. He has also been known to participate in Endurance Horse races. Other related interests involve diet, nutrition and the history of food and society.

 

Angela Reece, Event Planner

Angela Reece was raised in Southern Florida, with a few years of seasoning in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Not only does she have an extremely large family in Santa Cruz, but also Military Royalty. Having experienced one too many hurricanes in Florida, wanting to escape the humidity, and longing for an arid and seasonal climate, she relocated to Santa Fe. For six years she lived and worked here. Enjoying her work with people, but trying to find her niche she tried everything from managing Downtown Subscription for three years, to waiting tables at Maria's. She then decided to take an Event Planning job elsewhere. Who knows what possessed her to move to Tucson, following her heart, wanting to see just how dry it was there, is the Saguaro Cactus really that big? With all of her questions answered she decided to move back to where she was happiest, Santa Fe. Loving every step of the event planning process, and having an amazing eye for detail she found her true calling at Walter Burke. She has been planning different types of events, from weddings in the desert, conventions with people parachuting from the sky, to intimate dinners, and small parties. While not planning other people's parties, she enjoys hosting her own, hiking, camping, and spending time with her Rat Terrier, Ava.

 

Stacy Pearl, Executive Chef

Stacy Pearl is from Brooklyn New York. While at Rhode Island School of Design she studied painting and printmaking. She soon realized making a living was a challenge she had never realistically planned for. This led her to quit art school and return to New York to apprentice at some of the city's most interesting catering kitchens and restaurants. She soon diversified and became a private chef to the rich and famous. In an effort to find an interesting and amusing life she has lived and worked in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Rome, Italy. In 1996 she opened her own restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn. For three years she lived in London England cooking Southwestern cuisine in a trendy Notting Hill restaurant. Upon returning to the States she finally found a good man, married, and moved to the southwest. Besides cooking and making art, she is also partners with her husband in a modern furniture business.

 

 

 

 

No matter what the occasion, our professional staff are ready to help you through the process.