Dirk Frickel started his culinary journey, as many have, as a dishwasher at his family’s restaurant The Owl Café in Laurel, MT. After high school, Dirk continued to work at The Owl as a line cook. A few years later, he decided to further his career by seeking out further training. From here, Dirk decided to take his passion to Portland, where we would become classically trained at Western Culinary Institute. Dirk continued to work in Portland at several restaurants over the next few years before bringing his love for food, fresh products and farm to table cooking back to The Owl Café in Laurel. From there, Chef Frickel would take on many community projects and contribute heavily to the local food scene. In 2011, Dirk accepted a position as Executive Chef at Hilands Golf Club. Over the years, he has fallen into a role as Food and Beverage Director while passing on his knowledge to aspiring chefs and cooks. Dirk's outlook on food is always pushing the boundaries of the typical perception of food and beverage at private golf clubs in our area. Dirk is also focused on developing the culinary minds of youth, as he is also mentor for the Laurel Pro Start program. Dirk is a proud father and husband to his wife Maureen and daughter Mia, to whom he expresses eternal gratitude for all their love and support.
