Our Team

David Dahan
Born into a family of 11 in Morocco, David found his passion for food at a young age. At the age of 16, David left Morocco for Israel, where he met his wife, Sarit, and had his first child. The next stop was France, where David attended culinary school and became a chef. Always in search of new adventures, David moved his family to the United States, where he opened his first restaurant in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Later, David worked for the Stanford Court Hotel in the prestigious Nob Hill area of San Francisco. After the death of his father, David rededicated himself to religion. After the earthquake of 1989, he decided it was time for a change of scenery and moved his family to Maryland. He soon opened the Center City Café, at the D.C. Jewish Community Center. Expanding on his success, he ventured into catering and opened Dahan Caterers.

Karin Dahan | Executive Vice President
Karin was born in 1981 in San Francisco. She graduated from Winston Churchill High School and later attended Elon College. After one year, she transferred to the University of Maryland, graduating with a double major in Marketing and International Business. Karin has become an integral part of Dahan Caterers. With her business acumen and a genuine love of food, she is constantly incorporating new food and presentation ideas into the business. E-mail her at Karin@dahancaterers.com

Stephane Mangin | Executive chef
Born and raised in France, Chef Mangin is no stranger to good food. As a child, he spent many hours in the kitchen, cooking with his grandmother and his uncle, a pastry chef. A graduate of the Catering School of Strasbourg, one of the top three culinary institutes in France, Chef Mangin came to the United States in 1999 to help open L’Etoile restaurant in the Clarion Hotel in Washington. His advanced culinary training and personal skill have allowed him to rise to the top of the culinary ladder. After the sale of the Clarion, Chef Mangin took the reins as executive chef at Dahan Caterers. He has since set a new standard for kosher cuisine and has been recognized by many institutions in the area, including the White House. Chef Mangin and David Dahan consistently shatter old stereotypes of kosher cuisine with their splendid and diverse creations.

	Merryl Shaffir | Director of Sales Merryl joined Dahan Caterers in 1999, after an extensive career in sales and marketing. Her lifelong interest in culinary arts and her Southern hospitality ensure that she will focus on every important detail of your event with meticulous style and grace. Merryl welcomes your inquiries. E-mail her at Merryl@dahancaterers.com
	Joshua Hyman Fernandez | Event Captain Joshua has been with Dahan Caterers since the company's inception. He has vast experience in all areas, including stand-up receptions, buffets, plated service, butler service, and French service. As event captain, Joshua is involved in each event from the beginning until the last goodbyes are said.