About Donald Berger

Hospitality has been a passion — learned and practised in large cities and capitals, remote destinations, resorts and rural communities across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

I am a Red Seal chef, hospitality professional, entrepreneur, writer and former college instructor whose career has included luxury hotels, Michelin-starred kitchens, international restaurants and entrepreneurial ventures. I taught Culinary Arts and Hotel & Restaurant Management at the community-college level, bringing decades of industry experience into the classroom. I later earned an MBA in Community Economic Development, with a Strategic Leadership option, from Cape Breton University. For nearly two decades, Vietnam was home, including the years I founded and operated don’s Bistro in Hanoi, recognized as Best Restaurant in Vietnam and among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. 

Northward Hospitality brings those experiences together. I help people and organizations clarify their purpose, align their hospitality mission with practical operations, and find thoughtful ways forward. I also write about food, people, community and the lessons we learn from welcoming others to the table. My memoir, Grudges & Gratitude, explores that journey through kitchens, turbulence, reinvention, family and the people who made the difference. 

I now live gratefully with my wife, son and dog in Brandon, Manitoba, where I continue to write, contribute to community newspapers, and remain interested in recognizing the good in people and helping where I can.