Established on 11.06.2023 by Linda E. Erceg
David Erceg began his 23-year career with Concordia Language Villages in 1980 as head cook of Waldsee Vergas. That summer, he changed the concept of food service at Concordia Language Villages. Instead of pizza, hot dogs, and jello, villagers ate Rouladen, Wiener Schnitzel, and Rehrücken. Now, David is known as the one who introduced culturally authentic cuisine into the Language Villages' cultural immersion philosophy. As food service manager, not only did David give the program ethnic meals, but he gave the cooks the tools to create them: cookbooks, authentic ingredients, and state-of-the-art kitchens.
David Erceg's contributions to Concordia Language Villages have been remarkable in many lasting ways. His expertise, creativity, and vision have coached hundreds of others to become skilled in preparing and presenting homemade meals that reflect the cultures of the world, with ingredients and techniques they knew nothing about before. It is an enrichment, not only of the depth of the immersion experience but, maybe even more so, an enrichment of skills and the personal lives of all who have been touched by David in the process.
In honor of David and his far-reaching influence, a permanent endowment fund known as the David Erceg Endowment for Food Service Staff Development was established in November 2003. The income from the endowment will assure that the food service staff of Concordia Language Villages will have professional development opportunities for generations of cooks to come.