Chef Ardo Mercado
Chef Ardo Mercado Joins UpSkillz Workshop Studio as Baking and Pastry Instructor.
Meet Chef Ardo Mercado: Consultant, Culinary Instructor, and Owner of Ardough Bakery. Known for his expertise in pastry production, bakery operations, and product development, Chef Ardo brings a unique combination of experience as a culinary instructor, bakery consultant, and owner of Ardough Bakery, a growing commissary and cake and pastry supplier serving coffee shops and food businesses.
For aspiring bakers, café owners, pastry enthusiasts, and food entrepreneurs, learning from Chef Ardo Mercado means gaining valuable insights from someone who understands both the creative and business sides of the baking industry.
Who is Chef Ardo Mercado?
Chef Ardo Mercado is a pastry chef and entrepreneur who has built his career across hospitality, education, consulting, and commercial bakery operations.
Today, he leads Ardough Bakery, a commissary and cake and pastry supplier known for producing quality baked products for customers and business clients. His experience in commercial production gives him a deep understanding of consistency, quality control, and efficient bakery operations.
More importantly, Chef Ardo's professional journey extends beyond producing baked goods. He has also worked as a culinary educator and consultant, helping future chefs and food businesses improve their skills and operations.
Culinary Instructor and Mentor
One of the strengths that sets Chef Ardo Mercado apart is his experience in culinary education.
As a former Culinary Instructor at Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila, he has trained and guided aspiring culinary professionals, sharing industry-standard techniques, professional kitchen practices, and practical knowledge that students can apply in real-world settings.
His teaching background allows him to simplify complex techniques and help students develop confidence in their baking and pastry skills.
Trusted Bakery Consultant
Beyond teaching and baking, Chef Ardo has also worked closely with food businesses as a consultant.
His professional experience includes serving as:
Consultant & Operations Manager, Puff & Dough Commissary
Consultant, Flour Bed Commissary
Consultant, Beatrice Kitchen
Through these roles, he has helped businesses improve bakery operations, production systems, workflow efficiency, and product consistency.
This consulting experience provides students with valuable insights into how successful bakeries and commissaries operate behind the scenes.
Professional Pastry Experience
Chef Ardo's culinary background includes working in respected hospitality and food service establishments, including:
Chef de Partie, Joy Nostalg Hotel
Commis 2, Okada Manila
Commis 2, La Piazza Italian Restaurant
Pastry Chef, Salvatore Cuomo
These experiences helped shape his technical expertise and understanding of professional pastry production.
Award-Winning Pastry Professional
Chef Ardo's commitment to excellence has also been recognized in national culinary competitions.
His achievements include:
🏅 Philippine Culinary Cup Gold Medalist (2018) – Dream Team Category
🏅 Philippine Culinary Cup Bronze Medalist (2019) – Wedding Cake Category
These awards reflect his dedication to craftsmanship, creativity, teamwork, and continuous professional growth.
Why Learn from Chef Ardo Mercado?
What makes Chef Ardo a valuable instructor is his ability to bring together three important perspectives:
The Instructor
Helping students understand techniques clearly and confidently.
The Consultant
Providing practical insights into bakery systems, operations, and business growth.
The Supplier and Entrepreneur
Understanding what it takes to consistently produce products that customers and businesses trust.
This combination gives students access to knowledge that goes beyond recipes and baking methods.
Chef Ardo Mercado at UpSkillz Workshop Studio
At UpSkillz Workshop Studio, students learn directly from industry professionals who have built successful careers and businesses.
Chef Ardo Mercado embodies this mission through his experience as a culinary instructor, consultant, and bakery entrepreneur. His workshops are designed to help students understand not only how to create great products but also how professional bakeries maintain quality, consistency, and efficiency.
Whether you are looking to improve your baking skills, start a home-based bakery, supply cafés, or grow a commercial baking business, Chef Ardo offers practical knowledge gained from years of real-world experience.
Learn from Chef Ardo Mercado at UpSkillz
As UpSkillz continues to bring respected industry professionals into the classroom, Chef Ardo Mercado represents the next generation of bakery entrepreneurs who combine technical expertise with business knowledge.
Stay tuned for upcoming workshops featuring Chef Ardo Mercado at UpSkillz Workshop Studio and discover how professional baking skills can become opportunities for creativity, entrepreneurship, and growth.