Q+A with Executive Chef Dan

Want to know how our team pulls off consistently creative and delicious seasonal menus? Read below for our Q+A with Chef Dan and get insight into how we take guest experience to the next level!

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• What is the first step when you’re working on creating a new sample menu? Is there anything in particular you try to showcase?

  “With new creations, myself and the team try to focus on what the main components of the dish are going to be, and how we can highlight them simply - yet elegantly. We could either create subtle flavor combinations with complimentary flavors, or really showcase the main component by utilizing the same ingredient and implementing different cooking methods within the same dish.”

• Where do you find inspiration for your dishes?

  “Inspiration is everywhere. However, the biggest inspiration comes from what is in season at our farm, SaltBlock Farm, and also at our local farmers’ markets. Seeing and feeling ingredients opens up my mind to how we can elevate things from where they are, to where they can go.”

• What do you do to keep yourself evolving as a chef?

  “Surrounding myself with food and hospitality focused-people pushes me to continue to elevate my own craft constantly. As I have grown throughout my career, I’ve found other key factors that are essential to being a good chef. Growing points, leadership, communication, and my own personability have become major assets in my tool belt, besides just having sharp knives. Being able to elevate those around you is paramount in creating a strong team and culinary environment that cultivates good vibes and good food. Happy chefs, make happy food.”

• Do you have any advice for clients when they come to a tasting? What should they be looking for when building a menu for their event?

  For a fair amount of our clients, this may be the first time they are having an event catered. It can be intimidating at first, deciding what hundreds of guests will be eating can sound overwhelming to anyone..

  When this happens, you can rely on us to help - not cater just to the food, but to the experience.

  Don't hold back on what you want. Our clients help elevate us just as much as we elevate the events. We embrace the challenge of creating stunning menus and impressive events, curated specifically to every guest. Food and eating are universal, but all of us have different traditions and flavors that we love. Being exposed to what our clients are excited about, expands and educates us as chefs.

• Is it possible for clients to request items made to fit dietary restrictions?

  We are very accommodating and always consider dietary restrictions when creating new menus. We are very conscious of any sort of cross-contamination and if it is a vegetable-focused dish, most of the time, the dish is going to be completely vegan. Where we can keep items gluten-free, we do. For example, instead of traditional breadcrumbs, for all of our meatballs we use rice as the binder.

Want to check out the chef’s latest menus? See them here.

Ready to get started on planning your next event? Send us a note at Contact@SaltBlockHospitality.com or give us a ring at 877.793.7526.

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