Biography
Celebrity Chef Dana Herbert is the owner of the multi award winning Desserts by Dana in Newark, Delaware and Host for DATE NIGHT with Chef Dana. Chef is highly sought after by many celebrities, actors, athletes, and political figures including Oprah, Vice President Biden, Ice Cube, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dick Vermeil, and Michael Vick to name a few. Chef Dana is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and spokesperson. Chef racks up numerous awards and honors being named Top Ten Cake Designers in America, many Best of Awards, participating on the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour, member of the MACYS National Culinary Council, and cooking at the James Beard House. Dana is unique in that he trained in both the culinary arts and pastry arts.
Chef Dana has attracted massive attention for his big win on TLC's hit show Cake Boss: Next Great Baker. Chef was also the winner of the Rachael Ray Celebrity Cake Off. Chef Dana has been seen on many networks: TLC; Food Network; The Cooking Channel; and more. Chef has also been featured in Essence, Huffington Post and countless other national magazines and websites.
Chef Dana is... . Current Host for DATE NIGHT with Chef Dana . Past Celebrity Chef for the Novo Nordisk Diabetes Academy. . An expert pastry and savory chef . Past Columnist Cuisine Noir , Munaluchi Bride . Author . Passionate, hardworking, relatable . A loving husband and father
Chef Dana's food is... . Is developed from a love of food, family, and fun. "We all ate at the table together." . Comforting, accessible and full of flavor. . Built on simple, straightforward, sweet and savory flavors that are easy to recreate at home
Why Chef Dana... . Chef Dana will increase consumer attention to the brand through television, print, and online media channels . Chef Dana is an inspiration to home cooks and professionals alike . Chef Dana is the epitome of a passionate, strong and nurturing professional, but with a competitive edge
Chef Dana's signature style... . Food combinations that blur the lines of sweet and savory . Simple recipes that are understandable for home cooks, yet intriguing to foodies and suitable for a busy life on-the-go . Appropriate for entertaining at parties, but simple enough to be served at home
Chef Dana is dedicated to... . Bringing families back to the dinner table. "It's the one place where you could find everyone" . Encouraging cooks and foodies to be fearless in the kitchen. There is such a world as flavor. . Inspiring everyone to follow their dreams. "Do what makes you happy and you will succeed."
Interesting tidbits... . Loves to teach people to cook and eat healthy. . Preaches eating in moderation and keeping a colorful plate . Chef's ethnicity is African American . Chef Dana's favorite cookbooks are the "Professional Pastry Chef" by Bo Friberg and "Charlie Trotters Desserts" by Charlie Trotter
Dana Herbert, owner of Desserts by Dana, resides in Bear, Delaware. Chef Dana lives and breathes in the sweet and artistic world of pastry art, where flavor and color come to life in his wonderful wedding and custom cakes, sugar sculptures, and tasty miniature desserts for all occasions. Chef lives by - "Put the Love in the Pan"
Dana was born to Henrietta Augusta Herbert (Dorsey), a graduate of Bowie State and Kirson Eugene Herbert, a graduate of Morgan State University. Chef credits his foundation to the Lord and the principles and upbringing instilled in him by his parents. Dana is a 1998 graduate of the University of Delaware (UD) with a Bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. Chef Dana continued his education at Johnson and Wales University (JWU), where he completed a second Bachelor's Degree in Culinary Arts and an additional Associates of Arts in Pastry Arts.
Chef Dana lives in the kitchen where he Puts the Love in the Pan. Growing up, Dana spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his grandmother Annabelle. He would wait for her to let him get the beaters from the bowl when she was making cake or eat the left over sugar cookie dough. To Dana, being around the dinner table and hearing all the laughter, the tears, and the jokes was transformational. Those moments combined with food literally translated to love for Dana. So many times in society, mom and dad would go off to work and the kids to school but the one place you would find everyone was around the dinner table. Chef looked forward to and loved those family moments together. Sunday dinner at grandma's was always a treat. Dana's grandmother Annabelle (pronounced "mumma" according to granddaddy) could really burn in the kitchen. She was from Annapolis, Maryland, so her Mid Atlantic cuisine of crab cakes, potato salad, jams and jellies were always a treat. Chef Dana credits his grandmother for planting that mustard seed that became his love for food. Dana' s training in both Culinary and Pastry Arts which makes him a double threat in any kitchen. Dana has authored a book titled The Sweet and Savory Union and is a result of his love for blurring the lines between sweet and savory. Chef also toured the country with Novo Nordisk educating people with Diabetes on how they can make their culinary creations delicious, nutritious, and sensible for a low carb diet. Dana feels as though the key to living a long life starts with everything in moderation, and balance. Chef Dana has made cakes for some of the nations' greatest athletes and stars including Oprah Winfrey, Vice President Biden, Smokin' Joe Frazier, Ice Cube, Michael Vick, Asante Samuels, Bart Scott, Jimmy Rollins, Dick Vermeil, Tye Tribbett, Christopher Williams and jazz great, Najee.
Chef Dana is married to his wife Netesha and have three beautiful daughters.
