Dave dreams of owning a Chicago hot dog restaurant
Get to know Dave in this cook Q&A and get his “Homemade gnocchi in vodka sauce,” TONIGHT (9/4), WEDNESDAY (9/5) and THURSDAY (9/6)! Follow him on Insta @thatsdaves!
Q: How did you first learn to cook and what’s your cooking background?
Dave: I got it from my mama! Growing up I would constantly hover around the kitchen when my mom was cooking. I started my college career in hospitality where I learned more of the technical aspects of cooking, unfortunately I had a change of heart in career but never lost my love of cooking.

Q: What can you tell us about the dish you’re making and what inspired it?
Dave: For my first dish I’m making a fresh gnocchi with vodka sauce. My inspiration is my travels to Italy. I learned that simple food prepared with fresh ingredients is a beautiful thing. I’ve been making fresh pasta for about 6 years now.

Q: Who do you think about when you make this dish?
Dave: My sister, who says I was an Italian nona in my prior life and an old roommate from New Jersey with Italian roots.

Q: Where did you grow up? What kind of food did you grow up with?
Dave: I grew up in the north burbs of Chicago and was fueled by my mom’s Korean meals. I was lucky enough to have fresh meals from her and my grandma.
Q: Anything else we should know about you and your cooking?
Dave: My dream is to own a Chicago hot dog restaurant. The ones that resemble a middle school cafeteria with the marquee menu. I love to cook and would never serve anything I don’t love to eat myself.
Follow Dave on Shmeal (and on Insta @thatsdaves) and get his “Homemade gnocchi in vodka sauce,” TONIGHT (9/4), WEDNESDAY (9/5) and THURSDAY (9/6)! in Lakeview! ❤
By Shmeal
The Shmeal Team. 🐖💻