Daniel has been in the hospitality industry since he was 16 years old, starting out washing dishes at the Mediteraneo Cafe in Tauranga, noticing his strengths, Head Chef Peter Edwards took him under his wing and supported Daniel to follow his passion and from this moment his culinary journey started.
Daniel Moved to Wellington and trained as a professional Chef getting 100% through an apprenticeship at the local Weltec Institute of Technology. Through out the 3 year apprenticeship, Daniel worked and Trained under well known Chefs and gained extensive experience working in Award winning hotels, restaurants and Cafes
Daniel moved back to Tauranga and began his search for the right place in the hospitality scene in the Bay of Plenty. After working at a local cafe/restaurant he decided there must be more than slaving away in the kitchen cooking the same thing every day.
Daniel really enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion about food so he found a role as a Hospitality Coordinator for a organization called Avalon in Te Puna, who worked with the disadvantaged/Adults with disabilities on a facility on the out skirts of Tauranga. Daniel and his team successfully operated a daily cafe from the kitchen at the site where they were situated.
5 years later, Daniel felt he needed to get back into the hospo scene and found a Head Chef position in a new Cafe that was being buit in Tauranga, This is where the Fairy tale begins.
Daniel met his wife Georgia who also worked at the cafe as head barista.
As time went on Georgia decided she was going to studying as a Legal Executive and succeeded and landed a role at Tauranga most awarded Legal firm.
Dan then went to work for Daniels in the park function center in Tauranga, where he worked with the Rolls family running a 7-day catering company and function center.
During this time Daniel and Georgia had a daughter called Harper and with the struggle of having a new born baby at home, he felt hospitality was not working as he needed to be available to be at home if he needed to be. Dan was offered a job back with his past employer at Avalon where he could have some structure to his week to be available to help where needed at home.
This role was new to him as he was more of a Mentor/Facilitator to encourage clients to prepare for employment, have access to their community and pass on life skills to live a better life. Daniel gained a lot of experience working with people, understanding individuals strengths and found his own strengths and weaknesses to make him a better person.
Daniel and Georgia got married at the stunning Eagle Ridge in Ohauiti, Daniel and Georgia went to Japan for their honeymoon and this is where his inspiration for Asian food comes in.
Dan and Georgia have now have a Son called Lincoln, Now with 2 kids and 2 full time working parents, they felt they were working just to keep the kids in daycare and missing out on the kids growing up and thought there must be a better way.
They soon came across a catering company for sale with a mobile kitchen, this was the sign they have been looking for.
Georgia is still doing great at her role as Senior Legal executive 10 years on and Dan runs the catering company based at their home in Pyes Pa.