Chef Dylan is a homegrown Atlanta native. He spent five years in Tennessee and has always been a bit of a nomad when it comes to traveling and settling down, but Dylan loves Atlanta and the culture it creates. Dylan credits his culinary roots to his mother who introduced him to a wide range of cuisine growing up. “Her passion for the kitchen has always been inspiring to me and driven me to become a better chef,” he shares.
Dylan began working in the industry at age 15 in a locally owned family restaurant, learning and absorbing the details of a working kitchen. After high school, Dylan attended Gwinnett Tech, working towards a degree in hospitality management and culinary arts. Chef Dylan’s focus has always been culinarily driven, but he enjoys the entertainment aspect of hosting friends and family events. During his 25 years of experience within the hospitality industry, Chef Dylan has worked for, opened, and operated several concepts including Roaring Social, TopGolf, True Food Kitchen, and multiple PF Chang restaurants.
As a young chef, Dylan was inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s perspectives surrounding the culture food creates. “Every dish has a story and I’m a sucker for a good story,” Dylan explains. “I love knowing the ‘why’ behind things, which drives me to be a well-rounded chef.”
Risotto is Chef Dylan’s favorite dish to cook, as it’s such a hearty, versatile dish that can complement a meal or be a meal of its own. When it comes to his own culinary preferences, Chef Dylan says he’s on a mission to eat at every restaurant in Atlanta. “At the top of my current list of favorites are Oku for their yellowtail Hamachi and Oak Steak House for their bone-in ribeye.” Chef Dylan shares. “Pretty much anything from Gu’s Dumplings on Buford Highway satisfies me as
well.”
In his free time, Chef Dylan enjoys a variety of activities. You might find him hiking to a
waterfall, cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Georgia Bulldogs, attending music festivals and concerts, or enjoying a good meal and a book of poetry. Dylan also writes poetry and hopes to publish a book in the future.