Brooklyn resident by-way-of-New-Jersey Chef Danny Garcia has had a whirlwind career. After attending culinary school in Rhode Island, he worked at the NoMad and the French Laundry and competed in the Bocuse d’Or before working with his mentor, the late Chef Jamal James Kent in opening Crown Shy and building out Saga restaurants and hospitality group.
In addition to all of that, of course, he’s the newly crowned, reigning champ of “Top Chef” as the winner of season 21, which was set in Wisconsin. Danny won seven challenges across the show before clinching the grand prize, which includes a magazine feature in “Food & Wine,” an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic, $250,000 and perhaps most importantly, the title of “Top Chef,” a mark of distinction which has catapulted some winners (and non-winners!) to endless accolades, awards and recognition.
Salon Food was able to catch up with Danny after his win to congratulate him and ask him a few questions pertaining to his success on the show, the tragic, recent passing of his mentor and what is coming up next for him.