Chef Dana Johnson’s love of food and attraction to the kitchen began during childhood, raised by a mom that loved to cook and entertain.

Dana spent her early years working in sales and waiting tables always looking for the next hustle as the back of the house was male dominated and therefore not a realistic career option in 1994 even though her true passion was in the kitchen. After 6 years and still in pursuance of a career she decided to fight for her dream and search for a position in the kitchen.

In 2000, Chef Dana Johnson began a private education under Chef Larry Chu in New Paltz, NY, where she spent the next four years refining her culinary techniques while her cooking skills flourished and her style developed. At the age of 28, Johnson took the leap into ownership, opening her first café, while simultaneously working as an executive chef in the evenings. She has since owned and operated successful restaurants in both Columbia and Greene counties for the past 16 years.

In 2017, Johnson established Chef D’s Private Chef Company, allowing her to share her creativity bringing the dining out experience into your home. During this time, Johnson explored retailing the spice blends she developed when making some of her favorite culinary creations. She began Chef D’s Spice Blends (a small-batch operation), filling jars with global flavors, and helping to excite home cooks to add worlds of adventure to their meals.

In 2021 Chef decided to close the doors to her café and expand her knowledge of the industry by joining the team at Ginsberg’s Foods as their Corporate Chef. Learning the ins and outs of the wholesale food industry while working as restaurant consultant for all their accounts.

After two years and countless restaurant visits, she recognized an overwhelming need for affordable restaurant consulting. Chef Dana Johnsons passion is now devoted to helping local restaurant owners Reignite their success.