Gary Danko is an American chef. He combines French, Mediterranean, and American styles into his cooking. He is best known for his eponymous restaurant in San Francisco, California.
Early life Danko was born in Massena, New York, his father was a Hungarian immigrant. His grandmother was Jewish and he grew up with Hungarian cooking with Jewish overtones.
Culinary development
Danko started cooking at the local Village Inn restaurant at age 14. By the time he graduated high school, he had been exposed to every position in the restaurant. Danko completed his culinary education at the Hyde Park, New York campus of the Culinary Institute of America. He relocated to San Francisco in 1977 and worked as a waiter at the Waterfront Restaurant. Chef Danko returned to New York to enroll in Madeleine Kamman's class at Peter Kump's New York Cooking School in 1983. In 1985, Danko became the executive chef at Beringer Vineyards. He later became the executive chef at Chateau Souverain in Sonoma County. In 1992 Danko left to become the chef of the Terrace restaurant at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. He was then appointed the executive chef of the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, S.F.Ritz-Carlton. Gary opened his eponymous restaurant in 1999, and has won numerous awards, including a Michelin star first awarded in 2007.
Restaurants
In 1999, Danko created his own restaurant, named for himself, near Fisherman's Wharf. Gary Danko has also made appearances as the featured chef on the Food Network and PBS. Restaurant Gary Danko has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2001. In 2002, the restaurant was designated one of 18 Relais & Chateaux properties in North America.Relais & Chateaux - Gary Danko
Food
Diners select from three, four or five prix-fixe menu courses. Danko's signature dishes include roast Maine lobster with white corn, tarragon, and chanterelles, pancetta wrapped frog legs with garlic purée, and, before it was banned in California, roasted quail stuffed with mushrooms and foie gras. Most dishes are served year round, but ingredients are adjusted seasonally to emphasize local produce.
Awards and honors Year Organization Category1995 James Beard Foundation Best Chef-California1999 Esquire Best New Restaurant1999 Mobil Travel Guide First "Five Star" rating2000 James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant2000 San Francisco Chef of the Year2002 James Beard Foundation Award Nominated Outstanding Chef of the Year2002 Relais & Chateaux Relais & Chateaux property2007 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2007 Zagat Survey Top Restaurant2008 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2009 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2010 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2011 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2012 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2013 James Beard Foundation Award Nominated Outstanding Chef of the Year2013 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2014 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2015 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2016 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2017 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2018 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2019 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2020 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2021 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2022 Michelin Guide One Star Rating2023 Michelin Guide One Star Rating
In 2024, it lost the Michelin star it had held for 17 straight years.
References
External links AskMen America's Top Five Chefs Restaurant Gary Danko Michelin Guide James Beard Foundation