This season of Bravo’s “Top Chef” made us look at our city with a fresh set of eyes and fall in love all over again. We also felt the pride of having one of our own – Dan Jacobs of DanDan and EsterEv – battling for the title and pulling at our heartstrings at the same time. Jacobs was drawn to the show for a couple of reasons: to help bring attention to Kennedy’s disease (a rare neuromuscular disorder he has) and to put our state in the spotlight. Here, he talks about his newfound fame and more.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
What’s it like getting recognized now?
It’s cool, but it’s definitely weird. So Amanda [Turner, fellow “Top Chef” contestant] is in town. We have a guest chef dinner, and we had to head out to Crate & Barrel to pick up some extra plates because we don’t have 40 of anything. And the Crate & Barrel team went absolutely insane. They were running around, they were nervous. It was so weird! I just have never had this effect on people. I think some of the coolest parts of it are people DMing me and just saying how I’ve inspired them to do something. There was one woman who had given up teaching because of MS. She saw me doing this thing that I love and it made her want to get back into teaching and really try to push herself in a new or different way. That was like the coolest [thing] ever. And it was the main reason why I went on the show.
Your story not only resonated with viewers, your personality comes out on the show, too – silly but kind.
I am who I am. I wasn’t going to make myself different for television. The other cheftestants were like, “Oh, of course you know this person or you’re friends with this person,” like when some guest judge came on. I was like, yeah, man, when you’re nice to people, people like you. There’s no special recipe.
And you seem totally at ease in front of the camera.
I’m comfortable in front of the camera [and] talking to crowds of people. It’s something I’m pretty good at. I found the whole experience fascinating.
The show’s airing coincided with your restaurant EsterEv’s move to Bay View. One of the hottest new dining areas is South KK – summer is going to be bananas down there!
It’s so cool. I’ve been to all of the businesses that have just opened up. Paloma – I really dig the vibe in there. They have this, like, it’s not called a crunchwrap supreme, but it’s so good. Next door [to EsterEv], Room Service is amazing. And the menu, [we] barely put a dent in it. I can’t wait to go back. And I’ve been a big fan of Todd I Believe I Can Fry since they opened up. And then people kind of forget about it [tucked into the back of 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.], but I think one of the best burgers in Milwaukee is at Patty Shack.
What’s something from a running-a restaurant standpoint that people don’t know about you?
I love every aspect of a restaurant, but I really like hosting and dishwashing. They are the most fun jobs in the restaurant because you’re never bored – you’re always just crushing. If we lose a dishwasher, I will just wash all night long. And hosting is a real mental challenge, like a puzzle – you have to figure it out every time.
