Meet Dan Cooper

Hi there—I’m Dan Cooper, and I’ve been dancing with pots and pans for a good part of my 68 years on this earth. I hail from Louisville, Kentucky, where the scent of cornbread in a cast iron skillet or a bubbling pot of chili is more than just dinner—it’s a way of life. I speak the universal language of food, and English is how I share my stories, lessons, and little kitchen epiphanies with folks like you.

My Cooking Story

I didn’t come into this world with a chef’s hat on. No sir, I started out making breakfast for my younger siblings while Mom worked the early shift at the diner. Those first scrambled eggs? A bit rubbery. But I learned, meal by meal. What started out as helping out became something deeper—a love affair with cooking that never let go.

By the time I was in my thirties, I had a reputation in my neighborhood for throwing together meals that made people linger at the table long after the plates were clean.

I never went to culinary school, but I’ve studied at the school of Sunday dinners, tailgate cookouts, and family reunions. I’ve burned things. I’ve undercooked roasts. I’ve even once dropped a whole tray of deviled eggs right before a church potluck (the dog was thrilled). But every mistake taught me something new, and every success reminded me why I keep that apron on.