Chef Danielle Nahal

North America

Danielle P. Nahal joined Gate Gourmet in May 2006 as an Executive Product Engineering Menu Design Chef, primarily responsible for the United Airlines account. Based out of Chicago, Danielle regularly travels to major kitchen hubs across the U.S., collaborating with colleagues to spice up various in-flight menus, including those for Delta Air Lines and TAM Airlines.

Chef Danielle earned a degree in Culinary Arts from Kendall College in Evanston, Ill. She got her professional culinary start at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Chicago, where she first honed her cooking skills -- on the line, as private dining chef, and as culinary demonstrator for various restaurant and off-site events.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to run a catering business, where she served as a personal chef customizing meals and creating unique menus for individual clients. She also advised on kitchen design and functionality and organized and operated private parties and special events, all while accommodating client dietary and nutritional needs.

Most recently, Danielle worked as a chef instructor for Flavour Cooking School in Forest Park, Ill., where her artistic molten chocolate lava cakes quickly became one of the most sought-after dessert options. As a chef instructor, Danielle developed imaginative recipes, themed menus and lesson plans for the demonstrations and hands-on cooking classes she taught.

Her passion for cooking was sparked at a young age while helping her Italian mother and grandmother prepare traditional homemade meals. Her zest for gastronomy was further inspired by her grandfather, who worked as a chef for an inflight catering company and helped intensify her desire for culinary accomplishment.

Chef Danielle's innovative nature inspires her to take simple recipes and fuse them with distinctive flavors to create unique cuisine, a talent that is at the heart of Gate Gourmet's leading culinary innovation.