On the eve of Top Chef’s Season 5 premiere, I interviewed Long Island’s very own “cheftestant,” Danny Gagnon, a native (and resident) of New Hyde Park and chef de cuisine at Babylon Carriage House in Babylon.
What can’t I ask you?
Well, I can’t tell you what happens.
Fair enough. Give me a little background information on yourself.
I grew up in New Hyde Park, went to New Hyde Park Memorial High School. I was a huge athlete—football, lacrosse. From 10th grade on, I studied cooking at BOCES in Levittown, then I went to CIA [Culinary Institute of America] in Hyde Park from 2000 to 2002 and got my associate's degree.
When did you know you wanted to be a chef?
From when I was a kid. Watching my grandmother, Anna Pino, cooking our holiday meals.
Where have you worked?
I was a busboy at Villa Margherita [now Papa Joe’s] in Herricks. When I was 15 I started as a prep cook at Barrington’s on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park. While I was at the CIA I had an externship at Pacific East [since closed] in Amagansett under Michael Castino. After I graduated I worked at East by Northeast in Montauk. I started off working salads, but worked myself up to chef de cuisine. I left there in 2006. I worked at Jackson Landing in Bellmore, and then about a year ago I came to Babylon Carriage House, where I am chef de cuisine under Joseph Balbo, the executive chef.
Why did you decide to try out for "Top Chef"?
I’ve been working so hard but nobody really recognizes me, I know I have a great personality, I know I can really cook—so I thought I’d go for the gold. Not that I thought I could do it…
So you were surprised when you were selected?
When I got the call from a producer—“Danny, you have made it to the top 30”—I dropped the phone and started running around the Carriage House parking lot: “Oh my God you gotta be kidding me.” I went in and burned like five steaks.
Where do you like to eat on Long Island?
Harvest on Fort Pond in Montauk is one of my favorites. La Parma in Williston Park for family-style Italian. For good hamburgers and stuff like that, Yesterday’s Diner in New Hyde Park.
-- Erica Marcus
Danny Gagnon (Bravo Photo)
Comments (1)
Hey Danny! You have a huge fan base from Long Island rooting for you! My brother Chris fishes with your "First Mate" on the Captain Lou. Even though I live upstate now, I'm still watching and cheering; in fact, I have a lot of friends up here supporting you too. Rock on Danny!