About Us
Hello and welcome!
My name is Dana — a lifelong food lover, recipe creator, and storyteller. I’m 38 years old and proudly call Chicago, Illinois home — a city that celebrates diversity, flavor, and creativity at every table.
Food has always been my love language. I grew up in a house where cooking meant connection — where every meal was an experiment, a celebration, and sometimes a delicious disaster. My mother believed in butter, my father in spice, and somewhere between the two, I discovered my own rhythm in the kitchen.
My Story
I’m half Polish and half American, and that mix of cultures shapes the way I cook and live. My childhood memories are a blend of pierogi Sundays with my babcia and smoky backyard barbecues on the Fourth of July. Those early experiences taught me that food can bridge continents — it speaks a universal language of comfort, curiosity, and care.
Before becoming a full-time food creator, I studied journalism and spent my twenties traveling across the country, writing stories about people, places, and of course — food. But somewhere along the way, I realized I cared more about the stories simmering in the kitchen than the ones I was typing on a deadline. So, I made a change. I traded my notepad for a chef’s knife and enrolled in a small culinary school in Vermont. Between late-night cooking sessions and early-morning coffee-fueled prep shifts, I rediscovered what food really meant to me: creativity, culture, and community.
Cooking with Curiosity
Over the years, I’ve cooked in restaurants, pop-up events, and even a whimsical treehouse supper club I co-founded with friends. But my heart has always belonged to the home kitchen — to the magic that happens when simple ingredients turn into something memorable.
My cooking style blends Southern comfort with global inspiration. You might find cornmeal-crusted okra sharing a plate with miso-glazed salmon, or classic hush puppies dusted with a hint of za’atar. I love combining traditions, exploring new flavor stories, and celebrating the little accidents that make cooking so human — like the burnt caramel tart that somehow became my signature dessert.
The Heart of Dana Recipes
I believe recipes are roadmaps, not commandments. Ingredients deserve respect, but the real joy comes from improvisation, laughter, and sharing. Food isn’t just fuel — it’s memory, art, and connection. That’s the philosophy behind Dana Recipes: a space where home cooks, dreamers, and flavor explorers can find inspiration, learn, and feel at home.
I also have a deep love for food photography — capturing the colors, textures, and stories behind every plate. My camera is always nearby; sometimes dinner gets a photoshoot before it reaches the table!
Life in Chicago
Life here is lively and full. I share it with my wonderful husband, our two children — Ella and Peter — and my beloved grandmother Elizabeth, who still makes the world’s best apple cake. Our kitchen is the heart of our home — always buzzing with music, laughter, and the aroma of something delicious on the stove.
What I Do Today
These days, I spend my time developing recipes, teaching cooking workshops, hosting intimate supper clubs, and writing about the intersection of food, culture, and identity. Whether it’s a new twist on a classic dish or a forgotten culinary tradition from across the world, I’m always exploring what food can teach us about each other — and ourselves.
Join Me
If you love food not only for how it tastes but for the stories it tells — you’re in the right place. Pull up a chair. There’s always room at my table.
Join us on Pinterest: Pinterest – Dana Recipes
Contact us by email: chefdana.baker@gmail.com
Warmly,
Dana