Dana Herbert
Pastry Chef, Savory Chef, Author
Dana Herbert, owner of Desserts by Dana, resides in Bear, Delaware. Chef Herbert lives and breathes in
the sweet and artistic world of pastry art, where flavor and color come to life in his wonderful wedding
cakes, sugar sculptures, custom cakes, and tasty miniature desserts for all occasions. Dana is an expert
sugar artist with a number of nicknames. He’s best known as “The Sugar Daddy” because of his work
with pulled and blown sugar, but is also known as Delaware’s “King of Cakes.”
Chef Herbert has garnered a lot of attention for his
big win on Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker, a hit
show on TLC, which premiered in December 2010.
After watching him excel in both design and taste in
each episode, he took home the gold (and a new
car!) in the finale. All of Delaware’s residents have
supported the Sugar Daddy throughout the exciting
show’s season. He also was invited to work in
Hoboken with Buddy Valastro and can be seen on
some of the awesome episodes of Cake Boss.
After Dana’s historic win on Cake Boss: Next Great
Baker, the nation has seen Chef in a number of other
media outlets nationally and internationally including
multiple shows of Deals with Kat Cosley (ABC), and
throughout NBC, WHYY, FOX, CN8 and more. Chef
Herbert’s features and recipes have been seen in
numerous magazines including Essence, Fitness Magazine, Catering Magazine, and the Huffington Post,
Chef Magazine, Delaware Today and many more. Dana also graced the cover of Dessert Professional in
2012. Chef Herbert has also been featured on WEtv for Wedding Cake Wars, TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off,
and many local television magazine programs.
When it comes to burning in the kitchen Dana is an expert. Dana is trained in both Culinary and Pastry
which makes him a double threat in any kitchen. He loves to blend his sweet and savory style together.
This caught the eye of James Beard and they asked Dana to be a part of the James Beard Celebrity Chef
Tour which has been running for approximately 10 years. Organizers of the tour loved his work so much
that they announced that Dana’s course was Top Ten All- Time Desserts on tour. Dana has authored a
book called the Sweet and Savory Union as a result of his love for blurring the lines between sweet and
savory. Chef also tours the country with Novo Nordisk educating people with Diabetes on how they can
make their culinary creations delicious, nutritious, and sensible for a sugar free diet. Dana feels as
though the key to living a long life starts with everything in moderation, and balance.
Dana works with a number of celebrities in his line of work and has made cakes for some of the nations’
best athletes and stars including fiancé of Michael Vick, Asante Samuels, Bart Scott, Jimmy Rollins,
Joselio Hansen, Jill Biden, Dick Vermeil, Tye Tribbett, and daughters’ wedding of famous jazz musician
Najee.
Dana is a 1998 graduate of the University of Delaware (UD) with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel,
Restaurant, and Institutional Management. While in college, Chef Herbert was involved in the National
Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), serving as the chapter president and eventually the National
Chairperson for the organization. After graduating from UD, Chef Herbert continued his education at
Johnson and Wales University (JWU), where he completed a second Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts
and an additional Associates of Arts in Pastry. During his study at JWU he worked for the Four Seasons
Boston. After pastry school, Dana worked for Philadelphia Downtown Marriott as the in-house Pastry
Chef. During that time, Dana also had the unique opportunity of being the Pastry Chef for the 2006
American Culinary Federation National Convention, and cooking for the Philadelphia Chapter of the
Chaine Des Rotisseurs. Currently, Dana is the Chef at the Delaware River and Bay Authority in New
Castle and also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Wilmington Alumni Chapter), the
International Cake Exploration Society (ICES), and the American Culinary Federation.
He is married to his wonderful wife Netesha, and welcomed their first child, Siani Rose, in February 2011,
and their second child Jasmine in October of 2012.
Chef Dana At A Glance
Chef Dana is...
• the winner of TLC’s Cake Boss: Next Great Baker Season 1
• Pastry Chef and Savory Chef
• Owner of Desserts By Dana www.dessertsbydana.com
• passionate, hardworking, relatable
• a loving father and husband
Chef Dana’s food is...
• developed from a love of food, family, and fun. We all ate at
the table together
• comforting, accessible and packed full of flavor
• built on simple, straightforward sweet and savory flavors and
easy to recreate at home
Why Chef Dana…
• talented, authentic, approachable, humble.
• Chef Dana is an inspiration to all ages. “All things are possible to him that believeth”
• Chef Dana is the epitome of passionate, strong and nurturing.
• professional but with a competitive edge.
Chef Dana’s signature style is…
• food combinations that blur the lines between sweet and savory
• simple recipes that are understandable for home cooks, yet intriguing to foodies
• suitable for a busy life on-the-go
• appropriate for entertaining at parties but simple enough to be served at home
Chef Dana is dedicated to…
• bringing families back to the dinner table “It’s the one place where you could find everyone”
• encouraging cooks and foodies to be fearless in the kitchen. There is such a world of flavor.
• inspiring everyone to follow their dreams, and do what makes them happy and you will succeed.
Interesting tidbits…
• Chef Dana’s favorite cookbooks are the “Professional Pastry Chef” by Bo Friberg and “Charlie
Trotters” by Charlie Trotter
• His favorite chefs are Masuharu Morimoto, Graham Elliott , and Ewald Notter
• Chef Dana’s heritage is African American.
• Chef Dana has served many of the elite athletes such as Michael Vick, Bart Scott, Dick Vermeil,
etc
Chef Dana’s philanthropic endeavors…
• American Cancer Society
• March of Dimes
• American Diabetes Association
Chef Dana’s recent and past events and engagements
• Delaware Auto Show Life Size Car Cake Challenge
• Farmer and the Chef
• Kennett Square Mushroom Festival
• Food and Wine Feast
• James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour
• Style 360 Fashion Week
• Fashion Night Out
For event or appearance inquiries please contact:
Soufiane Lailani at 302.723.5580 or email soufianelailani@gmail.com
Dana Herbert in the Media
Tv Shows
Food Network
TLC
TLC
WEtv
TLC
WEtv
Halloween Wars Oct 2012
Cake Boss 2011
Next Great Baker 2010
My Fair Wedding with David Tutera 2009
Ultimate Cake Off Oct 2008
Wedding Cake Wars Sept 2008
Articles and Videos
Delaware Online Dana Herbert set to build Fiat-sized cake Oct
5, 2012
Food Network Salted Caramel Bacon Chews Oct 2012
Farmer and the Chef Dana Herbert Sept 20, 2012
WDEL McKean HS hosts Battle of Celebrity Chefs Sept 18, 2012
Delaware Online Celebrity chefs work with McKean HS students ... Sept 18, 2012
Delaware Today Ubon Thai Restaurant in WIlmiington: A Guide To Desserts Ju1 17, 2012
Town Square Delaware Dana Herbert on Desserts, Delaware and Dinosaurs Jul 5, 2012
Delaware Today Desserts by Dana Herbert: Best Special Occasion Cakes in Delaware Jun 19, 2012
Tasty 25 Magazine Honey Glazed Carrots Apr 29, 2012
Cuisine Noir Dana Herbert: The Cake Boss Mar 30, 2012
Cook Baking with Bacon Baking with Bacon with Dana Herbert, Winner of TLC Mar 14, 2012
Live Well Network Managing Diabetes Mar 5, 2012
Dessert Professional Cover Story Feb 2012
Delaware Today Fondant versus Buttercream on Wedding Cakes: Bakers Weigh In Feb 22, 2012
Blog Talk Radio with Victoria Gaither Master Baker Dana Herbert cooks up some fun Feb 8, 2011
Delaware Today A Guide to the Food and Wine Feast Jan 19, 2012
Live Well Network Professional Cake Decorating At Home | Deals | The ... Jan 6, 2012
Huffington Post Sunday Dinner With ... Dana Herbert, Cake Boss' 'Next Great Baker Jan 3, 2012
Small Pleasures Catering Blog Top Catering and Wedding Trends 2012 Jan 31, 2012
NJ.com Cake Boss:Next Great Baker Dishes on Sweet Success Dec 29, 2011
The Root 4 Questions with TLC’s Next Great Baker Dec 24, 2011
American Diabetes Wholesale How to Enjoy Sweets During the Holidays Dec 20, 2011
House Logic How to Make Gingerbread Houses | Decorating Gingerbread Houses Dec 15, 2011
Divabetic chef dana herbert « Divabetic® Blog December 15, 2011
Love to Know Cake Tips Dec 2011
Dolce Dolce Dana Herbert is known as the Sugar Daddy Dec 2011
Examiner Spice up your diet with 63 calorie Gingerbread Cookies Nov 30, 2011
Delaware Today Wilmington Jaycees Parade Nov 26, 2011
FOX Philadelphia Dana Herbert Bakes Phillies Phanatic Cake Nov 14, 2011
Cook A Sweet and Savory Union with Winner of TLC's ... Nov 5, 2011
NBC 10! Show Red Velvet with Bacon Nov 5, 2011
Make It Better Baking Tips from TLC winning Chef Dana Herbert Nov 2011
WGNTV Chef Dana Herbert on the WGN-TV Midday News - WGN Oct 30, 2011
ABC Chicago Bake like the Cake Boss | Winner of TLC's 'Cake Boss: The Next ... Oct 29, 2011
FOX 7 Houston No Sugar Ghostly Cupcakes Oct 24, 2011
She Knows Interview with Cake Boss Dana Herbert Oct 21, 2011
Delaware Online Delaware's Realities - On TV and in Our ... Oct 6, 2011
Rolling Out TLC’s Next Great Baker: Chef Dana Herbert Oct 5, 2011
Delaware Today Food and Drink: Way Beyond Vanilla Sept 8, 2011
Delaware Online TV Anything Once: Cake decorating with Dana Herbert ... Sept 6, 2011
WISH TV Dana Herbert of TLC’s Next Great Baker Jul 15, 2011
INSTY Next Great Baker Cooks Healthy Jul 15, 2011
NBC 10! Show Wedding Cake Trends May 9, 2011
Delaware Today First May 11, 2011
University of Rochester Rush Rhees as - Cake! - YouTube Apr 22, 2011
University of Delaware Is Career Gal the Next Great Baker? - YouTube Apr 21, 2011
Live Well Network Managing Diabetes | Deals | The Live Well Network Mar 5, 2011
Delaware Online Sugar Daddy” recognized by Wilmington council Mar 4, 2011
Urban Footprint Beyond the Apron Mar 3, 2011
PNC Bank PNC Bank - Desserts by Dana video by Mark ... Feb 28, 2011
Newsworks WHYY The Next Great Baker on tour — NewsWorks Feb 11, 2011
Good Morning America Juju takes on the Cake Boss Feb 8, 2011
Delaware Today Polar Express Feb 7, 2011
Newsworks WHYY Dana, Herbert, Web, Extra - YouTube Feb 4, 2011
WED the magazine WED’s GREAT CAKE OFF Feb 2, 2011
Delaware Today Fabulous Baker Boy Jan 31, 2011
Monsters and Critics Dana Herbert Wins Next Great Baker on TLC Jan 25, 2011
Delaware Online Next Great Baker” is Delaware’s own Dana Herbert Jan 25, 2011
NBC Philadelphia King of Cakes Wins Next Great Baker Jan 25, 2011
Delaware Online Next Great Baker” talks about win, possible Delaware dessert shop Jan 25, 2011
Delaware Online Will Tonight Be the Night Jan 19, 2011
Newsworks WHYY Tonight Could be the Night Jan 19, 2011
Delaware Online New Castle pastry chef competes in "Next Great ... Jan 19, 2011
Food Rerence.com Dana Herbert Jan 2011
The Bakery Network Dana Herbert Dec 31, 2010
Examiner Cake Boss: Next Great Baker Exclusive Dana Herbert shares love for cheesecakes Dec
5, 2010
ABC Philadelphia Local Chef chartering new mashups June 17, 2010
Cake Central Wedding Cake Issue: How I fell in love with the Pastry Arts April 2010
UD Review UD Alumnus Competes on TLC's Ultimate Cake Off ... Sept 13, 2009
Essence Magazine Men Who Cook Dec 16, 2009
UDaily UD Alum to appear on Ultimate Cake Off Aug 29, 2009
UD Connection SPOTLIGHT DANA HERBERT 2009
Delaware Today Sushi on the Strip June 2008
Statistics
Social Media
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