Executive Chef Carl Hendrick is Dakota Cafe & Catering's prize possesion. He is the reason that our regionally inspired classic cuisine is perfection, and why each and every catering order is prepared fresh and on time. Carl does it all at Dakota Cafe: he is in charge of all ordering, staffing, kitchen preparation, catering jobs, and anything else pertaining to the kitchen or to catering services.
Born in New York, Carl joined the military right out of high school, where he was immediately stationed in Tucson, at Davis Monthan Air Force Base. He finished his service eleven years ago, at which time he decided to apply for a kitchen position at Dakota Cafe. For the next eight years, he worked his way up from dishwasher and studied the culinary arts under Chef Cane Reed. Reed left Dakota, affording Chef Hendrick the chance of running the kitchen. We are certain you will agree that Carl has made the very most of the opportunity!
Chef Hendrick's favorite foods to prepare are what he calls "comfort foods," such as his delicious meatloaf. To quote the chef, he's "not big on fancy cuisine." Therefore, two items he particularly favors on the menu are the meatloaf dish and the shrimp enchiladas. Whichever your favorite Dakota Cafe dishes might be, we wanted you to know a little bit more about the chef behind the menu.
