Hi! I'm Chef Dylan!

Food has always been more than flavor for me. It’s what anchors the big days, the hard days, and the completely unhinged days in between. Whether it’s a holiday meal, a birthday, or the comfort of a good dinner at the end of a long day, food has a way of drawing people together — like warmth in the middle of a storm — and that still blows my mind.

My Style

My cooking is rooted in connection. I believe the best meals don’t have to be perfect — they just have to be shared. I gravitate toward food that feels generous, comforting, and a little bit obsessive in the best way.

I love the energy of the kitchen when everyone is locked in shoulder-to-shoulder, where timing, focus, and care turn simple ingredients into something memorable. That’s where food stops being “just food” and becomes an experience.

I’m especially passionate about pasta and bread, and if there’s one thing I’ll happily obsess over, it’s focaccia. I’ve filled entire notebooks with mad-scientist-style notes in pursuit of the perfect loaf — a process that’s equal parts chaos, curiosity, and joy.

My Story

I grew up outside of Philadelphia, where food was always at the center of family gatherings and celebrations. Some of my favorite lessons came from meals that didn’t go as planned — like a legendary (and hilariously failed) Thanksgiving pasta experiment in Rome — because they reminded me that imperfection is often where the best memories live.

I started working in restaurants as soon as I was old enough, hustling my way from expediter to line cook, opening concepts, building bread programs, and learning every side of the kitchen. Along the way, I had the opportunity to open Mia Ragazza in Philadelphia and was honored to receive Best Pasta of the Main Line — a highlight that still makes me smile.

Rome will always hold a special place in my heart, but no matter where I’m cooking, my focus stays the same: creating food that brings people closer together.

Beyond the Kitchen

When I’m not cooking, you might find me carving actual tiny spoons, crafting custom leather knife rolls, or juggling — a skill I picked up thanks to my magician dad. At home, I’m a cat parent to moody Lola and a foster human to Wile E. Coyote, a scrappy mutt with true main-character energy.

And when things get hectic in the kitchen, you’ll probably hear me say my favorite reminder:
“We’re gonna make it!”