My name is Daniel Lee Nellums Jr. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas in a close-knit family. Like many families, food was a mainstay when we would fellowship together. My Great Grandmother's house was where we would congregate for Sunday dinners, Fish fries, Birthday parties, and just about any time we wanted to celebrate something. My Great-Grandmother would do most of the cooking and I have fond memories of helping her prepare food the night before and waking up before church to prepare the rest of the traditional Sunday dinner. Learning from her and watching how people receive the time and effort she put into food is what sparked and grew my passion for cooking and serving others.

My Culinary Journey wasn't a direct one. When I grew into adulthood I worked in several industries, but I was never fulfilled in any of those occupations. It wasn't until I was a fry chef at a large bar just outside Dallas, TX that I decided to pursue the culinary arts. I went on to work for my mentor Chef Ty Frazier and under his tutelage my passion for food began to align with a knowledge of what is required to be a true Chef. Chef Frazier's high culinary standards prepared me for my next role as a Garde Manger (pantry chef) at Cafe 43 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas TX. I graduated from a certified culinary program in 2022. This was no standard "cooking" certification as I was able to learn from top chef instructors at Cafe Momentum and top chefs at 5-star restaurants such as Monarch in Dallas, TX. In 2023 I opened the A Taste of the DNA Deli in Farmers Bramch TX. I enjoy the experience of limitless creativity, being able to create any culinary dish and bring joy to my clients/customers. I look forward to serving you and am grateful for the chance to provide a bond through food.