Dana Herbert, CHEP '98

Delaware's King of Cake

Dana Herbert resides in Bear, Delaware which has become home for his custom cakes and sugar artistry at Desserts by Dana. Chef Herbert is a 1998 graduate of the University with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management where he admits he was "bit by the ‘hospitality bug'" and inspired by great professors.

"I can recall being in class with phenomenal professors such as Paul Wise, Francis Kwansa, Joe DiGregorio and Debbie Ellingsworth, Professors Bob Nelson and Pam Cummings, and other great hospitality leaders. They had a real passion for the industry and a desire to make professionals out of us. They loved what they did."

Chef Herbert's lives and breathes in the sweet and artistic world of the pastry arts where he makes flavor and color come to life with his stunning wedding cakes, sugar sculptures, and custom cakes for all occasions. Dana has an exceptional ability to combine cakes and sugar art into unique cakes that depict exactly what his customers want. Chef Herbert has done cakes for the famous Jazz musician Najee, Marriott, Sysco, Philadelphia International Airport, HSBC, as well as many organizations at the University of Delaware.

Not only was Dana a student while he was on campus, but he also worked for the Vita Nova restaurant in the Trabant Center, the Blue & Gold Club and a few of the dining halls. Chef Herbert also was very heavily involved in the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), serving as the chapter president and eventually the National Chairperson for the organization, and Dana is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Wilmington alumni Chapter).

After graduating from the University of Delaware, Chef Herbert continued his education at Johnson & Wales University where he completed a second Bachelor in Culinary Arts and an additional Associates of Arts in Pastry. After leaving Johnson & Wales, Chef Herbert worked for Marriott for a number of years and is now the Head Chef at the Delaware River and Bay Authority in New Castle. Dana is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Wilmington alumni Chapter), the International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) and the American Culinary Federation.