Meet the Chef
Chef Dan Schott
It was a warm summer night in the 46805. Down on Kentucky Avenue, in the East State Village of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a chef’s passion was heating up. Literally. The ADT smoke alarms went off. The fire trucks came. And the best pan-seared, airline cut chicken breast recipe was created and enjoyed by everyone.
Chef Dan Schott has always been in love with food, starting out when he was barely as tall as the meat counter at Pio’s Market, where he worked summers and weekends. It was out of the back door of Pio’s that Chef Dan started his first business as a teenager - a pop up taco stand. It was there, over the heat of carne asada, that Chef Dan realized his calling.
After high school Chef Dan went on to graduate in the top of his class from the Connecticut Culinary Institute. Over the next several years, he perfected his craft in top resorts and restaurants along the east coast and Florida.
After returning to the 46805, Chef Dan continued to collaborate, create, and provided culinary consulting for Fort Wayne’s most popular restaurant ventures, and mentoring for local rising culinary talent. Over the next several years, he would also work to elevate Fort Wayne’s food scene by creating the city's first food-centric festival - Food Fort Wayne.
“I want to create real, healthy, and delicious food for people. From tacos to cowboy-cut ribeyes, food is an experience and I want my clients to have the best. That’s the real deal.”
~Chef Dan
Chef Dan is still bringing his fire to the “’05,” offering personal chef services, restaurant consultation, menu design, and one-of-a-kind culinary experiences.
FAQs
Why aren’t your final prices listed?
We don’t list final prices on our website for one simple reason - personalization. Because we don’t order items in bulk, we purchase your fresh ingredients on demand. All food comes with market price fluctuations, and this can change the final price of your food services.
Isn’t this something people do for special occasions?
Yes! And also no! People book a personal chef, or any of our offered services, for a number of reasons. Some of our clients love that they can depend on freshly-prepared meals all week long, other clients want to surprise a special someone with a one-of-a-kind romantic evening, with a Chef-created meal prepared exactly the way they like it. RDFG’s clients are individuals, families, and businesses. We think real food is for everybody!
Is it weird to have a stranger in your home?
We are a little biased, but our staff are friendly, courteous, cleanly, and trustworthy with over 30 years’ of combined experience. We are also ServSafe certified. You are more than a client to RDFG - you’re a member of our foodie tribe. And food is never weird.
When the Real Deal Food Group comes to my home, do I need special equipment available?
At RDFG, we will travel to you with everything we need to create your perfect experience. The minimum items you need to have available are a sink with running water, a working outlet in the kitchen, and a working stovetop and oven. Because your ingredients are fresh and perishable, we also require a refrigerator that is clean and running with some open shelf space. If you have a special situation (i.e. are you camping without a stove or running water?) please let us know - chances are we can accommodate most requests.
Who does the dishes?
People ask us this all the time. RDFG will leave your home in the same condition we found it. We take care of the dishes, trash, sweeping debris from the kitchen/cooking area, and any smudges we left on kitchen appliances such as stoves or refrigerator handles. That’s the real deal promise.
What types of payment do you accept?
Currently, we accept cash, check, PayPal, and Venmo.
Do you accept tips?
You deserve the best experience. If we’ve met your expectation (or exceeded it!) please let us know by tipping us, referring a friend, and leaving us a positive review. You just warmed our foodie hearts!
What kind of information do we collect?
Information we collect may include your name, phone number, address, and email. Occasionally, we need to record alarm codes for clients who request we arrive and set up at a time when they are not home.
What do we do with your information? How do we use it?
We will use your information to contact you directly about the services you requested. We use alarm codes to access your home upon your request. These codes are destroyed after services have been rendered. We will NEVER store payment information (credit cards, bank account numbers) and alarm codes. We will NEVER sell your information to other parties. People who sell people’s information don’t deserve good food.