Inside the Kitchen: Seven Questions with Dani García of Casa Dani

Chef Dani García shares a personal take on what cooking means to him, from his connection to Spanish cuisine to a defining childhood memory and a dream of learning sushi.

Allie Lebos

5 Minute read

25 Mar 2026

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Dani García. Credit: Jakob Layman

What Is Your Deserted Island Meal?

Freshly made gambas al pilpil (sizzling prawns in olive oil) and a good piece of bread to dip in it. I don’t need anything else. When something is truly simple, it’s enough.

What’s Your Most Poignant Food Memory?

Watching my grandmother fry fish at home. The smell, the simplicity…that’s when I understood that cooking has more to do with emotion than with technique.

What Does Spanish Cuisine Mean to You?

It's so natural. Spanish cuisine means cooking without disguise. It’s a beautiful combination of product, fire, and truth. Spain cooks with soul, not with artifice.

What Are Your Restaurant Goals or Dreams?

To continue without betraying myself. To be happy with what I do. The day that stops happening…I’ll retire.

What’s On Your Restaurant Bucket List to Visit?

More than restaurants, I would love to learn how to make sushi in one of the great omakase spots in Tokyo. It would be a dream to start from zero again, with my hands.

What Is Your Food/Cooking Philosophy?

Cooking is an act of love and memory. If there is no emotion, there is no dish.

What's One Ingredient You Can't Live Without?

Olive oil. It’s the starting point of almost everything in my cooking.

The Chef

Dani García is a Spanish chef with an international profile and a diverse portfolio of restaurant concepts. He is known for his innovative approach to popularizing Andalusian cuisine around the world, blending traditional flavors with modern techniques. A Michelin-recognized culinary talent, García earned international acclaim with his three-star Marbella restaurant, Dani García Restaurante, before shifting his focus to more accessible dining concepts worldwide. His restaurant ventures now grace a variety of major cities, including Casa Dani in New York, a Mediterranean-inspired space that introduces American diners to Andalusian flavors with a sophisticated yet welcoming touch.

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About the author

Allie Lebos is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer with more than seven years of experience. Her work has appeared in publications like Observer, Thrillist, Locale...

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