Culinary Specialist Dana Elliott
Meet Taste of Home Culinary Specialist Dana Elliott! Dana conducts Cooking School shows throughout the country, focusing primarily on the Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois areas. When asked about what her favorite part of the Cooking School experience is, Dana replied, “It’s the audience, and their excitement and love of good food!”
Dana currently resides in the Indianapolis area. Dana graduated from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Culinary Achievement Award. Dana previously instructed post-secondary students on restaurant management and also hosted interactive cooking classes, used as a tool for team building, for large corporations. Dana also served as an intern to her mentor, a Master Chef. Furthermore, Dana enjoys sharing recipes with friends and family, collecting kitchen antiques, gardening and spending time with her Chihuahua, Minnie.
To learn more about Dana, take a look at some of her answers to questions below!
If we were to open your refrigerator at home, what would we find? Everything under the sun! Condiments galore, leftovers, and farm fresh eggs straight from my own hens.
What is your favorite quote? “I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” – Julia Child
How did you develop your passion for cooking/food? I used to take recipes from cookbooks, and then change them. My parents always liked my versions best! In high school I was famous for my lasagna.
What is the best thing you ever ate? French fries cooked in goose fat!
What is a funny or memorable moment that has happened in your own kitchen? Once during the holidays, my Mom and I made over 700 cookies, in one day, just for fun.
What food today brings back childhood memories? Spaghettio’s! When the babysitter came, we felt that this was a culinary delight. Silly kids!
When did you start cooking? The first memory of me “cooking” was when I was around 3. In the fall, my dad would throw all of the rotten tomatoes into a pile. I would take them, mix them with mud and call it “stew.”
Do you remember your grandmother’s cooking? What was her specialty? One of my grandmothers was an awesome cook and she always was able to utilize everything in the refrigerator and her garden. My other grandmother’s specialty was making reservations! She always enjoyed fine food and a great conversation around the dinner table.
Hey Dana, –Sarah from Greenfield, Indiana Cooking School. Have helped in the kitchen and stage for a long time. Just getting over my second hip replacement–so guess next year or whenever you come I will be in better shape. This is the first time I have been on the Taste of Home website…saw it the other day and signed up for all the e-mail messages. Keep cookin’ girl!
Sarah from Greenfield! Thanks for finding me! I know you are a great cook and have a great spirit! I’ll see you soon!
Have a wonderful first show in Sheboygan!
thanks for the support Mitch!
Dana is rockin Sheboygan tonight! The show will be fabulous!!!
Thanks Jamie! Break an egg tonight!
Dana was superb in Sheboygan tonight. Not only is she great at her skill of cooking but she has the personality to make it entertaining as well. Thanks for a great evening.
We had a great time, didn’t we Virginia? If you can’t laugh at your mistakes in the kitchen, then you might as well give up. Thanks for coming to the show. I hope to see you the next time Taste of Home Cooking School comes to town.
Hey Dana
I won the chocolate cake in Appleton. We waited until we got home before we ate it. It was delicious.
Thanks for the cake
Steve
Steve, lucky you! I’m glad you were able to come to the show and win something! Make sure you try all of the recipes and let me know how they turn out for you at home. Take Care!
Dana, Just returned from your show at West Shore Community College. As great as always and can’t wait to get home to try some of the recipes in the weeks ahead. You were talking about onions and how not to store them without problems. What about any left overs if you just freeze them? I use a lot of onions and hate to think of throwing any away. Any ideas or just use small ones?
Hope you keep coming back each year!
Chris
Saw you today in Appleton. What a great show! Your personality and style are a true joy to watch. I loved every minute. I wish Steve would have shared his cake with me.
Thank you Brenda. I love my job, and more importantly, I LOVE FOOD! Steve should have shared that cake with all of us!
Thanks for coming to the show, maybe next year you will win a cake.
Thanks Dana for a great show in North Vernon. I’m the crazy lady that was first in line.
Have been to all of them and love them so did my granddaughter. She sure wanted to win the chex mix goodies but told her we would make some soon. Can’t wait till you come back. Probably will be the first in line again. Also thanks for the magazines and shirt.
Pat Miller (the Crazy Lady) from North Vernon, Indiana.
Thanks for all of the fun in North Vernon Pat! I mean crazy lady!
You deserve gifts when you arrive at 9 am and sit in the rain! Until we meet again.
Chef Dana
Hi there Dana! Just got home from the show you did tonight in Hudsonville, MI. It was my first but definitely not my last! It was amazing and fun. You are hilarious! I can’t wait to try out those recipes! Thanks so much for the goodie bags . . . the magazines will go with my other TofH ones and my 100′s of cookbooks.
Shar Schuitema, Grand Rapids, MI
Thanks for coming to the show Shar. I had a great time! i’m always happy to share my love of food and good eats! Keep on collecting those Taste of Home magazines and cookbooks.
Happy Cooking!
Chef Dana
Dana, I had no idea what to expect at your cooking school I went to in Hudsonville. It was so much fun (even if I didn’t win anything) and will recommend it to my friends when it comes to our area again. You have such an awesome personality and made the evening very entertaining and fun. I can’t wait to get each issue of the Taste Of Home magazine and now I feel a little more connected to it by having been to your cooking school. Thanks for such an awesome night.
Lynn Kretz, Jenison MI
Lynn!
That’s so true about being connected. Our motto is Cooking, Caring and Sharing. Make sure you tell all of your friends about your experience, and you can all go together next time. Thank you for the compliments. I always have a really good time when I get to talk to people about food!
I’ll see you next time!
Happy Cooking!
Chef Dana
This is the second time I’ve seen you Dana and I like you the best so far. (I’ve been to around 5 so I have seen others) You’re great and really funny. What was the brand of the thermometer that you said was so accurate? I have several and they never tell the truth! I want one that doesn’t lie! Can’t wait for you to return. Also for once I won something (toaster oven) so that made it even greater,
Connie Tucker, Grandville, MI
Connie.
Thank you for the sincere compliment. That’s very kind of you. As far as the thermometer goes. I don’t have a specific brand, but it is a digital meat thermometer. Usually you can get a decent, accurate thermometer for around $30. Make sure that you read the directions closely. Let me know what you find. I’m so glad that you won that great toaster oven from West Bend! Enjoy!
Happy Cooking!
Chef Dana
Hi Dana, I went to your Hudsonville, MI cooking school, we had so much fun! My husband thought I was crazy buying wierd stuff the next time we went grocery shopping… real garlic!! What the heck
But he loved the groundnut stew mmmmmm, thank you!!
That’s awesome! I love that recipe too. Let me know what other recipes you try and freak your husband out with!
Happy Cooking
Chef Dana
Ooo I need help… Please teach me to cook health and reasonable meals…I am killing myself and my kids by eating out!!! Help me plz
If anyone can help you and your family, Dana can! I was at Dana’s cooking class in Port Huron, Michigan, 10/25/11, and totally enjoyed it! Dana, you are sooooooooo great! Thanks for coming to Port Huron, Michigan again! Can’t wait to have you (Taste of Home Cooking School), come back to Port Huron, Mi. for another class.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Patricia! Let me know which recipes you try out. They are all so yummy, it’s hard to decide.
First, make a list of all of the foods (ingredients that you and your kids like). Send me the list and we can come up with a plan for you to cook the same kind of foods that you eat at restaurants. No worries, you will end up eating healthier and saving money. Let’s do it!
Dana,
I was at you Madison show last year and loved it. Will you be at the Jefferson, Wisonsin show in November?
Nancy
Nancy, I’m glad you love the cooking schools! i don’t believe that Jefferson is on my travel schedule this year, but whoever it will be conducting the show, you will have a great time, I promise! Let me know which recipe is your favorite!
Chef Dana
Ms. Elliot. My son and I caught your show in Port Huron. We really enjoyed it and are excited to try some of the recipes. Mitch is 10 and he really digs cooking for our family of six. I hope he tries the Beef Wellington dish. That smelled delish! Ps. I hope you get to feeling a little better. I thought you were going to cough up a lung and fricassee it. LOL
Lung Fricassee, now there’s a recipe just in time for Halloween! I’m super excited that Mitch is into cooking for your family. That’s exactly how I got started, and look where I am today! Let Chef Mitch know that if he has any questions, he just needs to ask me, and I will help! Enjoy!
Dana…….Hope you will soon be feeling better! So glad you were able to still come to Port Huron’s Cooking Class and present your recipes and cooking ideas (your unique style too), for all of us here in Michigan. You are great! I too agree that the Beef Wellington Dish smelled SUPERB! Can’t wait to cook it for my wonderful family that truly means so much to me! Hope you will be able to enjoy maybe an Irish Whiskey or Hot Toddy Drink to get you on the mend very soon!
Patricia, that’s exactly what I need! I aree that cooking for the family is so much fun, and it helps when they make you feel like the cooking queen that you are! Let me know how they like the Beef Wellington’s!
Chef Dana
Hello Dana,
My Mom treated my Sister and myself to the Cooking School in Port Huron. We lost Dad two weeks ago….Your Humor and knowledge of the kitchen was Great!! We enjoyed not only watching you but watch our mom actually enjoy herself!!! Thank you again for putting on a great show even though it was pretty obvious you were a little under the weather (hope you are all better now).
We look forward to you coming back in a couple years and learning more!!
I tried the Creamy mustard sauce over chicken Wed. It was a great success!!!!
Thank you again,
Patty Watson
Jeddo, Mi
Patty,
Your story just melts my heart. Thank you and your family for spending time with me. I’m glad to know that the French’s Chicken with creamy mustard herb sauce was a great hit!
Take Care and many blessings to you and yours.
Chef Dana
Have a great show tonight in Springfield!
Thanks! I’m looking forward to my show in the Land of Lincoln!
And Mr. Lincoln’s hometown was truly blessed by your presence. We were a small group of eight ladies on a GNO (Girls Night Out). We are all connected to Laurel United Methodist Church here in Springfield, Il. We had a blast!!! You light up the stage and your passion for cooking is so clear! We certainly look forward to seeing you again!!!
Sincere blessings,
Laurel’s Ladies and Friends GNO
Pat,
GNO’s are the BEST! I’m so glad that you and your friends were able to come and enjoy an evening with me.
Let me know if you try any of the recipes from the cooking school.
Many Blessings,
Chef Dana
Thank you for your informative and entertaining event in Fort Wayne taste of Home Fort Wayne newspapers at the Grand Wayne. I attended for the first time and hope to enter a taste of home contest of recipes in the near future. Thank you again Linda Segreto
Fort Wayne Ind.
Linda,
That is a great idea! You should enter all of the contests we hold! There are many! Good luck to you and thank you for coming to the show!
Chef Dana
I came with about eight friends from Petersburg to Springfield show last night at the Prairiie Convention Center. We all enjoyed the show so much that we thought you should have your own show on TV. I’m sure Taste of Home wouldn’t want to lose you though! I have been to the show three times now and look forward to show next year.
C.J.
Thanks for saying so! I do enjoy myself when I’m up on stage talking about food!
I hope to see you next year!
Take Care,
Chef Dana
I too think you should have your very own show! You were great at the show in Port Huron, Michigan! Can’t wait to be able to go to another show of yours! Have a safe and restful weekend!
Thank you Patricia! I look forward to returning to your neighborhood, so that we can share some more delicious recipes together!
Let me know if you try any new Taste of Home recipes for the holidays!
Take Care,
Chef Dana
Thanks Dana for good time had in Port Huron. I am so glad that Paula decided to call in, during the show..LOL Thanks Again Carol
Carol,
Wherever I go, she’s calling to get all of the tasty recipes I’m demonstrating! Thanks for coming to the show!
Chef Dana
Dana, thanks for a great show in Indianapolis, I have never laughed so hard as i did today. To have someone that loves cooking and makes it so much frun as you do is truely an inspiration. I cant wait for next years show.
I do love sharing all of the info I have on food with everyone! I could talk for hours!
Let me know what recipes you try out and don’t forget, cooking is FUN!
Take Care
Chef Dana
I fixed the beef wellingtons, and i used the ‘in-law’ meat…turned out ok. very easy to make and next time i will use the good meat.
may i ask a question about cooking? i am starting to get into chinese food. i love the way the beef comes out to be melt in your mouth tender from the buffet. how can i get my beef to come out so tender? Normally i cut it into small thin bite size strips and then pressure cook it but it still has a toughness to it.
Ann
Generally, when meat is that tender, it has been marinating for days. You can make your own marinade or you can buy bottled. Marinades, in order to work, must have a high acid content. I would say that teriyaki or soy sauce would work, but could come out a little on the salty side. You can rinse some of the marinade from the meat. When I say days, I mean at least 2.. Place your meat whole in a plastic bag, cover with marinade and seal. You must shake the bag, or move the meat around in order for the marinade to work for the whole piece. You can then cut into thin strips and cook. You wouldn’t cut into strips then place into marinade because it could dissolve or shrink. Let me know how it turns out.
We missed you at the Somerset Cooking School this year. Cheryl did a good job. Hope you are not ill. We really enjoyed your shows in 2009 and 2010. We are looking forward to the next show allready. This year i brought my daughter and my two daughter in laws and my grandughter, my sister brought her two daughters. Next year we plan on bringing more of the family. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Hi, Dana Elliot. Looking forward to attending the show in Jasper in June and hoping you are the chef that night. Love, your cousin Dena.
Dena!
I will be the chef that night! I’ll see you there!
Hey Dana sure hope you will be @ the TOH school in Seymour In. on 3-20-12, I have so injoyed learning from you in the past classes & love your passion for fun & great food. I am bring 7 plus my self & we are all foodies. See you on the 20th! Stacy Robbins
Stacy!
I will be in Seymour and I’m looking forward to it! Sounds like you have a great Girl’s Night Out planned. See you there!
Chef Dana
Fun show in Manitowoc tonight. Thank you Dana. Jerry is a lifelong friend of mine and I don’t ever remember seeing him at a loss for words! Just saying…….!!
Nancy
That was kind of fun Nancy! Thanks for coming!
Chef Dana
I really enjoyed your cooking school in Manitowoc. Even tho I am 83, have cooked all my life (my husband liked home cooking no restaurants) I learned a few new thing tonight. Thanks for much for a fun evening.
P.S. I won the baking book. Wow. I will add it to my other Taste of Home books, The year books, the slow cooker book and the magazines.
Beverly Vareka
Dana Elliot gave us in Manitowoc, Wi a wonderful show. She is witty and entertaining. Nobody left that show unhappy. I hope she is in the next show we have in the area.
I hope to come back too! Thanks for being a great audience!
Chef Dana
Thanks for coming to Seymour, IN again, Dana. I love your shows & had another fun evening. I’m not a Facebooker, but wanted to give you a thumps up anyway!! I really hope you have cooled off a bit from the hot stage!!
Thanks for the thumbs up! I’m glad you had a great time!
Let me know if you try any of the recipes!
Chef Dana
Dana,
Will you be in Janesville WI on May 3rd…I am hoping you will be!
Nancy,
I’m sorry it took a while, but I just found out who is doing the show in Janesville. It will be Karen Davis! Karen is full of wonderful ideas, tips and tricks and you will enjoy her!
In fact, tell her I said hello!
Enjoy the show!
Chef Dana
Dana,
Thanks for the Awesome show in Bryan Ohio last night…My first time at a show and my husband too…We had a great time even though we didn’t win anything =( Alisha
Thanks Alisha! I’m glad the hubby was able to join you. Now you just need him to cook one of those delicious recipes up for you!
Thanks again for coming!
Chef Dana
Hi Dana,
Can’t wait to make many of the recipes in the magazine, they all look wonderful. Your great personality shines through your presentation, and make us want for more every time! Can’t wait to see you again, loved every minute of it :~p
My Mom, her best friend Brenda and I were in the front row at your show tonight in Howe Indiana. I have been to 3 of your shows now, and have loved every one! I always hope to win one of the fantastic dishes you make….it hasn’t happened yet, but there is always the next time! Tonight I won a T-Shirt and bracelet.
I’m so happy to know that you all had a great Girls’ Day Out! You can wear that Taste of Home Cooking School shirt and bracelet proud!
Chef Dana
Dana,
Hi there! I am so SO sorry that I had to leave early when you were in Madisonville, KY. Believe me, I was less than 1/2 a mile from the Fine Arts Center when I did something VERY unladylike in someone’s yard. I’ll be there again next year if you’ll have me. We are very very lucky to have you come to our itty bitty town every year to show us your talent. Taste of Home is lucky to have you!!
Mary Miler
Enjoyed your show in Rockford! We try to go to shows in our area. Thanks for a great show! Hope you get well soon!
Enjoyed your show in Green Bay today. Love your humor. Thank you.
Dana you gave us such an outstanding show in Green Bay today! I hope you felt the warmth in the room from our community even though it was a bit chilly outside. I just have a question…have you ever offered classes on kid friendly cooking, with tips to get kids interested in food and cooking? I own a local childcare center and brought 2 of my cooks with me to see your techniques and recipes. You had some wonderful side notes on sharing food with children. I would like to see and hear more.
Dana, you are AWESOME!!! What a great personality. You rocked Green Bay and I hope we made you feel at home. Sorry to hear you fractured your clavicle, but that didn’t stop the great smells coming from the stage. I’m dying to try the cheesecake. One thing about Taste of Home: They’re real cooks, feeding real families, with REAL food!
Dana,
Thanks for a great show in Harrison OH last night!! It was so enjoyable and helpful! It was my 1st Taste of Home Cooking School but it certainly won’t be my last! I’m so excited to try those great recipes -if it hadn’t been so late when we got out last night I would have gone to the store straight from the show and bought the necessary ingredients so I could go home and try them lol
Thanks again! Hope to see you again in the future.
-Debra
Dana,
Thanks for the show in Harrison, Oh. on April 4th. I have been to several of your shows. We had 9 ladies in our group. Four ladies in our group had never attended a show before. We all had a good time. I will sure try some of the recipe. Some delicious smells coming from the stage. Love to come to the shows.
Thanks again Martha
Dana,
The Cooking School class you held last night in Harrison High School was fun! And quite informative. I did not know that in order to have a BISQUE, you must have seafood in it… Last night was great! My Mom & Sister & I all went to see you. Thank You !
Susan
I saw Chef Dana in Michigan City, In. April 17, 2011. I enjoyed the show to bad it went by so fast. I have an Associates degree in Hospitality Administration with endorcements in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastries and the third endorcement in Hospitality Management. I have mentioned the shows to co-workers and they are now interested to come next time.
Dana – Enjoyed the DeKalb show. I am currently making the Lime Tart. Any tips on how to get it out of the pan? It is cooling on the rack now. (Obviously I’ll have to use your response the next time I make it).
Hey, Dana!!
This is the second time I have had the privilege of attending where you were the Culinary Specialist!! Even though sometimes the recipes you use aren’t ones I might be likely to use….I ALWAYS learn something from your instructions that will help me with others!! You are fun, you are likeable and it really shows that you like what you do and US (even though it must be quite a grind traveling so much!!) I look forward to seeing you demonstrate again!! Thank you!!
Dana,
I forgot to tell you I was at the Bad Axe show last night!!
The greatest gift you can give a child is to teach them the love of food in the kitchen not just on their plate. The greatest memory my son and I share is making Snickerdoodle cookies together when he was 3. He was to short to reach the counter so I put the bowl of cinnamon on the floor and his job was always to roll the dough in it then place it on the sheet. By the time he was 5 he was making the dough. It’s still his favorite cookie to this day and when I go visit he has hot ones ready for me. He’s 24 now, Staff Sargent in Army, in 7 yrs in Army has been A Calvery Scout, A Paratrooper, A Ranger and has a Bachlors Degree in Homeland Security, as he has all these the other day he told hid wife “the first major thing I’m going to teach my little girl to do is make snickerdoodle cookies.” She said when she asked why he said because it was the most fun I ever had with my mom and it made me want to learn to cook. He is an awesome cook. Thank you for letting me share.
Dana, This is Mary James sister. Just wanted to tell you were great at the Jasper Taste of Home Cooking School on June 9, 2012. I miss working behind the scenes as I didn’t get to talk to you. Just wanted to give you a thumbs up.
Last night was the always fabulous Cooking School in Bowling Green, KY. We missed you, Dana!! It just wasn’t the same without you.
Welcome to Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN, Dana!! We are so excited you are here! Can’t wait for the show to start! Best of luck and break a leg – from the Bethel Conference Services Team!