i. Biography
The Climb
Private chef work in Los Angeles and cater-wait service in New York set the first terms of David McCann’s trade: polish, discretion, timing, and the ability to keep a service tight under pressure. Those roles sit at opposite ends of the same discipline. One asks for intimate, exacting meals; the other demands movement, coordination, and the kind of pace that leaves no room for loose execution. From 1980, the Food & Wine test kitchen in New York put McCann in a setting built around testing, tasting, and refinement. That is kitchen work where adjustment matters and where a small change can separate a usable result from a finished one. At Food & Wine in New York City, he then moved through food writer, recipe developer, and cooking teacher, roles that extend the same technical standard into language and instruction. The through-line is clear: hands-on service, then editorial precision, then the ability to turn process into something another cook can use.
Today
At Dromoland Castle in Ireland, McCann’s cooking reads as controlled rather than ornamental. The work centers on easy but elegant seasonal recipes, homemade sauces and spices, and practical kitchen tips. Those elements place the emphasis on usefulness as much as presentation: food that can be cooked, repeated, and served with a level of finish suited to a formal table. The style has a directness to it. Seasonal ingredients give the menu its rhythm, while homemade sauces and spices build depth without pushing the plate into excess. Practical kitchen tips keep the work tied to the realities of the kitchen, whether the cook is working at home or in service. The result is a body of cooking that aims for clarity, steadiness, and usable detail.
Career - Actor — Independent, United States, Canada, and the U.K. - Playwright — Independent, United States, Canada, and the U.K. - Creator of the food blog "This Old Chef" — This Old Chef, New York City - Executive Head Chef — Dromoland Castle, Dromoland Castle - Private chef — Private practice, Los Angeles - Cater-waiter — Private practice, New York - Assistant — Food & Wine test kitchen, New York (from 1980) - Food writer — Food & Wine, New York City - Recipe developer — Food & Wine, New York City - Cooking teacher — Food & Wine, New York City
Signature
David's signature dishes include St Tola goats cheese.
FAQ What is David McCann's current role? As of 2026, David McCann is Executive Head Chef. Where did David McCann work before? David McCann's earlier career included Private practice, Private practice, and Food & Wine test kitchen. What is David McCann known for? He specializes in easy but elegant seasonal recipes, homemade sauces and spices, and helpful kitchen tips.
