From the humble beginnings of an 8 square foot apartment kitchen Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, better known as The Hearty Boys, have become trend setting caterers, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, and nationally known television personalities.
As the original winners of Search For The Next Food Network Star, Dan and Steve went on to become the first out gay couple to host a U.S. television series with Food Network’s Party Line With the Hearty Boys. They can be seen most recently cooking at their Michigan home on PBS’ “A Moveable Feast” with host Pete Evans.
Chef Dan Smith is known for creating new takes on comfort foods and honoring American classics with his fresh vision. The duo’s first restaurant, HB: a hearty boys spot, claimed the number one spot in Timeout Chicago’s Best Dish of the Year. Their Michelin recommended follow-up restaurant, HEARTY, received 3 stars from the Chicago Tribune and has been much lauded for it’s “inspired and deft twists on iconic dishes”.
Steve McDonagh is the ‘front of house’ face for The Hearty Boys. His hand is evident in their first cookbook; Talk with Your Mouth Full; a trove of behind the scenes entertaining knowledge. Their newest book is an everyman’s guide to the current cocktail movement titled The New Old Bar. As the Chicago Tribune noted “While Julia Child may have demystified the technique of traditional French cuisine, Steve McDonagh has made the creation of well-crafted vintage cocktails accessible for the novice home bartender.”
Their newest venture is a burger joint on Chicago’s northside. Named SpritzBurger, it’s a collaboration with two time James Beard Award winning pastry chef Gale Gand. The restaurant deftly features the strengths of each chef with Steve’s handmade artisan soda cocktails, Dan’s creative grass fed burgers and Gale’s award winning desserts.
Dan and Steve live in Chicago and Michigan with their 9 year old son, Nate.
