My name is Dan Zmroczek (“zimmer check”), to make it easy, you can call me “Mr. Z” or “Chef Z”. I grew up in the midlands, and graduated from Airport High School. My culinary career began at a young age at Zesto’s in West Columbia. It was there my interest in food and restaurant business was set in motion. I was in the US Navy for 8 years. I spent 4 years stationed on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt where I was the chef to commanding officer and catered special luncheon and dinner parties for foreign dignitaries and heads of state. I was honorably discharged in 1999 after receiving my degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Virginia. Following graduation my career path included working as a Demi Chef and Sous Chef at the restaurants on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., Sous chef at the Biltmore Estate Country Club, and Executive Chef and owner of a catering company. In 2003, I was asked to return home to open two restaurants in Northeast Columbia and also employed by Applebee’s as a manager. I have been teaching at the Lexington Technology Center since 2006 and have served as a part-time Culinary Instructor at Culinary & Wine Institute at the University of South Carolina since 2013.