Mention Dave Beran's name to someone familiar with high-end and cutting-edge dining and they'll probably think, "Isn't that the chef who ran a full marathon and then went into work right after?" Indeed, Beran is known for his intense drive, work ethic, and precision in the kitchens at MK, Alinea, and Next in Chicago, and now at his own restaurant Dialogue and the soon-to open Pasjoli in Santa Monica—but it wasn't always that way. He opened up about his journey to the upper echelons of fine dining, the mentors who corrected his path, and the summer he spent as Toast Boy.

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