Daniel Raia
Chef de Cuisine
WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF?
That would have to be my ability to make people happy through food.
IF YOU WERE TO CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I would love to able to tell a lie without smirking like an idiot. I´m terrible at poker.
WHAT´S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN A PERSON?
How much they smile. A happy person is a beautiful person.
ANY SPECIFIC PERSONALITY TRAITS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN YOUR LIFE PARTNER?
Someone who can both appreciate the comedic genius of Caddy Shack or Big Lebowski, and also understand and enjoy the tasting menu at Alinea. A sugar-mama would be nice too.
WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
My family, friends, and our J&R smoker.
WHAT ARE THE 5 IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR THINGS-TO–DO LIST?
5. Have a family.
4. Travel, Travel, Travel.
3. Bake bread in Paris.
2. Make Pasta in Italy.
1. Breed Berkshire hogs in the Midwest.
ANY REGRETS FROM LIFE OR PAST RELATIONSHIPS?
I regret taking that guy´s parking spot in Charlestown last winter, as did my brand new tires.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME OR ON WEEKENDS?
I love to go out and try new and different restaurants and bars in the Boston, Cambridge and Somerville areas. There are so many great places. South American food is my exploration food of the moment; I haven’t met a papusa I didn´t like.
DO YOU MISS YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Absolutely! Nothing better than G.I. Joes and big wheels.
ARE YOU STILL IN CONTACT WITH ANY OF YOUR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS?
Of course! Growing up in the Boston area, I feel like more people stay local, so it makes it easy. I am excited that Sweet Cheeks is the first place I´ve worked that will span the diversity of all my friends, both in and out of the restaurant industry.
WHAT´S THE BEST GIFT YOU´VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
The Bruins winning the cup was pretty sweet. I also got an awesome Misono knife from a friend recently. I save it for my “herb knife.” It´s actually a blast to cut chives with this thing.
DO YOU GET ALONG WELL WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES?
Absolutely! They support me no matter what.
WHAT´S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD FOOD MEMORY?
Christmas eve at my uncle´s house — best lobster bisque ever! Also picking periwinkles off the rocks at the beach, then making them into sauce for hand-rolled pasta.
WHOM ARE YOU MORE CLOSER TO, YOUR MOM OR YOUR DAD?
Is this a trick question? My parents are a cute old couple that have been together so long, they are practically the same person, so I can´t really answer that.
WOULD YOU DATE YOURSELF?
Maybe, depending on what I was cooking.
DO YOU LIKE HAVING CHILDREN AROUND YOU?
Sure, they remind me of my own childhood and always make me laugh. Just don´t ask me to change any diapers.
SO DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GETTING MARRIED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
Still waiting on a response from Scarlett Johanson. Should be any day now…
WHAT´S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR CHOSEN CAREER?
Giving people immediate gratification. Great food is the fastest way to make people smile that I know of.
IF YOU WERE TO WIN &10 MILLION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY?
Give half to charity right off the bat, pay off my loans, buy some sick cars, and throw a killer party in Madrid.
IF YOUR WERE TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHICH PART OF THE WORLD WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
I would love to travel through Europe because it all looks so interesting. The laid-back lifestyle is so different than anything we know here.
