Before taking Ethan's job from him at Staple & Fancy, Branden studied at Le Cordon Bleu and was the Sous Chef at Rover's. He then went on to cook at both Anchovies & Olives and How To Cook A Wolf before becoming chef at Staple & Fancy. He is now the ESR Vice President of Restaurant Operations.

Hometown

Wausau, Wisconsin

First Restaurant Job

Washing dishes at the Log Cabin restaurant.

Alternate Universe Career

Selling sunglasses at the sunglasses hut.

Favorite Late Night Snack

Dick's

Favorite Seattle Restaurants

Revel, El Camion, Shiki, Book Bindery, Pho Cyclo, Chelan Cafe

Food Philosophy

I love making dinner starting with seeds, a fishing pole, and a gun!

Restaurant Pet Peeve

The over zealous water guy! Quit interrupting my dinner every 2 minutes just to put that last 1/2 oz of water into my glass! Why don't you do something useful and get me beer!

What do you love about Seattle?

I love that we are so close to the outdoors. I live 5 minutes from the salt water and 45 minutes away from the mountains. I can hunt, fish, ski, golf, camp, hike, garden, pick mushrooms, all within an hour from my house.

Favorite Place In The World

Anyplace outside, as long as I'm with Tori.

Can't Live Without

Fishing

What's On The Nightstand?

All cookbooks. I like the pictures. 

What's On The iPod?

Christina Perry, Vince Gill, Quartis Saul, Chicago, Firehouse, Warrant, Cinderella, Hank 3, Alabama, Justin Timberlake, Ondar, Jason Mraz, Michael Buble, Selina Gomez, Daft Punk, Die Antword, Aviril Lavigne

What I've Learned

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be chefs!