Our Team

A 1987 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Chef Budd has been the pastry chef at such famous eateries as New York Cities River Cafe and Adrienne and was the opening pastry chef of the highly acclaimed Park Avenue Cafe in both New York and Chicago. Both Chocolatier and Pastry Art and Design magazines have named Chef Budd on their lists of the "Ten best pastry chefs in America". Avenue magazine cited him as one of the "People who are changing the way America eats." This Vermont raised boy has also won the 1993 "Chartreuse Pastry Chef of the year" and been nominated as, "Pastry Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation. He has appeared on The TV Food Network, Good Day New York and Good Morning America and attended The Valrhona Chocolate School in the Rhone valley of France.

In 1998, Chef Budd was one of eight American pastry chefs who accepted an invitation to create centerpieces for President Clinton and the first Lady at the White House Easter egg hunt. His work has been published in several books and publications such as Art Culinaire, Fine Cooking, Bon Appetit, Chocolatier and Gourmet magazines. He has been a media spokesperson specializing in televised cooking demonstrations nationwide.

Chef Budd has received awards and honors including a Gold Medal for a pastry display at the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique Culinary Salon in New York City. He participated in the 1996 Cuisines of the Sun in Hawaii, the 1998 American Food Festival in Atsugi, Japan, and the El Rey Chocolate tour and training of cacao plantations and chocolate factory in Venezuela.  Chef Budd was an annual member of the jury for the United States Pastry Competition for 17 years and received their “Life Time Achievement" award in 2005.

Chef Budd spent 5-1/2 years sharing his knowledge with others as a full time Associate Professor in Baking and Pastry Arts at The Culinary Institute of America, our nation’s most prestigious culinary and pastry arts college.

Dan Budd (born 1967) and his wife Julie have been residents of Red Hook, New York since 1996 and have two children, Allison and Jordan.   In 2005 Dan’s business ventures expanded to 40 West Market Street in Red Hook, NY with the opening of Taste Budd’s Café.  His business employs 20 people full and part time and up to 60 people in the height of the concession season when Taste Budd’s mobile Bakery hits the festival tour.  Dan is fulfilling his dream of bringing high quality desserts, gifts and cafe fare to the Hudson Valley and nationwide with mail order gifts.  He has a passion for art and culture and is proud to host visual art shows and live music at Taste Budd’s Café.  He loves family time, camping, fishing, dining out, playing guitar, singing and writing music.  Dan also leads the Grass Fed bluegrass band.  View more about Dan and his music at TasteBudds.com. And www.grassfedbluegrass.com

In March 2020 Dan co-founded a volunteer community help organization with friend and employee Chris Donohue.  Red Hook Responds.  redhookresponds.org  The organization has enrolled approximately 500 volunteers, has worked with local governments and various organizations to assist the immediate and surrounding communities with free delivered meals daily, grocery delivery, pharmacy delivery, snow shoveling, virtual tutoring, food pantry bag delivery, neighborly chat calls and in Spring 2021 vegetable gardens installed at homes in need.  RHR has served nearly 26,000 help requests in 10 months of service.  Dan continues as Red Hook Responds volunteer Executive Director.  In January 2021 Dutchess County New York awarded Dan with its Frontline Award honoring him for his selfless efforts to help his community in unprecedented times, stating that he exemplifies the spirit of Dutchess County, New York.  

Patricia grew up in her hometown of Sorsogon, Philippines and now lives in Manila.  She studied at Far Eastern University in Manila and holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Internal Auditing. Patricia works virtually for Taste Budd's Cafe as a phone order receptionist and administrative assistant.  She handles catering and special order clients, live chat, inventory and cost control management, social media, menu design and publishing, art music show booking, and delivery dispatch among other tasks.  She enjoys exploring Manila alone on her days off or going out and having fun with her friends and 3 sisters.