In season 21 Best ChefYou may have been rooting for James Beard Award nominee and Milwaukee resident Dan Jacobs as he wowed the judges with his inventive dishes. Not only did Jacobs perform his tasks with style in his trademark turquoise glasses, but he also spoke candidly about his journey living with Kennedy disease and remaining a busy chef in a professional kitchen.
Jacobs was diagnosed with the genetic neuromuscular disease the same year he and co-owner Dan Van Rite opened Dan Dan and Esther Ebb in Milwaukee. The disease, sometimes mistaken for ALS, causes muscle weakness and atrophy over time. Since his diagnosis, Jacobs has helped raise more than $100,000 for Kennedy Disease through local efforts, including Milwaukee's first Kennedy Disease fundraiser, “Dim Sum + Give Some,” a charity gala hosted by Jacobs and other industry professionals.
Kennedy's disease affects his motor skills, so Jacobs uses adaptive tools to stay agile in the kitchen. These tools help him maintain the speed and dexterity he needs to serve perfect dishes on set and at his own restaurant. Jacobs recently shared three of his favorite tools, including a rolling garlic peeler, a pair of easy-pick tweezers, and a pair of razor-sharp kitchen scissors.
Cestari Silicone Easy Roll Garlic Roller
Amazon
“It's super convenient because you can put a garlic clove inside and use pressure with your hand to scrape off the skin,” says Jacobs. “When I peel garlic without a tool like this, I have to use a knife because I want to peel the whole thing, which is hard for me because my fingers have lost their precision.” The silicone garlic roller is dishwasher safe, and the skins simply toss in the trash for quick cleanup.
Couture Nora Tweezers
Couture
Another adaptive tool that's essential for cooking is a pair of easy-to-pick tweezers. Jacobs says that these Coutelier Nola tweezers “literally act as dexterous fingers, allowing you to get things exactly where you want them. I also like to use long tweezers for grilling, where it's hard to grab things with tongs, so the long tweezers are really useful.”
Joyce Chen Original Unlimited Kitchen Scissors
Amazon
“First off, these scissors are really sharp,” Jacobs says of the Joyce Chen Kitchen Scissors. “They make it really easy to cut and make the same 'push' or 'grab' motions that you would with traditional kitchen scissors. It's really hard for me to grip with my thumbs when using scissors, so these scissors are a great tool.”
As a competitor Best Chef “The main reason I wanted to enter this contest is because Best Chef “My aim was to inspire people with disabilities. Through this platform, I hope to inspire others with disabilities to pursue their passions, especially in the culinary world, where physical limitations can be a major barrier.”
