Chef Dave Beran graduated with a B.A. in business from Lake Forest College, but it was a summer job  at Latitude Restaurant in Bay Harbour, Michigan where he discovered his passion for cooking. After completing his formal education, Dave worked in Chicago at MK, promoted to tournant in a short time  before leaving to work at Tru. Dave joined the Alinea kitchen in early 2006 and moved quickly through  the ranks by displaying a native intelligence for food preparation, creativity, and attention to detail. He  was promoted to the rank of Chef de Cuisine in July 2008. In 2011 he left Alinea to open Next as the  executive chef. Since Next opened Dave has researched, developed, and executed fifteen distinctive menus exploring  cuisine from around the world — Thailand to Paris to Sicily to Kyoto to Vegan. Fourteen of those menus  have received the highest 4-Star rating from the Chicago Tribune. Chef Beran has been nominated four  times for James Beard awards including both Rising Star and Best Chef: Great Lakes, ultimately winning  Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2014. Additionally, Next won a James Beard for Best New Restaurant in  America under his leadership. In 2014, Dave was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine. In April of 2016 Dave worked his final service at Next and bid Chicago a fond farewell as he announced  not only his departure from Next, but also the city he called home for nearly seventeen years. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he oversaw the Wolfgang Puck Test kitchen while building his own  restaurant concept. In September 2017, Dave opened Dialogue Restaurant in Santa Monica. In addition to glowing reviews from numerous critics and being cited on many best new restaurants lists, Dialogue earned  a Michelin Star in California’s inaugural guide and also was awarded 5 stars from Forbes. Dialogue closed in November 2020.  Dave opened Pasjoli in September 2019 to rave reviews from critics both locally and nationally. Pasjoli  was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant award and also listed as a  “Discoveries” for the California Michelin Guide 2020. Unfortunately, both the James Beard Foundation  and the Michelin Guide decided to cancel their 2020 awards seasons. Pasjoli was awarded 1 Michelin  Star in 2021 and was ranked #12 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles in 2022. In November 2024, Dave opened his most personal project to date-SELINE. Named after his daughter Harvest Moon, with Seline meaning heaven or moon in Latin. Dave was awarded the James Beard Best Chef: California 2026 for his work with SELINE.