David P.

David grew up on the northwest side of Chicago. After graduating high school, he became a fashion model and travelled extensively throughout Asia and Europe. After working with some of the top photographers in the world, David enrolled in photography classes at Columbia College. His photography career took off when he landed a job at an international hair and beauty company, eventually becoming their Photography/Videography Senior Associate.

In 2013, David made a career switch and joined Eataly Chicago as a Server. Since his start, David has embodied the values Eataly espouses not only through his sense of hospitality but also through his passion for Eataly’s mission, which he shares with every guest through his knowledge and grace. David has a strong work ethic and is genuinely enthusiastic about his work.

A caring team member, David takes the time to get to know his fellow Eatalians. In doing so, he has built strong relationships across the store and developed deep knowledge of multiple departments. Among his peers and across various teams, David is widely seen as a leader.

What is your favorite part of your role?
“Sometimes I get lost in the things I love about this job. I really love my colleagues. The environment is great – it’s upbeat. And the food is so good – you almost never have to go back to someone’s table and say, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy your meal.’ Most everyone loves what they eat.”

What have you learned since joining Eataly?
“We had a lot of wine education here when I first started. There have been many great wine managers that I’ve worked with at Eataly who’ve taught me so much. I would love to have more of that, now and in the future.”

Who inspires you?
“I’m so inspired by the women in my life. A couple of quotes stick out to me, like one from Brene Brown who said, ‘Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are,’ and Jamie Lee Curtis who essentially said, ‘You never know what people are going through; be kind.’ Those words inspire me.”

What do you like to do outside of Eataly?
“I love doing anything with Katie, my wife. We’re really well-matched. We travel together, we cook together, we walk our dog together, we both enjoy theater and go to the theater together, and we read together. Photography is also a big part of my life – now I work for myself and focus on nature photography. I used to be a ballroom dance instructor, too, and I danced with my partner in competitions for a long time – we once won a Waltz and Cha Cha championship together!”