Darryl Sanders

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:58 AM MDT

For chef Darryl Sanders, "food is art because it comes deep within. It's a treasure inside that causes your mind and all five senses to transform into art."

Dressed in a white chef uniform with his name embroidered in light blue, Sanders shares his recipe for the art of cuisine.

His focus is friendly, yet persistent, while preparing the final touches to his sample entrée of seared lamb chops including a dessert of French chocolate cups with chocolate mousse and fresh berries.

“Like Sean John Combs (also known as Diddy) says, ‘Life without passion is unforgivable.’ Well for me, "food without passion is unforgivable," Sanders declared while pouring his demi glaze onto the lamb chops.

Sanders’ passion for food was fostered by his mother, Miss Jean Campbell, who inspired him to attend a culinary school at the age of 18.

Being the youngest of seven children and having set his sights from a young age on being a professional NBA basketball player, it was Sander's mother who felt he had another calling.

"My mother has been my navigator. She's got premonition and intuition, and she knows me inside out," Sanders said.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sanders’ career as a chef has taken him many places working with a variety of people, and all along the way, paving a career where food is his muse.

He attended Washington Culinary School in Georgetown from 1983-85, working full time to pay his tuition and to support his mother.

After graduating, he worked at the prestigious Willard Hotel, the Watergate Hotel under chef Jean Louis, as well as the national Capitol building.

After cooking at the Pentagon with chef Mike Thomas, Sanders’ culinary career transitioned into catering for such celebrities as Lauren Hill, Patti LaBelle, Outkast, Diddy (known also as Puff Daddy) and Jay-Z.

Sanders soon found himself working special culinary venues in Toronto, Canada, and wine festivals with Julio Serrano of the Bellagio Hotel in Jackson Hole.

He eventually made his way to Casper, where he has resided for the past two years.

"From the mid-1980s to now, I have been learning to consolidate and produce my personality, and it comes out to taste," Sanders said, which also refers to the name of his recent business venture.

"Taste" aims to cater cuisine that offers something distinct to Casper. While Sanders feels his time in Wyoming has made him learn about himself from a different perspective, his favor for flavor has only enhanced his cooking ambitions.

With a desire to be a personal hip hop chef, Sanders is a man on a food mission.

He defines his cooking style as "charismatic and spontaneous while being intimate and private." Sanders wants to create an experience where the food responds to the person and the person responds to the food.

Food has a distinct voice for Sanders. It has its own language.

“It’s like ballet with me and food. It's a love affair. I love it when I handle it the way it's supposed to be handled," Sanders said.

With a little help from his mother and destiny, this chef is seizing opportunities to cultivate his knowledge in his pursuit of culinary passion.

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