He has worked at the Stage House Inn in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, established the restaurant David Drake with business partner Jim Kennedy in Rahway, New Jersey,[1] and was executive chef at the Daryl Wine Bar in New Brunswick, New Jersey until 2009.
[2] Drake is a single-handed and single-legged chef, as at age 14 he lost his left hand while alligator fishing.
[citation needed] Drake was born in Summit, New Jersey.
Drake became executive chef at the Frog and the Peach in New Brunswick.
[4] Credited as a "New Jersey pioneer of modern American cuisine with classic French roots," Drake had growing success until the rough patch in the economy took a toll on business starting in 2007.