If you’ve ever strolled by [farmacy] on Ridge Street, you’re sure to have seen Chef Dave’s smiling face waving at you from the window - even if it’s covered by a mask these days! :) We caught up with Chef this week to find out more about his journey to becoming a chef, his favorite way to spend a day off, and a few of his favorite childhood memories in the city.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is David MacIntosh, or 'Jefe'. You may know me as one of the many awesome chefs that wave to you from [farmacy] restobar's window! I'm a 2016 SUNY Adirondack graduate from the Culinary program, and I've been in or around Glens Falls almost all my life. I currently live in Gansevoort while I look for a house to buy in this beautiful city.
On Becoming a Chef
I graduated from South Glens Falls High School in 2011 and like many teenagers I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. After a few failed odd job attempts here, I moved to Albany and ended up at a Greek mom and pop restaurant called Anton's. They hired me after a short interview and I began washing dishes as many in this industry do. A few short weeks later I started doing prep work in the mornings before my dish duty, and not long after I learned the in and outs of my new restaurant family’s business. The Anton's took me in like I was family and I still thank them every day for sparking that fire for cooking that still burns in me.
After the Greek restaurant changed owners, I decided to come back to Glens Falls and attend Culinary School under Chef Matt Bolton at SUNY Adirondack. As a fellow left-handed chef we instantly clicked with our sense of humor and love of the adrenaline that professional cooking brings. After graduating in 2016, I took a short stint down south in Tennessee and learned some awesome southern techniques. Though the south was beautiful, I was needed in the Glens Falls area to help open the restaurant [forged] in Hudson Falls with Chef AJ and Christina Richards. Once [forged] closed for renovations, I was relocated to [farmacy] where I get to wave at all who live and visit Glens Falls. The front window has brought many friendly people in - not only to eat, but to strike up conversations as well.
On Life in Glens Falls
I have two younger sisters which makes me a protective older brother. My whole family has always lived in the Glens Falls area until recently when my sisters went away to college. We love finding new restaurants to try when they come home.
I have been looking for a duplex to buy in the heart of Glens Falls to be closer to the town I have grown so fond of. It offers so many fitness and wellness activities as well as things to do in the outdoors and on the water. I love finding hidden hiking trails or kayak spots, or just walking around town and visiting the library or fun stores after some great coffee.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My ideal day in Glens Falls would include breakfast and coffee at Spektor with my girlfriend Cate (a bullet proof mocha and seeing Ray's smiling face makes my day), then walking to Rude Betty or Fountain Square Outfitters to see what interesting gifts we can find for each other. We would probably stop into Northeastern Fine Jewelry to look at watches and get my hopes up for a killer Christmas present!
I love checking out the fresh produce at the Farmers Market, so we would have to visit my farmer friends and see what new goodies they have for the restaurant.
After that we might take a trip to Crandall Park and sit by the water or walk around town and enjoy the views.
For date night in the nice weather, we would probably sit on the patio at [farmacy] (obviously) or get some drinks at Mean Max. If we were lucky we would get a reservation at Seasoned (and pay my good friends and former instructors Chef Matt Bolton and Chef Megan Diehl a visit) to witness first hand the culinarians of the future.
If we wanted a quick bite we might hit up Mikado for some killer sushi.
To get the blood pumping after that, I would probably go to Anytime Fitness for a quick workout or Lemon Tree Yoga at The Shirt Factory to realign myself.
On the Past
I remember fishing at Crandall Park as a kid after church and just enjoying being outside and chasing the ducks... until they started chasing me back. After a short fishing trip we would always get some fresh bread and pastries from Rock Hill Bakehouse and head home.
I always loved riding through downtown Glens Falls during the holidays and seeing the Christmas decorations light up the streets.
I never got a chance to try Bistro Tallulah when I was younger, but I respect how that restaurant paved the way for other chefs in the area.
…and On the Future
Glens Falls has really become a food hub over the past few years. There are new restaurants popping up all over town, with some truly talented chefs and line cooks to help pave the way. I'm excited to see who will be next to open up a restaurant in the area!
In the future I would like to see more of the continued community support between businesses and individuals. Seeing SUNY Culinary Center's facilities full of brand new young chefs eager to learn and grow would make this alumni ecstatic for the future. It might even make finding more great chefs easy for a restaurant run by yours truly, with a great patio and an aroma that would fill the town and bring people in!
In a city that has so much to offer, it's amazing to see everyone constantly growing and coming together for each other.
