A Passion For Bringing People Together
At DL Cuisine, we believe exceptional food is about more than what arrives on the plate. It's about the quality of the ingredients, the passion behind their preparation, the people gathered around the table, and the memories created along the way.
Founded by Chef Dave Locke in Zionsville, Indiana, DL Cuisine was built on a simple belief: great food has the power to bring people together, strengthen communities, and turn ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences.
For Chef Dave, that belief began around his family's dinner table, where food represented love, hospitality, and togetherness. Those early values, combined with his professional culinary training, experience in New England's restaurant industry, and background in business leadership, became the foundation for DL Cuisine.
That foundation has grown stronger through the partnership of Founder Chef Dave and Executive Chef & Managing Partner Chef Chuck.
With nearly 30 years of culinary and restaurant leadership experience, Chef Chuck brings remarkable versatility, creativity, and a deep understanding of the craft of cooking. His experience in fine dining, restaurant operations, menu development, and culinary management complements Chef Dave's passion for bold flavors, thoughtful hospitality, and building lasting relationships.
Together, they share a commitment to doing things the right way. That means selecting quality ingredients, respecting the craft, preparing food with intention, and never compromising the standards that define their work.
Two Chefs. One Shared Vision.
What makes DL Cuisine special is not simply the experience behind its chefs, but the shared passion driving its future.
Chef Dave and Chef Chuck are building a culinary brand rooted in their community while continuing to explore new flavors, creative menus, and meaningful opportunities to serve. Their combined experience allows DL Cuisine to deliver everything from intimate private dinners and elevated celebrations to corporate catering, large-scale events, and fresh, chef-driven meals from the DL Cuisine mobile kitchen.
Beyond catering, their vision includes culinary consulting, supporting fellow restaurant owners, developing partnerships with local farmers and businesses, and creating new dining experiences that reflect their love of great food.
As DL Cuisine continues to grow, one thing will never change: the belief that every guest deserves outstanding food, genuine hospitality, and an experience worth remembering.
OUR MISSION
To bring people together through exceptional food, uncompromising quality, and genuine hospitality.
We are committed to honoring our local roots, celebrating the people who make our communities special, and creating bold, memorable culinary experiences prepared with passion and purpose.
Our mission is not simply to serve great food, but to make a meaningful difference in the moments, celebrations, and communities we are privileged to be part of.
OUR FUTURE
We are building a lasting culinary brand founded on trust, creativity, craftsmanship, community, and a shared love of food.
As partners, Chef Dave and Chef Chuck are committed to growing DL Cuisine thoughtfully, embracing new opportunities without losing sight of the values that brought them together.
Because at the heart of everything we do is a simple truth:
Great food brings people together. Passion makes it memorable. Genuine hospitality makes it meaningful.
From our kitchen to your table, welcome to DL Cuisine.
Chef Dave Locke & Chef Chuck Davis
Founder & Executive Chef | Executive Chef & Managing Partner
CHEF DAVE
Chef David Locke
Founder and Executive Chef
I grew up in Indiana, the middle child of two girls, raised like any other Midwest kid: “Go out and play, come back dirty, and be home before the streetlights come on.” Some of my best childhood memories revolve around family, food, and gathering around the dinner table. My parents, especially my mother, instilled in me the importance of family meals and bringing people together. Whether it was a family reunion, a backyard gathering, or dinner with friends, there was always a spread of delicious food and plenty of love. Those experiences gave me a strong desire to protect, care for, and bring people together.
After completing a year of college, I joined the United States Marine Corps, where I developed my leadership skills and learned the importance of bringing people together to accomplish a common goal: protecting and providing for ourselves and others. Following my service, I returned to my passion for food and attended Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. After graduation, I entered the Boston, Massachusetts restaurant scene, where I had the privilege of working with Chef Kevin Crawley of Coriander Bistro and Chef Bryan Rayelt of the Franklin Restaurant Group. These experiences helped me strengthen my culinary skills and grow my passion for food and community.
As my career developed, I began looking for ways to bring people together through more intimate food experiences. I eventually started my private chef business, DL Cuisine, and prepared food some amazing weddings, cocktail parties, community events, showers, and large family-style gatherings. I deeply enjoyed creating memorable experiences through great food and genuine hospitality.
Along the way, I explored opportunities outside the traditional restaurant industry, including food service management and sales. Although those experiences taught me a great deal, I continued taking on events whenever I could to keep my passion for cooking alive. However, in June 2019, my family and I made the move back to Indiana, where we have fallen back in love with the Midwest and the deeply special community of Zionsville.
Today, my passion for cooking comes from a deep love for bringing people together, one bite at a time. I find the most joy in the kitchen with my wife, Meghan, and our two girls, creating meals that nourish both our bodies and our souls.
This is the rebirth of DL Cuisine, with a vision of creating a community-focused mobile kitchen that provides delicious, local, and bold-flavored food with exceptional service.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief, that food is a way to show love, care for others, and bring people together. Whether it's preparing a meal, sharing a cooking experience, or creating a memorable event, my goal is to nourish both body and soul.
Chef Chuck
Chuck Davis
Executive Chef & Managing Partner
With nearly 30 years of professional culinary experience, I have built a career rooted in
passion, versatility, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to quality. My culinary
journey began at the age of 16 when I accepted my first professional cooking position
with KFC. What started as an early introduction to the food service industry evolved into
a lifelong dedication to the culinary arts and the hospitality industry.
Throughout my career, I have developed an extensive and diverse culinary background,
working across a wide range of cuisines, including Southern American comfort food,
traditional American, Cajun/Creole, Mexican fusion, Southwestern American, Asian,
European, and Mediterranean. My experience also spans fine dining, casual dining,
buffet service, family-style dining, and quick-service restaurants, which has shaped my
ability to adapt, innovate, and deliver quality dining experiences across virtually every
style of food service.
Beyond my culinary abilities, I bring extensive experience in restaurant ownership,
consulting, and management. My professional background includes developing
countless menus and original dishes, overseeing food and labor costs, managing
inventory and operational expenses, building and developing culinary teams, and
directing the many moving parts involved in successful restaurant operations.
My experience also extends well beyond traditional restaurant service. Having overseen
hundreds of catered and private dining events, I understand the importance of creating
memorable culinary experiences for occasions of every kind, including weddings,
corporate functions, birthdays, graduations, private celebrations, and memorial services.
Regardless of the event, my approach remains grounded in quality, attention to detail,
adaptability, and a genuine commitment to those I serve.
As Executive Chef and Managing Partner of DL Cuisine, alongside my business partner
and founder, Chef Dave Locke, I’m excited to combine my culinary creativity,
operational expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and passion for hospitality to help build a
business centered on exceptional food, memorable experiences, and a lasting
connection with the community.
At the heart of my culinary philosophy is a simple but deeply personal belief: cook from
the heart and create dishes that you are proud to serve. I believe that every plate,
regardless of the setting or occasion, is a direct reflection of the person who prepared it
and the standards they represent. I take tremendous pride in my versatility, welcome
new ideas and customer input, and remain committed to continuously expanding my
culinary knowledge and abilities.
For me, cooking is more than a profession. It is a craft, a responsibility, and an
opportunity to make a lasting impression. Every dish gives me the ability to demonstrate
pride, creativity, and passion, and give my customers a memorable culinary experience.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.