Register for your Test Drive today.
Your local manufacturer’s rep is ready to hand you the keys to take the most innovative food and beverage equipment for a spin in their test kitchen. By signing up for a Middleby Test Drive, you will see:
- Personalized solutions for your everyday foodservice challenges
- Equipment designed to reduce labor demands and increase efficiency
- The country’s best rep chefs doing what they love most, educating people like you
The Chefs
Chef Dan Tibbetts
Hailing from Massachusetts, Chef Daniel Tibbetts, CFSP, discovered his passion for food and hospitality at an early age. His culinary career began as a tournant at a local country club while attending a high school culinary arts program—a path that led him to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts Management from the esteemed Culinary Institute of America.
Following graduation, Dan honed his skills at country clubs in Massachusetts before moving to Chicago, where he launched Brunch, a popular 220-seat all-day concept in the heart of River North. He later joined the acclaimed Trump International Hotel & Tower as the In-Room Dining Chef, overseeing 24-hour service for 333 luxury guest rooms and managing operations for the property’s seasonal riverside terrace.
Dan’s culinary journey then took him to New York City, where he served as Executive Chef of a bustling gastropub on the Upper West Side and later as Chef de Cuisine for Tom Colicchio’s fast-casual concept, Wich’Craft, leading food production across more than a dozen locations citywide.
With experience ranging from fine dining to fast casual, and a résumé that includes international travel, culinary competitions, and participation in prestigious events like the James Beard Awards, Chef Dan brings both depth and innovation to every facet of his work.
Today, he serves as Corporate Chef for the Gabriel Group, where he combines his culinary expertise with a consultative approach—guiding operators in choosing the industry’s most forward-thinking equipment, tabletop solutions, and supplies. Whether in the kitchen or on the road, Chef Dan is passionate about elevating the foodservice experience through education, collaboration, and excellence.
Chef Josh Meeker, CEC
Chef Josh Meeker is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) through the American Culinary Federation, bringing over 30 years of culinary expertise to the table. A graduate of Schoolcraft College with a degree in Culinary Arts, Josh has long been an influential figure in Michigan’s culinary community. He has served as Secretary of the Michigan Chefs de Cuisine ACF Chapter in Detroit and spent more than a decade on the Schoolcraft College Culinary Advisory Board, helping guide and mentor the next generation of culinary professionals.
Josh’s career includes 15 years as a Private Chef to an elite clientele—among them the Governor of Michigan, NBA athletes, and NHL team owners. Today, he applies his deep culinary knowledge to the commercial kitchen equipment industry, where he has spent the last six years as a trusted manufacturer’s representative. His unique perspective bridges the gap between hands-on culinary innovation and real-world operational efficiency.
The Test Kitchen
Watch a video tour of our Wixom test kitchen here.
