Rising Star Chef Daniel Sauer of 7a Foods - Biography

For some islanders, the off-season on Martha’s Vineyard means taking a break. But for Dan Sauer, it means menu development, planning gardens, and searching for potential new products for his business, 7a Foods. 7a is a soul-and-belly satisfying sandwich shop, bakery, and fine-foods store, with a technical precision and polish that earned Sauer a 2014 StarChefs.com Coastal New England Rising Star ChefAward.

A CIA-trained chef, Sauer cooked at Oceana and helped open both Hearth and Craft in New York City before he moved his skills and polish to the calmer, wild-rose covered terrain of Martha’s Vineyard. His mission is to support the island’s food growers and provide expertly prepared sandwiches that are accessible to all. Through his involvement with Island Grown Foods, the Wild Food Challenge, and his own 7a Suppers, Sauer is helping to improve his local food culture and evolve the role of the chef.