ABOUT    MAMA    D

About Mama D

With a lifetime of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Dana Calhoun—better known as Mama D—has built a career on exceptional food, seamless execution, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

Her journey began in the 1990s at The Pasta Corner, a family-owned fast-casual Italian eatery in Saratoga, California. From there, she gained extensive experience in restaurant management, catering, and menu development, working in upscale dining and leading operations for three Fortune 500 companies as a restaurant manager and executive chef.

In 2009, Dana launched Blew By You Cafe, a federal contract dining facility, while simultaneously building a thriving full-service catering business. Today, she owns and operates Mama D’s Catering, delivering top-tier catering for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings with a focus on scratch-made food and flawless service.

Beyond catering, Dana is a restaurant consultant with a formal education in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She specializes in workplace culture, sales growth, and operational efficiency for restaurants, bars, wineries, and food service businesses. With a deep understanding of both business strategy and employee psychology, she helps owners and managers improve team dynamics, streamline operations, and maximize profitability.

Her expertise in sales, leadership development, and workplace psychology makes her an invaluable resource for businesses looking to enhance company culture, employee engagement, and customer experience.

No shortcuts. No compromises. Just exceptional food, smart business solutions, and a work environment where both employees and profits thrive.