Silver Diner presents Chef Ype Von Hengst, co-founder and executive chef of Silver Diner and winner of Food Network’s Chopped, at its Innsbrook location.
Tuesday, October 3, and Friday, October 13, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on both nights, Von Hengst will host a cooking demonstration on how to make comfort food healthier for families. The Tuesday, October 3 event is during the restaurant’s weekly Kids’ Night.
Since co-founding Silver Diner, Inc. with Bob Giaimo in 1989, Von Hengst has developed hundreds of seasonal specials and new menu items to ensure Silver Diner’s selections continually reflect the trends and changes in consumer tastes and preferences.
Prior to executive chef positions at top restaurants in New York City and Washington D.C., Von Hengst received his training as an apprentice in some of Europe’s finest restaurants. Born in the Netherlands, the chef discovered his passion for food while cooking for his family at the age of seven. His time spent in the garden and in the kitchen has led to a lifelong career of cooking and helping others live a healthier life.
Committed and dedicated to living a healthy life, Von Hengst has competed in the Marine Corps Marathon and pairs healthy eating with weightlifting every day. With two culinary medals, he has cooked for the likes of Michael Jackson, President Reagan, and the Rolling Stones. Above all of his successes in life, Von Hengst considers his biggest accomplishment his relationship with his wife and being a father to his two children.
In January 2007, Von Hengst revolutionized dining in the D.C. area when Silver Diner became the first chain restaurant to eliminate the use of trans fats from the menus of all its locations.
The changes that he has made on a professional level for his guests have also paid off for Von Hengst in a more personal way. Over a period of eight months, he dropped more than thirty pounds thanks to increased physical activity (weightlifting and daily boot camp) and a well-balanced diet. Von Hengst did this to train for his first-ever Marine Corps Marathon, which he completed in October 2008.
Read more about Silver Diner and its commitment to families and healthy dining here.
