His love of food and impressive drive are so innate that his initial dream became a reality with the opening of his first cafe Ben Gusto in 2008, where he developed the menu and cooked in the kitchen himself. Now, in 2023, David’s name has become synonymous with success in the industry. Not only is he the mastermind behind well-known eateries Gochu, Candyshop and Poni – which he still owns – but also previously Little King, Dear Jervois, Major Sprout, Simon & Lee and more. He is recognised for fostering Korean food in the Auckland dining scene, and we are truly grateful!
David has always been fascinated by memorable experiences and cultural diversity and explains his passion this way: “It seems that I have pursued expanding my experiences through acquiring cultural diversity in