River and got his life-long love of animals from helping out at his fatherâs veterinary clinic.
Working at the Ship ashore restaurant during high school sparked his interest in the culinary arts. After graduating from Del Norte High, David moved to the Sacramento area, then to Houston, eventually landing in San Francisco where he worked for many years as a chef in various restaurants including Juliusâ Castle, Fleur de lys, and Masaâs. David graduated from the California Culinary Academy with Honors in 1988. While working at Bay City Bar and Grill, David met and fell in love with Erika Fitakis. They were married in 1990 at the Smith River United Methodist Church. They later divorced.