Pete Daversa grew up in Niantic, Connecticut – a small town on the southeastern shoreline. His fascination with food and the culinary world began as a kid growing up around his mother’s cooking and with his first job at King Neptune’s Fish Market.  As time went on, he developed a personal passion for barbecue, spending his free time smoking ribs and brisket for family and friends any chance he could get.

After a decade of working in the IT industry, Pete decided to switch gears and pursue his culinary dream. He met his future wife, who is a native New Yorker, moved to the city and graduated from the Culinary Arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education.  He honed that love of barbecue for the next two years at Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke. 

Pete joined the Hill Country team in June 2007, shortly after the restaurant’s opening.  He was quickly promoted through the ranks at Hill Country, finally achieving his current role of Pitmaster/Chef de Cuisine.  He is thrilled to be sharing in the successes of the award-winning Hill Country and living his barbecue dream.

Pete and his wife, Kristin, live in Hoboken, NJ with Marley, their yellow Labrador Retriever.