About Us
Origin of the Hamster
Hunter Daniels is the owner and head chef of Hamster’s Handpies.
The story of his title as head Hamster-in-Charge stems from years of working in kitchens with Honduran and other Central Americans. Since the name “Hunter” was difficult for them to pronounce, it was translated to something like “Hampter,” and thus Chef Hamster was born.
After his education at the Culinary Institute of America, Hunter returned to the south and moved to New Orleans. He has held many positions at some of the best restaurants in the city, including Sous Chef at Peche when they won two James Beard awards and Chef de Cuisine of Maypop when they were a finalist in 2020 (not awarded).
Founded in 2020, Hamster’s Handpies has been bringing you fresh and creative flavors, in delicious handmade empanada style pastry.
Catering
We offer catering to weddings, parties, private dinners, and any other event in need of food that keeps people happy. We can arrange a custom menu for all occasions, and have catered events both big and small with a wide variety of cuisines.
Knife Sharpening
With years of experience sharpening knives for commercial and residential purposes, we offer knife sharpening at competitive rates for your home or business needs!