Culinary experts and lovers Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh have returned to the Food Network in 2006 to star in 13 brand new episodes of their hit cooking series Party Line with Dan and Steve.

The first thing one is struck by when watching the charming and handsome “Hearty Boys” fly around a kitchen preparing food courses is what a great two-man team they make. Their many years together in the hectic, demanding world of high-end catering have clearly paid off. With celerity and no-nonsense precision, theirs is a cheerful, well-choreographed TV presentation – from soup to nuts – on how to put together dining & party events of all kind.

We knew gay readers would enjoy knowing more about The Hearty Boys, especially as a couple. Dan and Steve graciously, candidly and humorously reveal their shared lives and work together for this exclusive AfterElton.com interview.

AfterElton: How did you two meet and fall in love?
Dan and Steve: This is really a long story and one best answered with a couple of beers and fried snacks...but the short answer is we were both actors in NY and were cast in a show together. This was around 20 years ago. We dated for a summer, split up, moved to different parts of the country and, ten years later, through a wonderful twist of fate managed to get back together again. We had both realized what we had lost when we were so young and are so lucky to be given the second chance.

AE: How long have you been together?
D&S : So, we've been back together for nearly 10 years.

AE: Tell us about your adopted child Nate. Is parenthood turning out to be all that you expected?
D&S : We were so ready for Nate that it hasn't been a surprising bout of hardships. This is the direction our life was headed, we planned for years and then stepped into the role of dads. I think the biggest surprise we've had is learning how important it is to have family members really close in proximity. Unfortunately, our families are all back east and we can see how much easier things would be to be able to call grandma to watch him for a few hours.

He's six months now and has been with us since he's come home from the hospital. He's fat and happy and is an excellent flyer!

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