Episodes

Tristen Epps Talks Top Chef, Cultural Cuisine and Finding His Culinary Voice
June 12, 2025

Tristen Epps Talks Top Chef, Cultural Cuisine and Finding His Culinary Voice

Tristen Epps is a James Beard-nominated chef and Top Chef finalist whose journey, from JWU and the Greenbrier to mentorship under Marcus Samuelsson, shaped his unique Afro‑Caribbean voice. In this episode, we dive into race and food value, cultural gatekeeping, and resilience during competition. Tr…
Behind the Bar with Kara Newman: Spirits, Cocktail Trends and Home Bars
May 29, 2025

Behind the Bar with Kara Newman: Spirits, Cocktail Trends and Home Bars

Spirits writer and cocktail expert Kara Newman joins Chris Spear to talk about the evolution of modern mixology. From wild drinks like sour cream and onion martinis to smart home bar tips and the rise of non-alcoholic beverages, Kara shares her insights and inspirations. Listen now to learn about h…
A Taste of the Balearics: Jeff Koehler on the Spanish Mediterranean Islands Cookbook
May 14, 2025

A Taste of the Balearics: Jeff Koehler on the Spanish Mediterranean Islands Cookbook

Discover the rich culinary traditions of Spain’s Balearic Islands with award-winning food writer Jeff Koehler. In this episode, Jeff joins Chris to discuss his new book, The Spanish Mediterranean Islands Cookbook, and the seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking that defines island life. From daily mark…
Inside Tahini Baby: Eden Grinshpan on Veg-Centric Cooking
May 7, 2025

Inside Tahini Baby: Eden Grinshpan on Veg-Centric Cooking

Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter. This week on Chefs Without Restaurants, I’m joined by Eden Grinshpan, the chef, author, TV host, and culinary creative behind the new vegetarian cookbook Tahini Baby. You might know her as the host of Top Ch…
Shred Happens: Arash Hashemi on Low-Carb, High-Protein Cooking
April 16, 2025

Shred Happens: Arash Hashemi on Low-Carb, High-Protein Cooking

This week, I’m joined by Arash Hashemi of Shred Happens. We talk about his journey from struggling with food and weight to becoming a cookbook author and founder of Kaizen Foods. Arash shares tips for building healthier habits through low-carb, high-protein meals that actually taste good. We cover …
From Fine Dining to Ice Cream with Snow Crane's Chef Takeshi Nishikawa
April 2, 2025

From Fine Dining to Ice Cream with Snow Crane's Chef Takeshi Nishikawa

Chef Takeshi Nishikawa is trading Michelin stars for ice cream. In this episode, we explore his journey from DC fine dining to launching Snow Crane—a Japanese-inspired ice cream shop coming to Hyattsville, MD. We talk about flavor innovation, hospitality philosophy, and building a business rooted i…
How to Start a Successful Cottage Bakery with Maria Baradell of Leaf & Loaf
March 13, 2025

How to Start a Successful Cottage Bakery with Maria Baradell of Leaf & Loaf

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, I sit down with Maria Baradell, the founder of Leaf & Loaf, a thriving home-based sourdough bakery. Maria shares her inspiring journey from baking bread for her family to building a successful cottage bakery—and how she scaled up quickly to meet demand.
Jacques Pépin: A Culinary Legend Reflects on 75 Years in Food
Nov. 21, 2024

Jacques Pépin: A Culinary Legend Reflects on 75 Years in Food

Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter. This week on Chefs Without Restaurants , we celebrate two major milestones: our 250th episode and five years of podcasting. To mark t...
Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking with Joe Yonan
Nov. 11, 2024

Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking with Joe Yonan

In this episode, Chris Spear talks with Joe Yonan, Washington Post food editor and author of Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking. They explore what it means to eat “plant-based” without labels, Joe’s passion for global cuisine, and why texture and flavor are essential in vegetable-based dishes…
German Heritage Baking: Preserving Tradition with Heidrun Metzler
Oct. 31, 2024

German Heritage Baking: Preserving Tradition with Heidrun Metzler

Chris Spear welcomes Heidrun Metzler to discuss her cookbook German Heritage Baking, a celebration of classic German desserts and hands-on baking techniques. Heidrun shares how she preserves her family's recipes while adapting them for American kitchens, and the essential baking tips she picked up …
Exploring Cookie History and Recipes with Ben Mims, Author of Crumbs
Oct. 24, 2024

Exploring Cookie History and Recipes with Ben Mims, Author of Crumbs

In this episode, Chris Spear talks with cookbook author and food writer Ben Mims about his latest book, Crumbs. They dive into the fascinating history of cookies, discussing what defines a cookie, the stories behind classic recipes, and how different cultures have shaped cookie traditions worldwide…
Big Changes Ahead: What’s Next for Chefs Without Restaurants
Oct. 18, 2024

Big Changes Ahead: What’s Next for Chefs Without Restaurants

Celebrate the upcoming 250th episode and five-year anniversary of Chefs Without Restaurants with host Chris Spear! In this special solo episode, Chris announces a brief hiatus and introduces his new podcast, Personal Chef Business Startup Guide, focused on helping culinary entrepreneurs grow their …
The Art of Sandwich Making with Owen Han: From Viral Videos to a New Cookbook
Oct. 9, 2024

The Art of Sandwich Making with Owen Han: From Viral Videos to a New Cookbook

Join Chris Spear as he chats with Owen Han, the 'King of Sandwiches' and popular TikTok culinary creator. In this episode, Owen shares his journey from working in a hospital to becoming a social media sensation, amassing over 6 million followers with his mouthwatering sandwich creations. They dive …
Mastering Baking, Blogging and Photography with Broma Bakery's Sarah Fennel
Oct. 3, 2024

Mastering Baking, Blogging and Photography with Broma Bakery's Sarah Fennel

In this episode, Chris Spear chats with Sarah Fennel, the founder of Broma Bakery and author of the new cookbook Sweet Tooth. Sarah shares her journey from starting a food blog in college to building a successful online brand with millions of followers. They discuss her approach to recipe developme…
Chef David Burke on Creativity, Craftsmanship and Culinary Innovation
Sept. 26, 2024

Chef David Burke on Creativity, Craftsmanship and Culinary Innovation

Send us a text In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , host Chris Spear sits down with renowned chef David Burke, a trailblazer in modern American cuisine. Burke discusses his journey from a young chef leading kitchens...
Balancing Passion, Profit, and Culinary Innovation in the Restaurant Industry with Chef Michael Gulotta
Sept. 19, 2024

Balancing Passion, Profit, and Culinary Innovation in the Restaurant Industry with Chef Michael Gulotta

Join Chris Spear on this week's episode of Chefs Without Restaurants as he sits down with Chef Michael Gulotta. A New Orleans native and culinary innovator, Michael shares his journey from working in fine dining to opening MoPho, Maypop, and his latest venture, Tana. Tune in to hear about the reali…
Reimagining Hungarian Cuisine with Chef Jeremy Salamon of Agi’s Counter
Sept. 12, 2024

Reimagining Hungarian Cuisine with Chef Jeremy Salamon of Agi’s Counter

Send us a text In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , host Chris Spear sits down with Jeremy Salamon , the talented chef behind Agi’s Counter in Brooklyn and author of the newly released cookbook, Second Generation . ...
From Punk Drummer to Vegan Private Chef: Aaron Elliott’s Culinary Journey
Sept. 5, 2024

From Punk Drummer to Vegan Private Chef: Aaron Elliott’s Culinary Journey

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Elliott, former punk drummer turned vegan chef. Aaron shares his unique journey from touring musician to running a successful vegan meal delivery service, Meal Ticket, in LA. We discuss his love for music, how he became vegan, and the challenges of cooking on…
Exploring Landrace Heirloom Grains & Sustainable Farming | Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills
Aug. 29, 2024

Exploring Landrace Heirloom Grains & Sustainable Farming | Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear delves into the world of landrace heirloom grains and sustainable farming with Glenn Roberts, the founder of Anson Mills. Glenn shares his extensive knowledge on the history and significance of landrace crops, the challenges and rewards of p…
The Business of Food Content Creation with Preppy Kitchen’s John Kanell
Aug. 22, 2024

The Business of Food Content Creation with Preppy Kitchen’s John Kanell

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , Chris Spear continues his conversation from last week with John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen. Part 1 of their conversation can be found here . John's a former middle school teacher t...
Super Easy Recipes with Preppy Kitchen's John Kanell - Part 1
Aug. 13, 2024

Super Easy Recipes with Preppy Kitchen's John Kanell - Part 1

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , Chris Spear sits down with John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen for part 1 of their discussion. John's a former middle school teacher turned cooking personality. They discuss John's new...
Navigating Client Communication and Building Authentic Brands with Meghan Kix of BeeCat Creative - Part 2
Aug. 9, 2024

Navigating Client Communication and Building Authentic Brands with Meghan Kix of BeeCat Creative - Part 2

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , Chris Spear sits down with Meghan Kix for part 2 of their discussion on marketing and branding. You can find part 1 here . Meghan's a marketing and branding specialist who's work...
Mastering Your Brand with Meghan Kix: A Deep Dive into Marketing and Branding for Food Entrepreneurs
Aug. 2, 2024

Mastering Your Brand with Meghan Kix: A Deep Dive into Marketing and Branding for Food Entrepreneurs

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants , Chris Spear sits down with Meghan Kix, a marketing and branding specialist who's worked with major brands like Flying Dog Brewery, and now runs her own creative agency, BeeCat Cr...
Heirloom Beans and Beyond: Inside Rancho Gordo with Steve Sando
July 15, 2024

Heirloom Beans and Beyond: Inside Rancho Gordo with Steve Sando

In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear welcomes Steve Sando, the founder of Rancho Gordo, a company known for its heirloom beans. Steve shares his unconventional journey from a diverse range of careers, to ...