Season 3

The Future of The Chefs Without Restaurants Podcast

Dec. 28, 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, I want to thank all of the listeners, guests, and people who have supported this podcast. As I get ready to continue with shows in 2023, I want to know what you want to hear. Please take 5 minutes t…

All About Olive Oil with Master Miller David Garci-Aguirre of Corto

Dec. 21, 2022

This is the olive oil episode. This week, I speak with David Garci-Aguirre, the master miller at Corto. This one ingredient probably touches more dishes than any other ingredient except salt. But how much do we know about it…

Start and Grow a Successful Personal Chef Business with Imrun Texeira

Dec. 14, 2022

Chef Imrun Texeira is the chef and owner of Wanderlust , a personal chef service based in Toronto, Canada focused on blind tasting menus. Whether you currently have a personal chef business, want to start one, or are any typ…

Bringing Filipino Food to Charleston with Nikko Cagalanan of Mansueta’s

Dec. 7, 2022

On this week's episode, we have chef Nikko Cagalanan. Born and raised in the Philippines. Nikko grew up in a family that loved food. His dad cooked. His aunt cooked. And his grandmother, Mansueta, cooked. Sure, he didn’t alw…

A Look at Culinary School Today with Johnson & Wales University Chef Instructor Russ Zito

Nov. 29, 2022

On this week's episode, we have chef Russ Zito. Russ has been a culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University for 26 years. You might have heard our "What is a Chef" mini-episode. Chef Zito was one of my instructors and …

Community, Collaboration, and Education- Three Years of Chefs Without Restaurants

Nov. 23, 2022

Thank you for three years and 100,000 downloads. This week marks the three-year anniversary of the podcast, and last week we hit 100,000 total downloads, so I thought I'd do something a little different. This is a re-post of…

Chef Carla Hall Talks Top Chef, the Shift from Caterer to Food Media, and How to Make Amazing Biscuits

Nov. 16, 2022

On this week's show, we have chef Carla Hall. She was a contestant on Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars. Carla spent 7 years co-hosting ABC’s Emmy award-winning, popular lifestyle series “The Chew”. She's been on mult…

Learn to Garden and Cook Italian Food with Ciao Italia Host Mary Ann Esposito

Nov. 9, 2022

On this episode, we have chef, author, and TV personality Mary Ann Esposito. She's the creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito. The author of fourteen cookbooks, most recent…

Bringing Global Flavors to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Beyond with Chef Shannon Smith

Nov. 2, 2022

This week's guest is Shannon Smith. She’s a cook, teacher, and traveler based in Tulsa, OK. She's traveled to more than 50 countries, meeting and cooking with people, from home cooks to restaurant chefs, while documenting it…

Mentorship and Leadership in the Food Industry - What is a Chef with Russ Zito of Johnson & Wales University

Oct. 26, 2022

On this week's "What is a Chef?" episode we have chef Russ Zito. Russ has been a culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University for 26 years. I asked him what his definition of a chef was, and his response revolved around…

Foraging, Transplanting Ramps, and Snail Farming with Clark Barlowe

Oct. 19, 2022

Clark Barlowe is a seventh-generation North Carolinian. Growing up learning how to hunt ginseng with his grandfather, Clark learned to look at the plants around him for the potential nutrients and delicious ingredients that …

What is a Chef with Carla Hall

Oct. 12, 2022

This week we have a "What is a Chef?" episode with Carla Hall. Carla is a chef, cookbook author, two-time Top Chef contestant, and former co-host of The Chew. Our full conversation will be released in a few weeks. Subscribe …

How to Make and Use Masa with Masienda Founder Jorge Gaviria

Oct. 5, 2022

This week’s guest is Jorge Gaviria, founder of Masienda, and author of the new book Masa . On the show, you’re going to get the Masienda origin story, and find out why it all started with the corn. Jorge explains nixtimaliza…

Chefs as Leaders in the Community - What is a Chef with Clark Barlowe

Sept. 28, 2022

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Clark Barlowe. He’s a chef, former restaurant owner, cooking instructor, forager, and now... law student. Stay tuned for my full episode with him which will be released soon. CLAR…

A Restaurant Closure, Recipe Development and How to Work with Brands with Chef Taffy Elrod

Sept. 21, 2022

This week's guest is Taffy Elrod. She’s a chef, restaurant owner, cooking instructor, recipe developer, and food writer with 20 years of experience in the food industry. We discuss the closure of her restaurant in upstate Ne…

Luladey Moges on Ethiopian Cooking and Her New Cookbook Enebla: Recipes From an Ethiopian Kitchen

Sept. 14, 2022

This week, I speak with Luladey Moges. She's the author of the new cookbook Enebla: Recipes From an Ethiopian Kitchen. Growing up, first in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and then in the United States, she learned the …

Cobra Kai Actor Dan Ahdoot on Persian Cooking, Dining Out and Green Eggs & Dan

Sept. 7, 2022

This week, in preparation for Season 5 of Cobra Kai, we're re-releasing our episode with Dan Ahdoot . who plays Anoush on the show. He’s a standup comic, actor, writer, producer, and podcast host. He's also the host of Food …

How to Make Better Sourdough Bread with Andy Roy of Twin Bears Bakery

Aug. 31, 2022

This week we have a short episode about how to make better sourdough bread. This was part of a much longer conversation with Andy Roy of Twin Bears Bakery in Frederick, Maryland. At Twin Bears, they make 100% naturally-leave…

Ukrainian Chef Anna Voloshyna and Her New Cookbook Budmo!

Aug. 24, 2022

This week's guest is chef Anna Voloshyna. She's a Ukrainian-born, California-based chef, blogger, and culinary instructor. Her upcoming cookbook Budmo! (out September 27th) celebrates classic Eastern European recipes with a …

How to Grow Your Personal Chef Business with Airbnb

Aug. 17, 2022

This week I talk about how you can grow your personal chef business using vacation rental properties like Airbnb and VRBO . This has been where the majority of my business has been coming from for the past five years. I’ve t…

What is a Chef with Taffy Elrod

Aug. 10, 2022

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Taffy Elrod. She’s a chef, restaurant owner, cooking instructor, recipe developer, and food writer with 20 years of experience in the food industry. Stay tuned for my full episode…

Creating a Kitchen Pantry Representing Time and Place- with Daniel Liberson of Lindera Farms

Aug. 3, 2022

This week's guest is Daniel Liberson of Lindera Farms, a nature reserve in Delaplaine, Virginia. There, Daniel forages for items local to the area, and creates fermented pantry items for both restaurants and home cooks. His…

The Recipe Tool That Helps Save Time, Cut Costs and Improve Execution - with Meez Founder Josh Sharkey

July 27, 2022

This week's guest is Josh Sharkey. He's the founder of Meez , an online recipe tool that helps you save time, cut costs and improve execution. Josh talks about how he started Meez, and gives a rundown of its functions and ho…

One Moment Can Change Your Life - with Philadelphia Chef Eli Kulp

July 20, 2022

This week's guest is Eli Kulp. He's the co-founder and culinary director of High Street Hospitality Group, as well as the host of both The Chef Radio Podcast and Delicious City Philly Podcast He has been a finalist for JBF B…

Keep Being Curious - Master Pastry Chef Christopher Curtin of Éclat Chocolate

July 12, 2022

This week's guest is Christopher Curtin, the certified master pastry chef, and chocolatier behind Éclat Chocolate, which he founded in West Chester, PA in 2004. After attending culinary school, he spent 14 years honing his s…

Chefs as Teachers - What is a Chef with Eli Kulp

July 5, 2022

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Eli Kulp. He's the co-founder and culinary director of High Street Hospitality Group, as well as the host of both The Chef Radio Podcast and Delicious City Podcast He has been a f…

Do One Thing Really Well - Talking Breakfast Tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer of King David Tacos

June 28, 2022

This week I’m talking breakfast tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer, founder of King David Tacos. An Austin native, Liz brought her love of the breakfast taco to NYC. What started as a drop-off catering business, then grew from two…

Mentorship, Growing Your Employees, and Letting Them Leave

June 21, 2022

This week is a solo episode. The topic was prompted by Ray Delucci of Line Cook Thoughts who posed the question "How do you motivate your staff in the food industry?" My reply was "Find out what their goals are, and where th…

Getting Fired, Dealing with Anxiety, and Silver Linings

June 14, 2022

This week is a solo episode. I discuss the time I was fired from a job and the subsequent anxiety that I experienced due to that. It took a long time before I came to terms with the whole experience. But there was also a sil…

On Not Identifying as a Chef - What is a Chef with Sara Hauman

June 7, 2022

This week's "What is a Chef" mini-episode is with Sara Hauman, You might know her as the yogurt queen from season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef, or the owner of The Tiny Fish Co. You can find last week's full episode with her here …

Talking Top Chef and Tiny Fish with Sara Hauman

May 31, 2022

This week I have Sara Hauman, You might know her as the yogurt queen from season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef, or from her highly entertaining Instagram cooking videos where she's making some delicious-looking food. After high sch…

Build and Grow Your Personal Chef Business Now - Advice from Chef Jonathan Bardzik

May 24, 2022

This week my guest is Jonathan Bardzik. He was first on the show on the show in July 2021 , and I wanted to have him back. He’s a storyteller, cook, and author. He’s a performer, speaking and cooking for private and corporat…

Chefs as Stewards of the Environment - What is a Chef with Brady Lowe

May 17, 2022

This week we have a mini-episode with Taste Network's Brady Lowe. If you haven't heard our full episode with him, you can check it out here. During our conversation, I asked him what it means to be a chef. In this quick epis…

The Seafood Episode with Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea- Fresh vs Frozen, Wild vs Farmed and How to Buy and Prepare Fish

May 10, 2022

This week my guest is Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea. Sena’s part of at least a third-generation fishing family. With her husband Rich, they’re bringing premium quality seafood directly to their customers. Sena has a master’s degr…

The Cajun Vegan Krimsey Lilleth on Closing Her Restaurant, Writing a Cookbook, and Quitting Social Media

May 3, 2022

This week I have Krimsey Lilleth. She’s the author of The Cajun Vegan Cookbook, and was the owner of Krimsey‘s Cajun kitchen, the world's first vegan Cajun restaurant. Due to Covid, Krimsey made the tough decision to close h…

Taste Network's Brady Lowe - The Future of Food Events, and the Rise and Fall of Cochon 555

April 26, 2022

Today I have Brady Lowe, founder of Taste Network. Started in 2002, he’s currently on a mission to disrupt, and rethink the typical food marketing strategies, forge new online possibilities, and partner with and help promote…

What is a Chef with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel

April 19, 2022

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. Today's answer comes from Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel. You can hear my full episode with him here , and another mini-episode where we talk about health a…

Free Food and Failure

April 12, 2022

This week, I talk about free food and failure. More specifically, I discuss why giving away free food, and doing events for free didn't work out for me. I'm not saying that there might not be a place for it. But before you d…

Talking All Things Chocolate (and Vanilla) with Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle

April 5, 2022

This week my guest is Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle, a chocolate shop he owns in downtown Frederick, Maryland. You might’ve heard my mini-episode with him a couple of months ago about what it means to be a chef. On th…

From Food Truck To Restaurant and Condiment Line with Poi Dog's Kiki Aranita

March 29, 2022

This week's guest is Philadelphia chef Kiki Aranita. You might know her from her Poi Dog food truck and subsequent restaurant of the same name. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, she had to shut down her restaurant. B…

Health, Wellness and Vegetarianism with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel

March 22, 2022

This week I have a bonus episode with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel. During our full conversation , we talked primarily about pizza making, and how he created the Baking Steel. While recording the episode, we discussed heal…

What is a Chef with Jensen Cummings of Best Served

March 15, 2022

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as much insight on this as po…

What is a Chef with Matt Collins of Chef Collins Events

March 8, 2022

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as much insight on this as po…

Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish - Cookbook Author Cathy Barrow

March 1, 2022

On this episode we have cookbook author and food writer Cathy Barrow. She has written for the New York Times , Garden and Gun , The Local Palate , Modern Farmer , Saveur , Southern Living , NPR, and National Geographic , amo…

On Pizza and Entrepreneurship - How Andris Lagsdin Created the Baking Steel

Feb. 25, 2022

This week I have Baking Steel founder Andris Lagsdin. It’s the inspiring story of how Andris built his successful business. He spent a number of years working in restaurants, which included being on chef Todd English’s manag…

What is a Chef with David Pollack of Cooking Without Kidneys

Feb. 22, 2022

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as much insight on this as po…

What is a Chef with Virginia Willis

Feb. 18, 2022

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as much insight on this as po…

Chef Virginia Willis on Writing Cookbooks and Her Wellness Journey

Feb. 15, 2022

This week I have James Beard Foundation Award-winner, chef Virginia Willis. She was the TV kitchen director for Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay, and Nathalie Dupree and executive producer for Epicurious TV on the Discovery Channe…

Show Your Work and Don't Fear Criticism

Feb. 11, 2022

This is a mini-episode about showing your work. I made this episode for the new creators out there. Whether you’re blogging, podcasting, or posting photos on Instagram, there are going to be people out there (usually strange…

Learn How to Start an Online Cooking Class Business with Chef Matt Finarelli

Feb. 8, 2022

This week I have personal chef and cooking instructor Matt Finarelli. Matt was a guest on our show way back in March 2020. In fact, he might’ve been the last in-person show that we recorded before the Covid shut down. If you…