Episodes

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 …

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…

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.

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...

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…

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 …

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…

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 …

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 …

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…

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...

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…

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 . ...

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…

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…