Episodes

Jan. 4, 2023

Should You Work For Free?

This week I talk about working for free. 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 isn't a place for it. But before you do an event, I…
Dec. 28, 2022

The Future of The Chefs Without Restaurants Podcast

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…
Dec. 21, 2022

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

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…
Dec. 14, 2022

Start and Grow a Successful Personal Chef Business with Imrun Texeira

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…
Dec. 7, 2022

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

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…
Nov. 29, 2022

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

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 …
Nov. 23, 2022

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

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…
Nov. 16, 2022

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

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…
Nov. 9, 2022

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

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…
Nov. 2, 2022

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

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…
Oct. 26, 2022

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

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…
Oct. 19, 2022

Foraging, Transplanting Ramps, and Snail Farming with Clark Barlowe

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 …
Oct. 12, 2022

What is a Chef with Carla Hall

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 …
Oct. 5, 2022

How to Make and Use Masa with Masienda Founder Jorge Gaviria

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…
Sept. 28, 2022

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

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…
Sept. 21, 2022

Overcoming Business Closure: Chef Taffy Elrod's Journey from Restaurant to Recipe Developer

Chef Taffy Elrod shares her story of closing her restaurant due to COVID-19 and transitioning into food writing and recipe development. In this episode, she discusses the challenges of running a small business during the pan…
Sept. 14, 2022

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

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 …
Sept. 7, 2022

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

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 …
Aug. 31, 2022

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

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…
Aug. 24, 2022

Ukrainian Chef Anna Voloshyna and Her New Cookbook Budmo!

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 …
Aug. 17, 2022

How to Grow Your Personal Chef Business with Airbnb

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…
Aug. 10, 2022

What is a Chef with Taffy Elrod

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…
Aug. 3, 2022

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

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…
July 27, 2022

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

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 how…