Chefs Without Restaurants Overcoming Business Closure: Chef Taffy Elrod's Journey from Restaurant to Recipe Developer
In this episode of the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast, host Chris Spear chats with Chef Taffy Elrod. With over 20 years in the culinary industry, Taffy shares her emotional journey of closing her restaurant in upstate New York due to COVID-19. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on small food businesses and her decision to pivot into recipe development, food writing, and content creation. Taffy offers valuable insights into how chefs can transition into content creation, partner with brands, and charge for recipe development work.
In addition to sharing her personal story, Taffy provides practical advice on pricing strategies, building relationships with brands, and the realities of life post-restaurant ownership. Stick around to find out who Taffy would love to shadow for a day and her favorite resources for recipe development. If you're navigating your own food business or are interested in culinary entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with valuable lessons.
Topics Discussed:
- Shutting down a restaurant due to COVID-19
- Transitioning to food writing and recipe development
- How to work with food brands and charge for services
- The rise of culinary content creation and social media
- The emotional toll of closing a business
Taffy Elrod
Taffy’s Website
Taffy’s Instagram
Taffy’s Twitter
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