Episode 195: Johnny Clark (Parachute & Wherewithall restaurants; Chicago)

A perennial seeker, Johnny Clark has had a long and unpredictable road to his success (with wife and co-chef/owner Beverly Kim) at Wherewithall and Parachute restaurants in Chicago, Illinois. From a Cincinnati childhood punctuated by a passion for skateboarding to New York City and gigs in several old-school kitchens to a stage under the late, great Im Ji-ho in Korea, and ultimately to Chicago, Johnny's path is utterly unique and his openness about his life and career challenges makes for a wonderfully open and honest dialogue. (He and Beverly and their team are also the subjects of Andrew's next book, due out in 2023.) This is one of those true deep-dive conversations that longtime listeners know is our favorite kind to record and share.

And, in the mid-show break, S.Pellegrino's Michele Vieira drops by to discuss the  global S.Pellegrino* Young Chef Academy Competition, and explain why listeners under 30 should consider applying. (For a sense of the competition, listen to Andrew's 2019 interviews with the most recent class of North American finalists.)

* our promotional partner

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

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Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!