#51 – Is Being Present the Secret Ingredient of CookHouse? | Chef George Dailey

Chef & owner of On the Hill Cafe and CookHouse, Chef George Dailey joins the podcast. Dailey is originally from Venezuela. He started his cooking career in Boston, then moved to Baltimore and opened On the Hill Cafe in 2005. In this conversation, Dailey shares his passion for global flavors, seasonal menus, and the art of hospitality. Dailey reflects on building two beloved Baltimore spots. Dailey shares his hands-on approach that ensures quality and consistency. Dailey reveals how he crafts inventive menus inspired by what he loves to eat and what makes the community happy. Dailey also shares how being present in every detail keeps his restaurants thriving after decades.

Topics Covered: 

• The journey of sustaining On the Hill Cafe for over 20 years and launching CookHouse 
• Menu development: balancing classics, creativity, and customer cravings 
• The value of local, seasonal ingredients and adapting to change 
• Dailey’s commitment to being in the kitchen and why that matters 
• Building community and memorable experiences through food

📍 Find On the Hill Cafe and CookHouse in Baltimore’s Bolton Hill, and discover their menus online or on social media.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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