Chefs Without Restaurants

On this week's podcast, we have Justin Khanna, the founder of Repertoire, a hospitality education company, and the host of The Repertoire Podcast.  We talk about measurable metrics for success in the kitchen, including working clean. We also dive into the realm of podcasting itself. Justin shares valuable insights on guest outreach and workflow management. We discuss the dynamics of working with PR agencies, and why it's not always about landing guests with huge followings.We also talk about being part of, and even building your own community. And we explore the distinction between running a lifestyle business and an acquirable business, offering crucial advice for entrepreneurs. If you have a business partner, you won't want to miss Justin's wisdom on aligning your visions. Justin has previously been a guest on this show. Here you can find part 1 and part 2 of that conversation, as well as his What is a Chef mini-episode.JUSTIN KHANNAThe Repertoire Courses and NewsletterThe Repertoire PodcastJustin's WebsiteJustin's Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTokCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeThe Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook GroupChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesPeople and things mentioned in this episode:Austin Kleon on SceniusThe book Scaling People from former Stripe and Google executive Claire Hughes Johnson Turning Pro by Steven PressfieldReid Hoffman and AirBnB’s Brian Chesky discuss The 11 star experience SPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AssociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generaGet in touchSupport the show

On this week’s show, I have Lisa Donovan and Julie Belcher of Rêverie Retreats. These retreats are the kind of trips that I want to take. Travel to the Loire Valley... Take a French pastry lesson with an acclaimed baker...Have a natural wine tasting. Plenty of time to eat and relax. Maybe make some new friends.You’ll learn how and why Lisa and Julie started this, and how you can join them on one of these excursions. We talk about how they select the partners and purveyors they work with, natural wine, and not wanting to work in professional restaurant kitchens. I also wanted to discuss their dynamic and what their working relationship looks like. How they balance the tasks and workflow. And I also had to talk to Lisa about pie crustRÊVERIE RETREATSCheck out the Rêverie website and book a tourInstagram: Reverie, Julie Belcher, and Lisa Donovan Previous podcast episode with Lisa DonovanLisa’s book Our Lady Of Perpetual Hunger CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants Instagram Chefs Without Restaurants on TikTok Chefs Without Restaurants on YouTube Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites SPONSOR INFO United States Personal Chef Association Are you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA. And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages. To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

This week my guest is Nick DiGiovanni. Nick was a MasterChef finalist on season 10, which he did while attending Harvard. Since then, he’s been creating food and cooking content online. His YouTube channel recently passed the 10 million subscriber mark, and he has over 11 million followers on TikTok. His videos are both educational and funny, often done in collaboration with other celebrities and and YouTube personalities. He’s made slushies with Mr Beast, chili with Kevin from the office, and recently broke the Guinness book of world records for the largest beef wellington. That video, by the way, featured someone you might have heard of…Gordon Ramsay. But Nick still seems pretty grounded. While grateful for his fans and followers, he says he doesn’t get caught up in the numbers and analytics. Last week he released his first cookbook Knife Drop: Creative Recipes Anyone Can Cook. We discuss the book, video creation, collaborations and more. We also talk about Nick's line of premium cooking and finishing salts called Osmo Salt.NICK DiGIOVANNIBuy the book Knife Drop: Creative Recipes Anyone Can Cook Nick’s YouTube channel Nick’s Instagram Nick’s Website Nick’s TikTok CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS  If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants Instagram Chefs Without Restaurants on TikTok Chefs Without Restaurants on YouTube Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites SPONSOR INFO United States Personal Chef Association Are you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

This week, my guest is Lior Lev Sercarz. Lior is the chef, spice blender, and owner of La Boîte, a spice shop in New York City. He's previously released the cookbooks The Art of Blending, The Spice Companion and Mastering Spice. This week, he released his 4th book, A Middle Eastern Pantry. In this new cookbook he focuses on the everyday ingredients used throughout this vast region, including Turkey, Tunisia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Armenia, Jordan, and more, as he offers an homage to the pantry staples that define Middle Eastern cuisine.In addition to discussing his cookbooks, we talk about why he started his spice company, and how it’s evolved since its inception. Currently, he has around 100 spice blends that are available to the public, but he makes an additional 200 blends specifically for other restaurants and businesses. Additionally, he sells 80-90 single spices. We also talk about the procurement process, the quality of his spices, and spice use today vs back in the 80’s. You know…way back when your mom probably had just pepper, granulated garlic and a musty old can of paprika. And not related to spices, we talk about the formation of the Galilee Culinary Institute, something he’s really passionate about. LIOR LEV SERCARZBuy the book A Middle Eastern PantryThe La Boîte websiteInstagram: Lior & La Boîte The Galilee Culinary InstituteOther books: The Art of Blending, The Spice Companion and Mastering Spice CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AssociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

This week on Chefs Without Restaurants I speak with Ryan Gray and Janice Tiefenbach of Elena, Gia, and Nora Gray restaurants in Montreal. They recently released a cookbook called Salad Pizza Wine. During our conversation, Ryan and Janice shared their insights on the evolving Montreal food scene and how they've embraced change in their own establishments. We discuss the importance of cultivating a healthy restaurant culture for both staff and customers, emphasizing the crucial role of leadership.Discover what it means for them to embrace local ingredients in running a pizzeria in Montreal. Instead of relying on imported ingredients from Italy, they made the decision to explore and support local sources.Naturally, we also discussed their new cookbook, delving into pizza-making, hoagies, and the world of natural wine. RYAN GRAY and JANICE TIEFENBACHBuy the book Salad Pizza WineInstagram: Ryan Gray, Janice Tiefenbach, Elena Restaurant, Nora Gray Restaurant CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AssociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

This week I have Krimsey Lilleth. She’s the author of The Cajun Vegan Cookbook, and was the owner of Krimsey‘s Cajun kitchen, the world's first vegan Cajun restaurant. Due to Covid, Krimsey made the tough decision to close her North Hollywood restaurant in Spring 2020. She knew she wanted to share her recipes with her fans so they could re-create their favorite dishes at home, which is what inspired her to write her first cookbook.Last year I released my full episode with her, which can be found here. Today, here's an except from that show. It's the segment where Krimsey dicusses her decision to leave social media. These days it seems like you have to have a strong social media presence if you want to have your business succeed. But it’s definitely a double-edged sword. How much of your time is being taken up by it? Does it really matter at the end of the day? How had her life changed since making the decision to delete all of her social accounts? I’d love to hear what you think. Are we all just caught up in the hamster wheel, and it’s a huge waste of our time?KRIMSEY LILLETHKrimsey's WebsiteBuy The Cajun Vegan Cookbook CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AssociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

In this episode, I speak with Andre Uribe, a personal chef and the co-owner of Sustainable Meals Oregon. We delve into Andre's journey as a chef and his foray into video and storytelling, which now includes his own audio and video podcast, Chef Therapy.During our conversation, Andre talks about how he crafted his business model, devised a pricing structure, and strategically positioned himself in the market. His culinary enterprise places a strong emphasis on meal prep using locally sourced ingredients, and he explains why collaborating with local purveyors forms the foundation for Sustainable Meals Oregon.We explore Andre's aspiration to strike a better work-life balance, enabling him to pursue his other passions and spend quality time with his family.Tune in to gain valuable insights from Chef Andre, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey, and his commitment to sustainable practices.ANDRE URIBE Chef Andre on Instagram Andre’s website Sustainable Meals Oregon Sustainable Meals Oregon on Instagram The Chef Therapy Podcast on YouTube The Chef Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts  CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants Instagram Chefs Without Restaurants on TikTok Chefs Without Restaurants on YouTube Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites SPONSOR INFO United States Personal Chef Association Are you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com. Get in touchSupport the show

This week I speak with chef Matt Collins about payment methods and deposits, with a side or horror stories. Whether you work in the food industry or not, if you receive payment for your services, you won't want to miss this.We cover various options for payment methods, including cash, check, Venmo, Zelle, Paypal and Square. We talk deposits: when to request them and how much to ask for. Additionally, we discuss fees and gratuity. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tips on handling payments.MATT COLLINSMatt Collins on InstagramChef Collins Events - Private DinnersCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AsociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

On today's show, I have Nicolas and Stephen Servis, identical twin brothers who founded Servis Events, a private dining service based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. You’ll learn how the brothers pivoted during the early days of the pandemic to start their business.Nicolas and Stephen's passion for farm-to-table cuisine flourished during their time as chefs de partie at The Mainland Inn, where they tackled full animal butchery, gardening, and more. Later, while volunteering at Quarry Hill Farm, Stephen learned about the WWOOF program, a travel-for-work opportunity on organic farms. So, when the pandemic forced the brothers to leave their restaurant jobs in 2020, seeking inspiration, they moved to Maine for two months to work on Flying Pond Farm, where their vision for Servis Events began to take shape.Today, Nicolas and Stephen share their story and passion for culinary arts and sustainability, combining their love of cooking with their dedication to being stewards of the planet. SERVIS EVENTSServis Events on InstagramServis Events - Private DinnersCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AsociationAre you a personal chef looking for support and growth opportunities? Look no further than the United States Personal Chef Association! With nearly 1,000 members across the US and Canada, USPCA provides liability insurance, certification, lead generation, and more. Consumers can trust that their meal experience is insured and supported by USPCA.And now, for a limited time, save $75 on new membership and get your premier listing on Hire a Chef by using the code TaxBreak2023 at USPCA.com. Plus, if you have products or services to sell to chefs and their clients, showcase your business on the Hire a Chef and USPCA websites with our great introductory packages.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Get in touchSupport the show

Do you or someone you love have a food allergy or intolerance? Or maybe you're a chef who cooks for people and wants to get better at accommodating customers with dietary restrictions. In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris speaks with Kayla Cappiello, the author of the new book "Easy Allergy-Free Cooking," about food allergies and how to cook delicious meals that are safe for those with dietary restrictions.Kayla has celiac disease, is lactose intolerant, and is allergic to tree nuts, so she knows firsthand the challenges of cooking with multiple dietary restrictions. She started documenting her experiences online, sharing new recipes she was making and recommending places to eat that catered to those with allergies. Her Instagram quickly gained followers, and she now has 47,000 fans who love her allergy-free cooking tips and recipes.Kayla's book, "Easy Allergy-Free Cooking," is a choose-your-own-adventure cookbook that accommodates multiple allergies and dietary restrictions. Every recipe includes tips on how to make adjustments for gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free diets, as well as suggestions for making the dish vegetarian or low-fat. It's the perfect guide for anyone who wants to cook delicious, allergy-free meals for themselves or their loved ones.In this episode, Kayla and Chris discuss the challenges of cooking with multiple allergies, how to make substitutions in your favorite recipes, and the importance of community for those with food allergies. Kayla also shares some of her favorite recipes from the book, KAYLA CAPPIELLOKayla's InstagramBuy the Book: Easy Allergy-Free CookingCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterPrivate Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesGet in touchSupport the show