CAFE Talks Podcast

What keeps you up at night and what pushes you to jump out of bed in the morning? Is it angst over work left undone, or projects on the horizon that you are not sure how to approach? Or…is it that next great idea and the desire to bring it to fruition? From an early age we are wired to think, to learn, and to build. It is this desire to create that excites us and brings a smile to our face. This i...

Chef to entrepreneur, entrepreneur to trainer, trainer to teacher, teacher to innovative leader – thus is the career track for Chef Warren Leigh. His passion for food and service began as a son of a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army – living in Germany, studying in France and Switzerland, and becoming a commis to Madeleine Kamman. This chef who speaks three languages and, with his wife, owned an...

Moving the bar from good to great is driven by a commitment to building a team, engaging their thoughts, and aligning everyone with the concept of excellence in everything they do. Great is not a destination, but rather an attitude that even the smallest of tasks deserves the very best effort and those involved never being truly content – always striving to improve. Great is the polar opposite of...

"Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness." This was the core of Chef Auguste Escoffier's beliefs and the basis by which he established standards of organization, conduct, and excellence in cooking. Michel Escoffier, the chef's great grandson has made it his mission to present, perpetuate, and grow the legacy and teachings of the Escoffier name. Listen to this podcast interview with Michel...

Club and resort chef in quality, high –volume kitchens to classrooms preparing the next generation of cooks – Chef Pliska has always wanted to be in a position to give back. He feels fortunate to have enjoyed the work and positions that he held in operations from Washington, DC to Dusseldorf – West Germany. Today, he spends his time mentoring students at Ozark Technical Community College – a place...

Carpenter or chef – the choices were there and a chance visit to a culinary classroom solidified his decision. Frank Costantino loved cooking since he was very young helping his dad cook at home on the weekends. Little did he know at that time that his life would be filled with the challenges and joys of being a chef and educator. From an early beginning when a guidance counselor proclaimed that h...

From a young teenage boy in Detroit riding his Stingray bike to that first job as a dishwasher to one of America's extraordinary Certified Master Chefs – Dan Hugelier talks about his journey. Those humble beginnings of mastering four egg pans and a griddle as breakfast cook to earning gold medals in the Culinary Olympics – this exceptional chef demonstrated the craftsmanship, discipline, inquisiti...

Food Truck Entrepreneur to serial restaurateur opening Mission Chinese in San Francisco and New York, operator of what Bon Appetit called one of the 10 Best New Restaurants, and one of the most important restaurants in America; James Beard semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant, and chef/operator of The Perennial – an environmentally sustainable restaurant. Recently, the James Beard Foundation as t...

Ah… artisan bread – such a gift, such an incredible statement of craftsmanship, such an important part of the human experience. Those who work with the four primary ingredients of bread: flour, salt, water and yeast (or starter) are a special breed. They are individuals who dedicate their lives and passion to mastering the process of mixing, shaping, proofing, and baking those incredible loaves of...

A touch of chocolate, the crunch of a tuile cookie, some fresh fruit, crème anglaise on the plate, and a quenelle of mocha gelato – this is an incredible end to a memorable meal. The role of the pastry chef is to create these memories, to solidify the guest experience and to keep them wanting more. Whether it is a flaky croissant, a fresh fruit Bavarian, beautiful chocolate truffles, fondant coate...

That simple dish that your grandmother made – a dish likely passed down from her grandmother is more than just a memory. That dish reflects an understanding of source, tradition, culture, family, good times and challenging ones, economics and place. As important as it is for young cooks to understand how to cook, it is equally important to know the history of why to cook a certain way – what broug...

When a person has that a'ha moment, you know that moment when he or she thinks: "This is what I was meant to do with my life". At that moment there is a rush of adrenaline that provides the fuel for a sense of purpose. It may be said that people choose a career, but with chefs the rule is that the career chooses them. From that point on, a person becomes a sponge – seeking to learn whatever he or...

Coffee is the universal elixir, the beverage that keeps our personal motors running, a boost of energy or a soothing friend, the start to our day and the end to a great meal – coffee is an integral part of our every day. Those who are deeply involved with the history, agriculture, traditions, brewing techniques and artistry of presenting the perfect cup are also pillars of local communities and su...

The food industry provides limitless opportunities for careerists – opportunities that are incredibly diverse. As you walk through your local grocery outlet or browse through that vendor's catalog of ingredients at a chef's disposal – it is enlightening to note that there is a product development person behind each one of those ingredients on the shelf or in the catalog. Each product is the result...

We all have an opportunity to make a difference or as Steve Jobs once said: "Make a dent in the universe". Some of us work hard at pushing change and opening minds while others simply sit back and wonder what could have been. CAFÉ Talks is proud to offer a conversation with Chef Jeremiah Tower - a truly remarkable chef/restaurateur who made such a dent introducing the world to California Cuisine,...

A systems advocate throughout his career – Kevin O'Donnell has taken his career from convention center management to high-end hotels, a Sun Valley exclusive dude ranch to elegant New England country inns, and busy co-op grocery stores to teaching kitchens and dining rooms of hospitality and culinary schools in New York and Vermont. A problem solver, logistics manager, creative thinker and mentor t...

A highly successful chef chooses a different direction – a chance to give back, to be a mentor for others, to open eyes and open doors – to teach. Years later, his personal accomplishments are transformed into student accomplishments. He built a program based on an experience that goes beyond the classroom and beyond the curriculum. He created and maintains lifelong connections with students who b...