Hospitality On The Rise

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng is joined by Pascaline Lepeltier—Master Sommelier, author, winemaker, educator, and advocate—whose unconventional path has challenged tradition and redefined what it means to lead in hospitality. From studying philosophy to earning one of the most prestigious titles in wine, Pascaline shares how a love of learning, a commitment to care,...

What does a tray of expertly shucked clams in a busy seafood kitchen have to do with a career that would span Emmy-winning television, global advocacy, and redefining how we tell stories through food? For Andrew Zimmern, it was the moment everything clicked. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng sits down with the chef, writer, and TV personality behind Bizarre Foods, The Z...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng welcomes Ellen Yin, the visionary behind Philadelphia’s acclaimed High Street Hospitality Group and the 2023 James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur. From her early days bussing tables to building one of the country’s most respected restaurant groups, Ellen shares how a deep sense of purpose and belonging has shaped her journey....

What does a bottle of Heinz ketchup at a mountaintop hotel in Indonesia have to do with a career in hospitality? For Sabato Sagaria, it was the spark that ignited a lifelong passion. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , Sabato traces his journey from that moment of unexpected comfort to leading operations at Union Square Hospitality Group, scaling Bartaco across the U.S., and now, as Co-Fo...

From Manhattan futons to Maui brunch lines, Chef Lee Anne Wong’s culinary journey is anything but conventional. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng connects with the Top Chef alum, restaurateur, TV producer, and Hawaii-based community builder to talk about the long road from front-of-house server to global brand builder. With humor, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom, Lee An...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng chats with Bobby Stuckey — Master Sommelier, restaurateur, endurance athlete, and champion of what he calls hospitalian culture . From his early struggles with dyslexia to becoming one of the most respected figures in hospitality, Bobby shares a refreshingly grounded and candid look into how service, leadership, and a life lived with pu...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng has a candid conversation with culinary force Maneet Chauhan — President and Founding Partner of Morph Hospitality Group and the only two-time Tournament of Champions winner. Celebrated for her warmth, wit, and unstoppable drive, Maneet shares her remarkable journey from a small town in India to the national spotlight in the U.S., balan...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , industry powerhouse Kevin Boehm, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BOKA Restaurant Group chats with host Alice Cheng. From dropping out of college, lying on his resume and opening a six-table restaurant in Florida to co-leading one of the most respected hospitality groups in the country, Kevin shares the raw, unfiltered story behind his rise. He opens up about e...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng chat with Michael Shemtov, a seasoned hospitality entrepreneur and founder of Honest to Goodness Hospitality, which has made its mark across Charleston, Atlanta, and Nashville. Michael takes us through his inspiring journey from a teenager working his first restaurant job at 13 to founding his own restaurants by 22 — despite the hardshi...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng connects with Kimberly Galban, Chief Operating Officer of Hogsalt, to explore the remarkable journey of a hospitality leader who has truly climbed the ranks from the ground up. Kimberly shares how her early experiences — from serving at iconic Chicago spots like Como Inn and Blackbird to stepping into hotel management at the Park Hyatt...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , Chef Philip Tessier shares his culinary journey with host Alice Cheng. From his early days experimenting with recipes at home to working alongside culinary legends like Thomas Keller (Per Se, The French Laundry) and Eric Ripert (Le Bernardin), Chef Tessier reflects on the key moments that shaped his career. He also opens up about his experience competin...

On the latest episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng connects virtually with Camari Mick, the acclaimed Executive Pastry Chef behind The Musket Room, Raf’s, and Cafe Zaffri in New York City — and a partner at Raf’s. Recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and recognized as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, Camari opens up about her journey from childhood baking experiments to le...

On this inspiring episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng welcomes Aaron Ginsberg, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Development at American Express/Resy. From helping launch Verizon Fios to shaping hospitality at Eleven Madison Park — and now supporting restaurants on a global scale — Aaron’s journey has been anything but conventional. He shares the pivotal momen...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng sits down with the dynamic and deeply passionate Talia Berman — a hospitality powerhouse whose journey has taken her from waitressing during grad school to running some of New York City’s most iconic restaurants, to now shaping the future of hospitality through strategic consulting at Friend of Chef. With stories spanning legendary spot...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , host Alice Cheng sits down with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Dan Kluger, founder of Hardscrabble Hospitality—the group behind celebrated restaurants Loring Place and Greywind. With a career shaped by mentorships under industry icons like Danny Meyer, Floyd Cardoz, Tom Colicchio, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Dan shares his journey from an unexpected...

On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise , Ahris Kim, Director of Operations at NA:EUN Hospitality, shares her unique journey into the hospitality industry. She reflects on her path from growing up in Korea to becoming a key figure at award-winning NA:EUN (Atomix, Atoboy, Acru, NARO). Ahris recounts her unexpected entry into hospitality, fueled by a desire to explore a non-medical career despite...

On this episode of Hospitality on the Rise , we welcome Tavel Bristol-Joseph—Director of Hospitality, Pastry Chef, and Partner at Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, and Founding Partner at Pullman Market. A 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist and 2024 Esquire’s Pastry Chef of the Year, Tavel shares his journey from Georgetown, Guyana, to becoming a leader in American hospitality. He reflects on hi...

Hillary Sterling’s journey is both unexpected and inspiring—from getting grounded as a teen and stumbling into restaurants to becoming the Executive Chef of Ci Siamo, one of The New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in NYC. A multiple-time James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist, she honed her craft at renowned spots like Mesa Grill, Lupa, A Voce, and Vic’s before leading Ci Siamo to success. Her...

We are thrilled to welcome Chef Gavin Kaysen as our first-ever guest on the Hospitality On The Rise podcast! Chef Kaysen's journey is a testament to dedication and passion, from his early days working at Subway as a teenager to rising through the ranks with Chef Daniel Boulud, and now leading his own renowned restaurants under the Soigné Hospitality Group. With a growing list of prestigious aw...

Coming soon.... Hospitality on the Rise — the podcast about the people shaping the hospitality industry and their journeys. Host Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, hospitality’s go-to hiring platform, will give you your dose of virtual mentorship in every episode. We’ll be sharing the stories, lessons learned, and advice from hospitality leaders who've carved out their own path to su...