Kitchen Smarts

In this episode, Hava Volterra and Mica Talmor discuss Mica's journey in the culinary world. From growing up surrounded by familyfood traditions to becoming a restaurant owner navigating an ever-changing industry. Mica opens up about the realities of restaurant ownership, the emotional differences between catering and running a restaurant, and why business knowledge is just as essential as cu...

In this episode, Melody Miranda, National Director of Culinary for Sodexo’s Good Eating Company , takes us inside the world of corporate dining. She shares her path into large-scale food operations, her role in managing corporate cafeterias, and how chefs balance creativity with consistency at scale. Melody also discusses adapting to food trends, honoring regional tastes, the impact of COVID-19 on...

In this episode, Hava Volterra sits down with Emily, founder of Boichik Bagels , to talk about how a mechanical engineer with zero culinary background built one of California’s fastest-growing bagel brands. From learning the science behind New York–style bagels to running 24-hour production and scaling across multiple cities, Emily breaks down the challenges, systems, and mindset behind building a...

What do wood-fired pizza, gluten-free flour, and commercial kitchen equipment have in common? Brad Kent. In this episode of Kitchen Smarts , Hava Volterra chats with culinary engineer and pizza visionary Brad Kent—founder of Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria, co-founder of Blaze Pizza, and gluten-free innovator at Original Sunshine.  They explore how Brad went from experimenting in the kitchen as a kid to...

In this conversation, Hava speaks with Lisa Eberhart and Randy Lait, founders of Menu Analytics, about their journey in the food service industry, the importance of nutrition analysis, and the evolution of menu transparency. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and food services, the role of technology and AI in the industry, and the future trends shaping food service operation...

In this conversation, Hava interviews Filippo Fiori, co-founder of Due’ Cucina, who shares his unique journey from a PhD in nuclear engineering to the culinary world. They discuss the challenges of starting a restaurant, the importance of authentic Italian cuisine, and the role of technology in streamlining operations. Filippo emphasizes the significance of staff training, customer experience, and...

In this engaging conversation, Hava speaks with Lisa Ludwinski, the founder of Sister Pie and the author of the Sister Pie cookbook, about her journey from theater to baking, the challenges of running a bakery, and the importance of community in the culinary world. They discuss the differences between home cooking and commercial baking, the impact of COVID-19 on the business, and Lisa's philo...

What happens when a bodybuilder melts ingredients in his kitchen and accidentally launches a business? Hava Volterra sits down with Robert Sikes—founder and CEO of Keto Brick and host of The Savage Perspective —to talk keto, entrepreneurship, and building a food brand from scratch. Whether you're into fitness, food, or just love a good origin story, this episode delivers smarts, hustle, and h...

In this debut episode of Kitchen Smarts , Hava Volterra—CEO of Parsley Software, chef and engineer —sits down with her husband, Richard Pieters. With over 30 years of experience in the chemical and biotechnology industries, Richard brings an unexpected but fascinating perspective to the science of scaling recipes —both in food and in industrial manufacturing. Together, they explore how smart think...