Hospitality On The Rise

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...