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Chefs Without Restaurants

The Chefs Without Restaurants Networkchefswithoutrestaurants.com

Join Chris Spear as he interviews food and beverage entrepreneurs who have built successful careers outside of traditional restaurant kitchens.

From personal chefs, caterers, and food truck operators to cookbook authors, research chefs, and farmers, each guest has paved their own way in the culinary world. Through candid conversations, they share the challenges, lessons, and successes of creating a business on their own terms.


With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry—including running his own personal chef business, Perfect Little Bites—Chris is dedicated to helping chefs and food entrepreneurs navigate their own unconventional paths in the industry.


If you're looking for inspiration, business insights, and real stories from those who have stepped beyond the restaurant world, this podcast is for you.


🎧 New episodes available—subscribe now and start exploring the road less traveled in the culinary industry!

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Episodes

Foraging, Transplanting Ramps, and Snail Farming with Clark Barlowe

Clark Barlowe is a seventh-generation North Carolinian. Growing up learning how to hunt ginseng with his grandfather, Clark learned to look at the plants around him for the potential nutrients and delicious ingredients that they held while respecting their limitations and responsible foraging. He was formally trained as a chef at Johnson and Wales University. After stages at The French Laundry and El Bulli, followed by positions at Chez Pascal and Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Clark refined his expe...

Oct 19, 202248 minSeason 3Ep. 167

What is a Chef with Carla Hall

This week we have a "What is a Chef?" episode with Carla Hall. Carla is a chef, cookbook author, two-time Top Chef contestant, and former co-host of The Chew. Our full conversation will be released in a few weeks. Subscribe to the podcast now so you don't miss it. CARLA HALL Carla's Website Check out Carla's Books Carla's Instagram Carla's YouTube Channel Carla's Facebook Page CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show, and would like to support it financially, check out our Patreon , or yo...

Oct 12, 20227 minSeason 3Ep. 166

How to Make and Use Masa with Masienda Founder Jorge Gaviria

This week’s guest is Jorge Gaviria, founder of Masienda, and author of the new book Masa . On the show, you’re going to get the Masienda origin story, and find out why it all started with the corn. Jorge explains nixtimalization, which is the process of turning corn into masa, and how to nixtamilaze and grind your own corn at home. For those who just want to buy the masa harina, I asked him about water temperature, hydration, and the differences between the corn types. We also talk about brand p...

Oct 05, 202248 minSeason 3Ep. 165

Chefs as Leaders in the Community - What is a Chef with Clark Barlowe

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Clark Barlowe. He’s a chef, former restaurant owner, cooking instructor, forager, and now... law student. Stay tuned for my full episode with him which will be released soon. CLARK BARLOWE Clark’s Website Potential Pantry Clark's Instagram CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show, and would like to support it financially, check out our Patreon , or you can donate through Venmo or Buy Me a Coffee . Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Vi...

Sep 28, 20224 minSeason 3Ep. 164

Overcoming Business Closure: Chef Taffy Elrod's Journey from Restaurant to Recipe Developer

In this episode of the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast, host Chris Spear chats with Chef Taffy Elrod. With over 20 years in the culinary industry, Taffy shares her emotional journey of closing her restaurant in upstate New York due to COVID-19. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on small food businesses and her decision to pivot into recipe development, food writing, and content creation. Taffy offers valuable insights into how chefs can transition into content creation, partner with bra...

Sep 21, 202245 minSeason 3Ep. 163

Luladey Moges on Ethiopian Cooking and Her New Cookbook Enebla: Recipes From an Ethiopian Kitchen

This week, I speak with Luladey Moges. She's the author of the new cookbook Enebla: Recipes From an Ethiopian Kitchen. Growing up, first in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and then in the United States, she learned the art of traditional Ethiopian cuisine from her grandmother, mother, and aunts. She has long been an enthusiastic home cook, introducing the tastes of Ethiopian cuisine to her friends in North America. At the same time, her career in hospitality and fine dining management has t...

Sep 14, 202242 minSeason 3Ep. 162

Cobra Kai Actor Dan Ahdoot on Persian Cooking, Dining Out and Green Eggs & Dan

This week, in preparation for Season 5 of Cobra Kai, we're re-releasing our episode with Dan Ahdoot . who plays Anoush on the show. He’s a standup comic, actor, writer, producer, and podcast host. He's also the host of Food Network's Raid the Fridge . He's garnered fans as a character actor on the shows The Crew, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, Shameless, Workaholics, and Disney Channel’s Kickin’ It. On his podcast Green Eggs and Dan, he takes a new look at “you are what you eat,” and brings listen...

Sep 07, 202255 minSeason 3Ep. 161

How to Make Better Sourdough Bread with Andy Roy of Twin Bears Bakery

This week we have a short episode about how to make better sourdough bread. This was part of a much longer conversation with Andy Roy of Twin Bears Bakery in Frederick, Maryland. At Twin Bears, they make 100% naturally-leavened bread. When I asked about how to make better bread at home, Andy shared his tips for making better sourdough, which isn't just reserved for home bakers. The rest of our conversation will be released shortly. Below you can also find links to the books Andy mentions in the ...

Aug 31, 202218 minSeason 3Ep. 160

Ukrainian Chef Anna Voloshyna and Her New Cookbook Budmo!

This week's guest is chef Anna Voloshyna. She's a Ukrainian-born, California-based chef, blogger, and culinary instructor. Her upcoming cookbook Budmo! (out September 27th) celebrates classic Eastern European recipes with a modern, creative twist. On the show, we discuss her upbringing and life in Ukraine, where she lived until she was 21. We talk about the food she grew up with and loves, but also the current war with Russia. Food is political, and you need to understand some of the history to ...

Aug 24, 202251 minSeason 3Ep. 159

How to Grow Your Personal Chef Business with Airbnb

This week I talk about how you can grow your personal chef business using vacation rental properties like Airbnb and VRBO . This has been where the majority of my business has been coming from for the past five years. I’ve talked about it as part of other podcast episodes but thought it warranted a standalone episode. If you want to make more money cooking as a personal chef or caterer, tune in to find out my top tips for acquiring more customers staying at rental properties. Do you have tips yo...

Aug 17, 202210 minSeason 3Ep. 158

What is a Chef with Taffy Elrod

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Taffy Elrod. She’s a chef, restaurant owner, cooking instructor, recipe developer, and food writer with 20 years of experience in the food industry. Stay tuned for my full episode with her which will be released soon. Taffy Elrod Taffy’s Website Taffy’s Instagram Taffy’s Twitter CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS If you enjoy the show, and would like to support it financially, check out our Patreon , or you can donate through Venmo or Buy Me a Coffee . Get the...

Aug 10, 202212 minSeason 3Ep. 157

Creating a Kitchen Pantry Representing Time and Place- with Daniel Liberson of Lindera Farms

This week's guest is Daniel Liberson of Lindera Farms, a nature reserve in Delaplaine, Virginia. There, Daniel forages for items local to the area, and creates fermented pantry items for both restaurants and home cooks. His products include vinegar made from ramps, paw paws, and Virginia berry, as well as items like crab apple verjus, pecan tamari, and applewood soy sauce. Besides discussing vinegar-making and fermentation, we talk about business topics like the cost of running restaurants, how ...

Aug 03, 202251 minSeason 3Ep. 156

The Recipe Tool That Helps Save Time, Cut Costs and Improve Execution - with Meez Founder Josh Sharkey

This week's guest is Josh Sharkey. He's the founder of Meez, an online recipe tool that helps you save time, cut costs and improve execution. Josh talks about how he started Meez, and gives a rundown of its functions and how it works. Josh has a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, and has worked in some of the best restaurants in the U.S. Besides an overview of Meez, we also discuss the customer experience, how he built and grew his business, some of his favorite resources, and ...

Jul 27, 202244 minSeason 3Ep. 155

One Moment Can Change Your Life - with Philadelphia Chef Eli Kulp

This week's guest is Eli Kulp. He's the co-founder and culinary director of High Street Hospitality Group, as well as the host of both The Chef Radio Podcast and Delicious City Philly Podcast He has been a finalist for JBF Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, Best New Chef- Food & Wine Magazine, Chef of the Year- Eater and Philadelphia Inquirer. We recently released our "What is a Chef" episode with him . On this full episode, we discuss how one moment can change your whole life. Hear Eli talk about the ...

Jul 20, 202259 minSeason 3Ep. 154

Keep Being Curious - Master Pastry Chef Christopher Curtin of Éclat Chocolate

This week's guest is Christopher Curtin, the certified master pastry chef, and chocolatier behind Éclat Chocolate, which he founded in West Chester, PA in 2004. After attending culinary school, he spent 14 years honing his skills alongside the world’s top chocolate makers across Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Japan. Éclat has received acclaim including being named one of the “Best Chocolates in America” by Bon Appétit magazine . Christopher has collaborated with the likes of An...

Jul 12, 202243 minSeason 3Ep. 153

Chefs as Teachers - What is a Chef with Eli Kulp

This week's "What is a Chef" episode is with Eli Kulp. He's the co-founder and culinary director of High Street Hospitality Group, as well as the host of both The Chef Radio Podcast and Delicious City Podcast He has been a finalist for JBF Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, Best New Chef- Food & Wine Magazine, Chef of the Year- Eater and Philadelphia Inquirer. Stay tuned for my full episode with him which will be released soon. ELI KULP Eli's Instagram Chef Radio Podcast Delicious City Podcast CHEFS WI...

Jul 05, 20228 minSeason 3Ep. 152

Do One Thing Really Well - Talking Breakfast Tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer of King David Tacos

This week I’m talking breakfast tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer, founder of King David Tacos. An Austin native, Liz brought her love of the breakfast taco to NYC. What started as a drop-off catering business, then grew from two breakfast taco carts to over 50 locations across NYC. Her tacos can now be found at retail partners like Whole Foods and Stumptown, as well as their brick-and-mortar location. We talk about what makes a good breakfast taco, the challenges of hot-holding eggs, and working wit...

Jun 28, 202243 minSeason 3Ep. 151

Mentorship, Growing Your Employees, and Letting Them Leave

This week is a solo episode. The topic was prompted by Ray Delucci of Line Cook Thoughts who posed the question "How do you motivate your staff in the food industry?" My reply was "Find out what their goals are, and where they see their path going. Then, try to help them get to that place, even if it means that they’ll leave you and go elsewhere eventually. Too many bosses try to hold their employees back." But I wanted to dig deeper, so here's a little more. I talk about mentorship, knowing wha...

Jun 21, 20227 minSeason 3Ep. 150

Getting Fired, Dealing with Anxiety, and Silver Linings

This week is a solo episode. I discuss the time I was fired from a job and the subsequent anxiety that I experienced due to that. It took a long time before I came to terms with the whole experience. But there was also a silver lining... It ultimately led to me starting my own personal chef business, and this community. If you've been fired, or if you're a hiring manager, I'd love for you to listen to this episode. If you have feedback, you can get in touch by contacting me on one of the platfor...

Jun 14, 202211 minSeason 3Ep. 149

On Not Identifying as a Chef - What is a Chef with Sara Hauman

This week's "What is a Chef" mini-episode is with Sara Hauman, You might know her as the yogurt queen from season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef, or the owner of The Tiny Fish Co. You can find last week's full episode with her here . =============================== Sara Hauman =============================== Sara's Instagram Sara's Website The Tiny Fish Co Instagram The Tiny Fish Co Website ========================== CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS ========================== If you enjoy the show, and would l...

Jun 07, 202214 minSeason 3Ep. 148

Talking Top Chef and Tiny Fish with Sara Hauman

This week I have Sara Hauman, You might know her as the yogurt queen from season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef, or from her highly entertaining Instagram cooking videos where she's making some delicious-looking food. After high school, Sara moved to the south of Spain. Upon returning to the US, she decided to go to culinary school, (which she doesn’t recommend). She spent the next few years working in restaurants including Brandon Jew’ s Bar Agricole. With some experience under her belt, Sara returned ...

May 31, 20221 hr 8 minSeason 3Ep. 147

Build and Grow Your Personal Chef Business Now - Advice from Chef Jonathan Bardzik

This week my guest is Jonathan Bardzik. He was first on the show on the show in July 2021 , and I wanted to have him back. He’s a storyteller, cook, and author. He’s a performer, speaking and cooking for private and corporate audiences, creating customized experiences that build connection. He’s appeared with more than 900 audiences, been on the TEDx stage, written 4 books , and his television series, Jonathan's Kitchen: Seasons to Taste recently debuted on Revry. On this episode, we talk about ...

May 24, 202253 minSeason 3Ep. 146

Chefs as Stewards of the Environment - What is a Chef with Brady Lowe

This week we have a mini-episode with Taste Network's Brady Lowe. If you haven't heard our full episode with him, you can check it out here. During our conversation, I asked him what it means to be a chef. In this quick episode, you'll hear what Brady has to say. Sponsor- The United States Personal Chef Association While the pandemic certainly upended the restaurant experience, it provided an avenue for personal chefs to close that dining gap. Central to all of that is the United States Personal...

May 17, 20227 minSeason 3Ep. 145

The Seafood Episode with Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea- Fresh vs Frozen, Wild vs Farmed and How to Buy and Prepare Fish

This week my guest is Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea. Sena’s part of at least a third-generation fishing family. With her husband Rich, they’re bringing premium quality seafood directly to their customers. Sena has a master’s degree in nutrition and food science with a specialty in quantifying omega 3's in fish, and determining preferred handling practices for premium quality. Rich does most of the fishing for Sena Sea, but they also source from fellow fishermen who share their high-quality standards,...

May 10, 202255 minSeason 3Ep. 144

The Cajun Vegan Krimsey Lilleth on Closing Her Restaurant, Writing a Cookbook, and Quitting Social Media

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. On the show, we talk about opening a restaurant, and then the de...

May 03, 202251 minSeason 3Ep. 143

Taste Network's Brady Lowe - The Future of Food Events, and the Rise and Fall of Cochon 555

Today I have Brady Lowe, founder of Taste Network. Started in 2002, he’s currently on a mission to disrupt, and rethink the typical food marketing strategies, forge new online possibilities, and partner with and help promote sustainable, ethical, and delicious food and drinks from around the world. You might know Brady from the Cochon 555 events that he put on. But you might not know that he separated from the Cochon 555 brand a couple of years ago, which was one of the things I wanted to talk t...

Apr 26, 202253 minSeason 3Ep. 142

What is a Chef with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel

This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. Today's answer comes from Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel. You can hear my full episode with him here , and another mini-episode where we talk about health and wellness here . I'm currently out of town on vacation and have been having some technical difficulties. So, today's episode jumps right in without any real intro. Sponsor- The United States Personal Chef Association The Covid pandemic has clearly redefined the world of din...

Apr 19, 20225 minSeason 3Ep. 141

Free Food and Failure

This week, I talk about free food and failure. More specifically, I discuss why giving away free food, and doing events for free didn't work out for me. I'm not saying that there might not be a place for it. But before you do an event, I think you need to make sure it's a good fit. Does it make sense to give out free cupcakes and the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new car dealership? There are a lot of people looking to trade your services for "exposure", but does it actually ever help move the n...

Apr 12, 20228 minSeason 3Ep. 140

Talking All Things Chocolate (and Vanilla) with Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle

This week my guest is Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle, a chocolate shop he owns in downtown Frederick, Maryland. You might’ve heard my mini-episode with him a couple of months ago about what it means to be a chef. On this full episode, we dive into the chocolate business. We talk about how he ended up taking over the shop that he had been working at on and off for almost a decade. We discuss chocolate percentages, supply chain issues, tempering chocolate, and how to work with it at home. We ...

Apr 05, 202255 minSeason 3Ep. 139

From Food Truck To Restaurant and Condiment Line with Poi Dog's Kiki Aranita

This week's guest is Philadelphia chef Kiki Aranita. You might know her from her Poi Dog food truck and subsequent restaurant of the same name. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, she had to shut down her restaurant. But Poi Dog has returned in the form of a line of bottled condiments including guava katsu sauce and chili peppah water. We talk about the evolution of her business, deciding to close the restaurant, and what it was like to start a consumer packaged goods product line Kiki was...

Mar 29, 202246 minSeason 3Ep. 138
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