In this episode, I break down how GLP-1 drugs are already affecting consumer spending and what restaurants need to do to be prepared. I then focus on decision-making and how it can better your career, using real-world examples from those within the Line Cook Nation. From there, we discuss a NY Times article sharing nine food predictions for restaurants that I believe to be a very accurate assessment of what may come. LA Times Link: https://www.latimes.com/food/list/los-angeles-restaurants-provid...
Jan 09, 2025•48 min
In this episode, I chat with Arturo Rojas. Arturo is the CDC for Antico Nuovo, a restaurant based in Los Angeles, California. In this episode, we discuss kitchen leadership, the unique cooking setup his kitchen offers, and how he manages creativity and consistency within one of LA's hottest restaurants this year. Arturo's Instagram Handle: @hungry_with_passion Antico Nuovo website: https://www.anticonuovo-la.com/
Dec 28, 2024•41 min
In this episode, I start by discussing the viral response of a Threads I posted a few weeks ago, asking what annoying restaurant trends people want to see gone in 2025. I then go over a Reddit question on how to get better when you have limited cooking time in a kitchen. Finally, I share my thoughts on Taco Bell's new coffee concept and celebrate 6 years of the brand. Links: Viral Threads Post: https://www.threads.net/@linecookthoughts/post/DCzCboVuIzN Reddit Thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/lin...
Dec 12, 2024•38 min
In this episode, Ray Delucci discusses the latest trends in the food industry, focusing on insights from the National Restaurant Association for 2025. He highlights the issue of 'ghosting' in restaurant reservations, the importance of value deals, and the rise of wellness drinks and other cuisines. The conversation also touches on the impact of consumer behavior on restaurants and the need for a return to community-focused dining experiences.
Dec 04, 2024•38 min
In this episode of the Line Cook Thoughts Podcast, Ray reflects on his return after a year-long hiatus, sharing insights on the restaurant industry, advice for new cooks, and the recent resurgence of Chili's. He emphasizes the importance of support in the kitchen, the value of learning from mistakes, and the significance of mental and physical health in the culinary profession. The episode also explores the evolving landscape of the food industry and the podcast's future direction, focusing on c...
Nov 21, 2024•34 min
In this episode, I chat with Michael Pini on his business, Brooklyn Pasta Lab. Brooklyn Pasta Lab was established in 2017 and is run by Michael Pini, who has been a chef in NYC for over a decade. Michael has worked in NYC’s top restaurants including, Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad Hotel, Betony, as well as the famous Bruno e Franco La Salumeria in Bologna, Italy. Brooklyn Pasta Lab produces premium fresh pasta for top restaurants in NYC, saving chefs time and money so they can focus on running t...
Jan 01, 2024•50 min
In this episode, I chat with Maura McMahon. Maura McMahon is currently the Employment Manager at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. She recruits globally to build the best-in-class staff at one of the historic hotels of America. Mohonk's Food and Beverage team has earned accolades including the #2 Hotel Restaurant of the year 2023 by USA Today. She credits the professionalism of her culinary, pastry and dining services teams as a driver to attracting talent locally and worldwide. Maura has ...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 2 min
On this solo episode, I start off by reflecting on the 5 years I have spent working on Line Cook Thoughts. A huge thank you to all those who listen and have supported this brand the last 5 years. I am truly grateful. After this, I talk about CosMc's, the new beverage-focused brand launched by McDonald's, and what we should take away from this launch. Finally, I discuss the sentencing of a customer to two months of fast food work after they threw their food at a Chipotle employee. Link to the new...
Dec 09, 2023•45 min
In this episode, I chat with Hanalei Souza aka @ladylinecook. We discuss why the Sous Chef role is one of the hardest positions in the kitchen, how leadership and career progression is key for the next generation of chefs, how Hanalei is thinking about content creation now and much more. You can find her website, link to memoir and all other information here: https://www.ladylinecook.com/ Subscribe to the Line Cook Thoughts Newsletter here: linecookthoughts.com...
Dec 03, 2023•55 min
In this episode, I talk to Andrew Friedman, author of "The Dish: The Lives and Labor One Plate of Food." We discuss his writing process, how the book came to be, the true dedication it takes to create food, and much more. You can find his book here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-dish-andrew-friedman?variant=41006183645218 Find his podcast here: https://andrewtalkstochefs.com/about/ IG handle: toquelandandrew
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 11 min
In this solo episode, I discuss the recent news that many major financial analysts are concerned over weight loss drugs leading to a loss in revenue for the food industry within the next few years. I then discuss the popularity of "Street Food" items on menus and CPG products. Finally, I end with the news on staffing in the restaurant industry and where we might go from here. (This is not medical or investment advice. For entertainment purposes only) Links: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/05/investi...
Oct 16, 2023•36 min
In this episode, Justin Khanna returns to discuss many, many topics. We start out with the potential decline in culinary school enrollment and interest due to effects of the industry and the high cost of entry. We then discuss the Michelin Guide in Denver and its overall effect on food scenes. We then discuss an interesting topic on a recent David Chang podcast episode. We go into Web 3.0 opportunities for restaurants, discuss the Mr. Beast lawsuits and much more. Find Justin's work at https://w...
Oct 08, 2023•1 hr 32 min
On this episode of the podcast, Mary King returns to talk all things food industry. Mary King is a restaurant veteran with over fourteen years of hospitality experience, most of them in management. With experience in everything from coffee shops to Michelin-star fine dining, she has seen multiple operations from the inside. She now shares her industry knowledge on the small-business-focused digital publication Fit Small Business as a staff writer and restaurant specialist. You can find her on Li...
Oct 01, 2023•45 min
In this episode, I go over the lawsuits regarding MrBeast Burger and Virtual dining Concepts and the effects this can have on ghost kitchens and dining in the future. I also discuss AI recipe work being done in restaurant settings and what this could mean for the future of food. I also give a quick podcast update. Links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/08/01/mrbeast-sues-partner/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/08/08/mrbeast-burger-lawsuit-virtual-dining-concepts/ https://www.n...
Aug 08, 2023•31 min
On this episode I chat with Chef Brother Luck. Chef Brother Luck, an acclaimed restaurateur from Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a renowned figure in the culinary world. With a James Beard nomination under his belt, Brother has also become a fan favorite on popular cooking shows like Top Chef, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay. He has been featured in various publications, including Food and Wine Magazine, and has made appearances on national television programs such as The Rachael Ray Show and the To...
Jul 27, 2023•58 min
In this episode I chat with Bobby Hicks, the founder of Retro Recipes Kitchen. In the podcast we talk about some of his favorite (and least favorite) retro recipes. We also chat about his process, how he goes about finding his recipes, the process of content creation in this space and much more. Follow him on socials @retrorecipeskitchen or @thisfellow Check out his patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/RetroRecipesKitchen Subscribe to the Line Cook Thoughts Newsletter here: linecookthoughts.com...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 3 min
On this episode, I chat with André Natera of Chef's PSA. We talk about Instagram Threads and how to take advantage of using the new platform. We talk about AI food and content creation, thoughts on the current food media landscape and much more. Check out André's work @chefspsa or his website https://chefspsa.com/ Subscribe to the newsletter at linecookthoughts.com
Jul 12, 2023•49 min
Episode 200 is hear, and I wanted to share the principles and ideas I've learned from talking with you all over the course of this show. Expect to hear about ego, creativity, the value we all hold and much more. Thanks for 200 and excited for what the future of the show holds! Go to linecookthoughts.com to subscribe to the newsletter Follow the show on Threads! Leave a review on Apple or Spotify!
Jul 06, 2023•34 min
On this episode I chat with Fred Chang. Fred is a Chef, Food Blogger, 2x MasterChef Alum, Milkbar Alum and Content Creator. In this episode we talk about his upbringing and how it relates to food, not staying in the box people put you in and how he forged such an interesting career. We talk about his time on MasterChef, how he creates his food content, great and not-so-great recipe ideas and much more. You can follow Fred on instagram @fredfredchangchang You can check out his site at https://fre...
Jun 25, 2023•49 min
In this episode, I talk about how fear of failing and the judgement we and others may hold is the biggest false barrier we face in food. I share on why most of the stuff we worry about is simply not as big of a deal as we may think, and how in food especially we need to forge on into what we are passionate about. I also spend time on time allocation and my own practice regarding productivity. Subscribe to the newsletter at linecookthoughts.com
Jun 05, 2023•30 min
On this episode, I chat with Jasmin Vitolo Parks-Papadopoulos. Here is her bio in her own words: "I am Jasmin Vitolo Parks-Papadopoulos, former toxic Chef, currently Certified Life Coach. For years I struggled with High Functioning Anxiety, and it wasn’t until I delved deep into my behavioral patterns and life choices, that I could see how my most harmful traits and habits were nestled into the profession I had chosen. A product of the Great Resignation, I came to CHOW in 2020 for support in det...
May 21, 2023•44 min
On this episode, I chat with Graham MacLennan. Graham MacLennan is a lawyer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. About 15 years ago, he started volunteering in restaurant kitchens to develop his cooking skills. From 2015 to 2017, Graham stepped completely away from the office world to travel and cook professionally. In Vancouver, he worked with the teams at Burdock & Co. and Harvest Community Foods. He cooked aboard the schooner Passing Cloud in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii wit...
May 11, 2023•34 min
Hello and welcome back to the show. Today's episode is a guest interview by yours truly on the Best Served Podcast. Jensen Cummings, the host of the show, and I chat about cooks and career mobility. We talk about the longevity of cooking as your career, why we hold certain celebrity chefs on pedestals and much more. Huge thank you to the Best Served team for letting me share this interview with you all. Best Served does some amazing content. Go check out their website using this link: https://ww...
May 01, 2023•21 min
In this episode I dive into the idea of why just focusing on cooking is not enough to lead a successful career. You need all of the knowledge surrounding the food you cook in order to create the guidelines of your creativity and innovation. Leading restaurants may have great food but often can fail due to a lack of actually attaining a sustainable business. And caring for and showing up for yourself is just as important in order to keep pushing in your own skillset. All of this and more is cover...
Apr 23, 2023•31 min
On April 3rd the culinary world lost a teacher and a mentor to many. Jerry Fischetti was a professor I had in college who profoundly impacted the way I saw mental health care, self care and empathy within the food industry. This is a re-published episode from 2019, in which he was one of the first guests on the show when I started out. I hope listening gives you the insight into why so many respected Professor and the way he saw and cared for the students of the culinary world. I'll forever be g...
Apr 10, 2023•55 min
On this episode of the show, I chat with Adam Shoemaker and Mason Aronson. These two are the hosts of the Assemblage Beverage Podcast, a podcast focused on various topics within the beverage industry. We talk about the impact of celebrity branded spirits, pros and cons of AI in the industry, co-hosting a podcasting, favorite cocktails and more. Check out their podcast and work at https://www.assemblagebevco.com/ Follow them on instagram @assemblagebevco Subscribe to the newsletter at linecooktho...
Apr 02, 2023•46 min
On this episode, I get to chat with Crista Aladjadjian. Crista Aladjadjian is a former chef and restaurant operator who is now an industry leader in digital marketing and media. After helping concepts like Umami Burger and SunLife Organics become the beloved restaurants they are today, Crista stepped into the world of food media as the Culinary Director of We Are Cocina. Through Cocina she became an expert in storytelling, content distribution, media monetization, and branding. Today she’s built...
Mar 26, 2023•39 min
Welcome to a new content piece for the podcast! Every Saturday I will drop a brief recap of the Prep List Items newsletter so that you can listen to the information on the way to work, in between shifts or on a break. Links will also be shared in the description of each episode (down below). This is a recap of the newsletter sent out on 03/13/23. National Restaurant Association Staffing Report: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/economists-notebook/analysis-commentary/restaurants...
Mar 18, 2023•6 min
In this solo episode I discuss two different topics. The first half is a look at the success and impact of MrBeast Burger in 2023. I know, why bother caring about an influencer selling mass produced burgers? The reality is that 55% of adults say that food e-commerce is an essential and with the digital food economy growing having awareness of what works and why is integral. The second half of this podcast is focused on an article by the Washington Post this month that highlights the responsibili...
Mar 15, 2023•34 min
This episode is the return of Chef Taffy Elrod! Taffy Elrod is a professional chef, cooking instructor, recipe developer, food writer, and former restaurant owner with over 20 years' experience in the food industry. Chef Elrod’s background in food for health informs her cooking and teaching. Making food and cooking accessible to everyone and empowering others to cook the food that matters most to them inspires Chef Elrod’s work daily and brings her joy. She’s known for her homestyle soups and ba...
Mar 05, 2023•41 min
