Industry Only at The Cheese Store

Dominick DiBartolomeo and Andy Wang
  • 5.0 (15)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

For chefs, writers, and restaurant-industry insiders, the private tasting room at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a place for celebration of food, drink, community, and of course, cheese, and a no-holds-barred arena for conversations on the state of the hospitality industry at large. Dominick DiBartolomeo (owner, The Cheese Store, Domenico’s Foods) & Andy Wang (writer, founder of Industry Only) welcome friends & colleagues to the store for conversations about running award-winning kitchens, developing world-famous dishes and how, no, they can’t help you get that last-minute reservation.

  1. 07/18/2025

    benny blanco Knows His Stuff | Industry Only at The Cheese Store Podcast

    Grammy-winning producer benny blanco drops by the Cheese Store to talk shop with Dom. They get into his early days bouncing between instruments (and cuisines), the thrill of landing hits for Britney and Katy while getting evicted, and how his real passion might actually be grocery shopping. There’s studio gossip, steak techniques, and a lot of opinions about soft cheese. Plus, benny shares his death row meal and defends garlic as a foundational life force.Keep up with benny: www.instagram.com/itsbennyblanco Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/openwide

    54 min

  2. 06/27/2025

    The Hustle of Hospitality with Daniel Shemtob (The Lime Truck, Snibbs)

    The guys are joined by two-time winner of Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race" Daniel Shemtob– chef, entrepreneur, founder of The Lime Truck and Snibbs footwear—for a sprawling conversation about resilience, hospitality, and making cool shit that actually helps people. We talk about losing everything in a wildfire, rebuilding with purpose, and the weird overlap between pasta shapes and slip-resistant shoes. Also: tangerine-colored boots, jazzberry jam, and maybe, just maybe, a Cheese Store x Snibbs collab in the works. Find Daniel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniel.shemtob/?hl=en Snibbs Footwear: https://snibbs.co/ The Lime Truck: https://www.thelimetruck.com

    45 min

  3. 06/20/2025

    “That’s My Soul Food” ft. Paul Stanley (KISS)

    The Starchild hangs up his platform boots to talk meatballs. Paul Stanley drops by the Cheese Store for an unexpectedly moving conversation about the parallel crafts of rock and roll and cooking—both requiring that indefinable quality that can't be taught: genuine passion. Fresh off Kiss's final bow after 50 years, Stanley reflects on his second act as a home cook, and how that which started as necessity evolved into a deep love affair with Italian food, authentic hospitality, and the simple joy of feeding people. The conversation spans from his European parents' influence and childhood memories of Stearns Bakery in the Bronx, to his current relationships with LA's chef elite and his role with Rock & Brews restaurant group. Stanley breaks down why emotional connection trumps technical skill every time—whether you're playing guitar or throwing pizza dough—and why he'd rather eat at a neighborhood joint than a pretentious temple to molecular gastronomy. Plus: the meatball recipe that came from Rocco DiSpirito's mom, why Jimmy Page deserves the perfect puttanesca, and Stanley's theory that great restaurants (like great bands) start with surrounding yourself with people who share your passion for the craft. Keep up with Paul Stanley: Official Website: https://www.paulstanley.com/ Instagram: @paulstanleylive Twitter/X: @PaulStanleyLive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulStanleyOfficial/ KISS: Official Website: https://www.kissonline.com/ Rock & Brews: Official Website: https://www.rockandbrews.com/ Rock & Brews info on Paul's site: https://www.paulstanley.com/category/rock-brews/ Follow Dom, Andy, Industry Only, and The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills: www.instagram.com/domsfoods www.instagram.com/andywangnyla www.instagram.com/industryonlyla www.instagram.com/thecheesestoreofbeverlyhills

    54 min

  4. 06/13/2025

    Pasta, Pop-ups, & Summer in Italy?

    Dom and Andy dive into May madness—the whirlwind of food festivals, celebrity golf tournaments, and A-list events that somehow keep happening without them. They cover Antonia's Tournament of Champions win, the best lobster pasta on a Sardinian beach that requires police escort to access, and Dom's master plan to curate the next generation of rising chefs. Plus: summer travel intel from Positano to Singapore, why Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy hit different, and the homework assignment that might actually change everything.

    36 min

  5. 06/06/2025

    What Simplicity Means After Top Chef ft. Chef Mei Lin (Daybird, 88 Club)

    Chef Mei Lin drops by the Cheese Store for a conversation that spans from cutthroat cooking competitions to the delicate art of letting wontons speak for themselves.. The Top Chef winner and Daybird founder reflects on her evolution as a chef—from building intuitive muscle memory on shows like Tournament of Champions to finding a new groove with 88 Club, her elegant, straightforward Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills. The crew dives into issues of pricing and perception in ethnic cuisine, the myth of the $55 tasting menu, and why simplicity might be the boldest move of all. Plus: a sentimental chicken dish, Taiwanese breakfast evangelism, and a surprise call to Nicholas Kraft—co-founder of the fast-food fashion collective Chain—about getting Dom his own limited-edition Arby’s x Chain BBQ bib. Follow Mei, 88 Club, and Daybird: www.instagram.com/meilin21 www.instagram.com/88club www.instagram.com/daybirdla Follow Dom, Andy, Industry Only, and The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills: www.instagram.com/domsfoods www.instagram.com/andywangnyla www.instagram.com/industryonlyla www.instagram.com/thecheesestoreofbeverlyhills And make sure to check out the 🔥 Arby's x Chain drip at www.instagram.com/eatatchain !

    53 min

  6. 05/30/2025

    Still On Fairfax: Marc & Med are moving Genghis Cohen

    New landlords can hike the rent, but they can’t kill an L.A. institution—at least not while Marc and Med are around. The duo behind Genghis Cohen (and Dom’s favorite restaurant La Dolce Vita) drop by to explain why they’re uprooting 42-year-old Chinese-American icon Genghis Cohen and hauling its fish-tank, neon, and NYC aura exactly 2 blocks south on Fairfax. Along the way we get a crash-course in red-sauce minimalism, the lost art of Queens-style egg rolls, and the business math of paying “L.A. landlord prices” without gutting a neighborhood staple. If you care about late-night duck-sauce, community institutions, or how to move a restaurant overnight and reopen for take-out the next morning, this one’s for you.  Keep up with Marc, Med, and Genghis Cohen at www.genghiscohen.com And get yourself some baked clams at www.ladolcevitabeverlyhills.com

    56 min

  7. 05/23/2025

    Pijja Palace Wasn't Supposed to Work ft. Avish Naran

    Avish Naran, founder of L.A.'s cult-favorite Indian sports bar Pijja Palace, joins Industry Only at The Cheese Store for one episode in two locations. First, a live taping from Pijja Palace, the restaurant where it all began, followed by a basement hang in the tasting room of The Cheese Store, as is tradition.In part one, Avish talks about building a restaurant that seemed too weird to succeed—a place where malai rigatoni meets Lakers jerseys and tandoori wings come with curry leaf ranch. Then, in part two, Avish dives into immigrant hustle, cultural context, and why it's essential to "never stop saying the word 'millions.'" Also: The fake tandoor that tastes better than the real thing, plans for the new Schezwan Club opening next door, and why neighborhood councils might not always get your genius restaurant name. Follow Avish on IG: @avishnaran Follow Dom: @domsfoods Follow Andy: @andywangnyla Keep up with Industry Only: @industryonlyLA Visit Pijja Palace: www.pijjapalace.comVisit The Cheese Store: https://cheesestore.com

    1h 19m

  8. 05/16/2025

    Dom Went to The SGV?! (Henry's Cuisine Recap ft. Jay Seals)

    Dom and co. finally makes it to the San Gabriel Valley—for lobster, pork knuckle, and a good hang that included friend of the show Jay Seals, who joins the guys to debrief the chaotic journey to Henry’s Cuisine, break down their dream pop-ups, and trade East Coast food memories for new-school LA classics.

    37 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

For chefs, writers, and restaurant-industry insiders, the private tasting room at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a place for celebration of food, drink, community, and of course, cheese, and a no-holds-barred arena for conversations on the state of the hospitality industry at large. Dominick DiBartolomeo (owner, The Cheese Store, Domenico’s Foods) & Andy Wang (writer, founder of Industry Only) welcome friends & colleagues to the store for conversations about running award-winning kitchens, developing world-famous dishes and how, no, they can’t help you get that last-minute reservation.

Information

  • Creator
    Dominick DiBartolomeo and Andy Wang
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dominick DiBartolomeo and Andy Wang
  • Show Website
    Industry Only at The Cheese Store