Hospitality On The Rise

Culinary Agents
  • 5.0 (3)
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Welcome to Hospitality On The Rise, a weekly podcast hosted by Alice Cheng, featuring conversations with the hospitality leaders shaping the industry. Each episode explores the stories, challenges, pivots, lessons learned, and advice that helped these leaders grow & succeed. Whether you’re building your career, leading a team, or just looking for inspiration, Hospitality On The Rise offers honest insights from the people moving hospitality forward. New episodes every Tuesday. Powered by CulinaryAgents.com, hospitality’s go-to hiring platform connecting top talent with employers since 2012.

  1. 3h ago

    EP 82: Melissa Perello

    Chef Melissa Perello of Octavia and Frances has built a career on knowing exactly when to push forward and when to pull back. Seventeen years, two San Francisco restaurants, and an upcoming bakery later, she joins Alice Cheng on this episode of Hospitality On The Rise to share her journey: from stepping into an intimidating executive chef role at just twenty-four, through a two-year break that reshaped her entire cooking philosophy, to opening her own restaurant and eventually a second. Melissa opens up about burnout, the pressure of taking over another chef’s kitchen, and why she’s now backing her own pastry chef in launching a brand-new bakery. Links - Instagram - Melissa Perello: https://www.instagram.com/m_perello/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-82-melissa-perello ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 82: Melissa Perello

  2. Sep 29

    EP 81: Danny Garcia

    Danny Garcia, Chef and Owner of Only Goods, walked into Top Chef without knowing a single competitor and with one mindset: he was there to win. And he did, taking home Season 21 and the biggest prize in the show’s history. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Danny joins host Alice Cheng to talk about the journey behind the win, from busing tables as a kid and training with the Bocuse d’Or team to helping open Crown Shy. He also gets real about what came next: closing his first restaurant, Time and Tide, and putting his energy into Only Goods, a Latin American concept he’s building through salsa macha, neighborhood pop ups, and community. Links - Instagram - Danny Garcia: https://www.instagram.com/chef.dannygarcia/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-81-danny-garcia ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 81: Danny Garcia

  3. Sep 22

    EP 80: Molly Irani

    Molly Irani, Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, spent years running from the restaurant industry that raised her. Then, at 39, she jumped back in headfirst with zero professional training and a wild idea. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Molly tells host Alice Cheng how she and her husband bootstrapped one Asheville restaurant into a multi-city hospitality group. Along the way, they pulled lessons from careers outside of food to build what they call “mind-blasting hospitality.” Molly opens up about the growing pains of scaling and the pandemic pivot that forced her to rethink everything. She also shares how her community rallied during Hurricane Helene, an experience so powerful it changed the ending of her book, Service Ready. Links - Instagram - Molly Irani: https://www.instagram.com/chaipanimom/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-80-molly-irani ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 80: Molly Irani

  4. Sep 15

    EP 79: Ryan Pera

    Ryan Pera, Co-Owner of Agricole Hospitality and Executive Chef of Coltivare, started washing dishes at a summer job in high school and never left the kitchen. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Ryan shares how he traded an anthropology degree and archaeological dig for a culinary career that took him to Le Cirque during its four-star era, then to Houston, where he eventually built a restaurant group from the ground up. He opens up about bringing a farm-to-plate vision to life, the growing pains of expanding too quickly, the failures that changed how he approaches business, and why a dive bar with clean bathrooms became one of his proudest wins. Links - Instagram - Ryan Pera: https://www.instagram.com/ryanpera/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-79-ryan-pera ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 79: Ryan Pera

  5. Sep 8

    EP 78: Lina Goujjane

    Lina Goujjane, Co-Owner and Sommelier of Kiko and Noury, grew up running around her parents’ restaurant and always assumed she’d take over the family business one day. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Lina shares how one college course changed that plan and set her on a path through openings at The NoMad, Majordomo, and Sushi Noz before launching concepts of her own. She opens up about the realities of leading a team while working the floor alongside them, what it took to earn a two-star review from The New York Times, and how she and her husband, Chef Alex Chang, navigate building a life and a business together.Note: This episode was recorded in April 2026, prior to the opening of Noury.Links- Instagram - Lina Goujjane: https://www.instagram.com/lina_goujjane/- Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/- Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-78-lina-goujjane************Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com.Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com.For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents.Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 78: Lina Goujjane

  6. Sep 1

    EP 77: Thomas Pastuszak

    Thomas Pastuszak, VP of Sales and Hospitality at Grand Cru Selections and Founder of Empire Estate Wine, got his start with a summer job at his godfather’s Shelter Island bed and breakfast. That early experience sparked a passion for hospitality that eventually pulled him away from a medical school track. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Thomas joins host Alice Cheng to share how he discovered the world of wine, built The NoMad’s wine program from the ground up, and eventually launched his own winery without owning a single acre of land. He also shares why wine should feel approachable for every guest, the value of taking chances, and why asking for help can move your career forward. Links - Instagram - Thomas Pastuszak: https://www.instagram.com/thomaspastuszak/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-77-thomas-pastuszak ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 77: Thomas Pastuszak

  7. Aug 25

    EP 76: Daniel Boulud

    Daniel Boulud, Founder & Chef of The Dinex Group, left home at 14 to apprentice in Lyon’s top kitchens. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, he joins Alice Cheng to share the mentors, risks, and defining moments that shaped his global career as a chef-turned-restaurateur. He reflects on learning from legends like Paul Bocuse, proving himself at Le Cirque, and taking a major risk to open Restaurant DANIEL. He also shares what he looks for in the next generation, why mentorship matters, and what it means to see alumni like Gavin Kaysen and Hooni Kim build careers of their own. Plus, hear what’s next for Dinex, including a new Brasserie Boulud in New York and Blue Box Café in California. Note: This episode was recorded on July 14, 2026. Links - Instagram - Daniel Boulud: https://www.instagram.com/danielboulud/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-76-daniel-boulud ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 76: Daniel Boulud

  8. Aug 18

    EP 75: Suzanne Cupps

    Chef Suzanne Cupps, owner of Lola's, never planned on a career in kitchens. Yet she spent more than 20 years working her way from peeling potatoes during an externship in the basement of Gramercy Tavern to becoming the chef-owner of her own New York City restaurant. On this episode of Hospitality On The Rise, Suzanne joins host Alice Cheng to share how six years at Anita Lo's Annisa taught her patience, how one conversation with Mike Anthony led to three years as a sous chef at Gramercy Tavern, and how a tasting for Danny Meyer made her the first female executive chef in Union Square Hospitality Group's history. She also reflects on opening Lola's just three months before COVID and the two-year lease battle that nearly kept the restaurant from ever opening. Links - Instagram - Suzanne Cupps: https://www.instagram.com/suzycupps/ - Instagram - Culinary Agents⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/culinaryagents/ - Full Transcript⁠: https://hospitalitycareerpaths.com/resources/ep-75-suzanne-cupps ************ Remember, success looks different for everyone in hospitality. No two paths are the same. If you have a leader or a topic you want to hear about, email media@culinaryagents.com. Hospitality On The Rise is brought to you by Culinary Agents, connecting top talent with employers since 2012. Whether you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, join us at CulinaryAgents.com. For more inspiration, subscribe to Hospitality On The Rise and visit HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a free platform by Culinary Agents. Thanks for tuning in! Remember to like, follow, and subscribe. And if you loved this episode, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration.

    EP 75: Suzanne Cupps
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hospitality On The Rise, a weekly podcast hosted by Alice Cheng, featuring conversations with the hospitality leaders shaping the industry. Each episode explores the stories, challenges, pivots, lessons learned, and advice that helped these leaders grow & succeed. Whether you’re building your career, leading a team, or just looking for inspiration, Hospitality On The Rise offers honest insights from the people moving hospitality forward. New episodes every Tuesday. Powered by CulinaryAgents.com, hospitality’s go-to hiring platform connecting top talent with employers since 2012.

Information

  • Creator
    Culinary Agents
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Culinary Agents
  • Show Website
    Hospitality On The Rise

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