CAFE Talks Podcast MyCompanyRadio

A highly successful chef chooses a different direction – a chance to give back, to be a mentor for others, to open eyes and open doors – to teach. Years later, his personal accomplishments are transformed into student accomplishments. He built a program based on an experience that goes beyond the classroom and beyond the curriculum. He created and maintains lifelong connections with students who became part of his commitment as a teacher. Join CAFÉ Talks for a close up look at Chef Peter Sproul, learn about his acquired philosophy of teaching and training, and feel his passion for making a difference.

A systems advocate throughout his career – Kevin O’Donnell has taken his career from convention center management to high-end hotels, a Sun Valley exclusive dude ranch to elegant New England country inns, and busy co-op grocery stores to teaching kitchens and dining rooms of hospitality and culinary schools in New York and Vermont. A problem solver, logistics manager, creative thinker and mentor to many – Kevin stands out as a true example of leadership in the field of hospitality. Join us for a candid and insightful interview as Kevin is engaged in a conversation about alternate career options, unique internships, the need for change, and the attributes of a successful foodservice manager or chef in today’s challenging environment.

We all have an opportunity to make a difference or as Steve Jobs once said: “Make a dent in the universe”. Some of us work hard at pushing change and opening minds while others simply sit back and wonder what could have been. CAFÉ Talks is proud to offer a conversation with Chef Jeremiah Tower - a truly remarkable chef/restaurateur who made such a dent introducing the world to California Cuisine, partnering with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse, and opening “Stars” in San Francisco – a spectacular theater of food and beverage that defined what was possible in the world of restaurant experiences. Listen in as Chef Tower talks about his career, sheds light on what it takes to be excellent, shuns the presence of mediocrity, and proclaims that the restaurant business needs an Einstein Moment to set a positive path for the future. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

The food industry provides limitless opportunities for careerists – opportunities that are incredibly diverse. As you walk through your local grocery outlet or browse through that vendor’s catalog of ingredients at a chef’s disposal – it is enlightening to note that there is a product development person behind each one of those ingredients on the shelf or in the catalog. Each product is the result of tireless ideation, testing, tasting, scaling for production, subjected to a finely tuned marketing strategy, named, packaged, and distributed through numerous channels before it gets to your cart or your back loading dock. Join us for a fascinating discussion with Kirsten Schimoler Sutaria – the creative energy behind Wonderlabs Doozy Pots – a plant based ice cream substitute that is nutritious and delicious. Kirsten talks with us about the creative process, the challenges, and the opportunities for a career in food that blends art, science, and loads of problem solving.

Coffee is the universal elixir, the beverage that keeps our personal motors running, a boost of energy or a soothing friend, the start to our day and the end to a great meal – coffee is an integral part of our every day. Those who are deeply involved with the history, agriculture, traditions, brewing techniques and artistry of presenting the perfect cup are also pillars of local communities and supporters of the conversations that bring that community together. These are the people of the coffee experience. If you are a student of food, a chef, restaurateur, educator, philosopher, budding entrepreneur, or simply a lover of coffee in all of its forms – then you will enjoy our conversation with Jecinda Wilson of Origin Coffee in the Adirondacks of New York State. Make sure you have your finger wrapped around the handle of your favorite mug and sit back as we talk with this successful entrepreneur.

Although not a chef, Mary has been involved with setting standards for a chef’s educational experience as well as providing ongoing experiences linking the foodservice industry with the foodservice classroom. Her experiences include ACF accreditation and certification criteria as well as setting up summer institutes and other events for culinary educators in order to help them maintain their expertise in both cooking and education.  She looks at the current challenges facing educators and is proud to help them pivot their programs to include new delivery methods and even more importantly, discover new partnerships with industry via the CAFÉ website, Gold Medal Classroom magazine, and events such as the annual Deans and Directors Retreat and yearly Leadership Conference.