Today on our episode #395 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Erick Williams, Chef and Founder of Virtue Hospitality Group based in Chicago, which includes Virtue Restaurant & Bar, Mustard Seed Kitchen, Daisy’s Po-Boy & Tavern, and Top This Mac & Cheese. Erick has carved a special niche in the restaurant industry with inimitable persistence, passion and drive. In November 2018, Erick opened Virtue as his first solo concept, nestled in the heart of the historic Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago’s south side. The restaurant combines his love of Southern cuisine and his insatiable study of history and art as they relate to food culture. Erick and Virtue have been featured in a host of local and national media, and in 2022, Erick was named Best Chef: Great Lakes by the James Beard Foundation, making history as the first Black chef to win in this category. In November 2021, inspired by his experience providing takeout only during the pandemic, Erick opened Mustard Seed Kitchen in Chicago, a takeout and delivery-only concept featuring a menu of high-quality approachable meals. And less than a year later in August 2022, he launched a third concept, Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern which evokes the vibrancy of New Orleans through its most celebrated sandwich, located a few steps away from Virtue. Months after Daisy’s opened, Erick collaborated with Virtue's Chef de Cuisine Damarr Brown to open Top This, a delivery and takeout concept offering a variety of delectable mac and cheeses with delicious toppings. Erick’s Virtue team is now getting ready to open a new Mexican cocktail bar, Cantina Rosa, celebrating Mexican culture the same way Virtue has done celebrating Black culture in Hyde Park. Shari sat down with Erick for this conversation at Virtue in Chicago in June over the James Beard Awards weekend. 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to focus on mental health; and Solo Dining experience at Asador Bastian, a Basque-inspired steakhouse from Chef and Owner Doug Psaltis, and Christian Eckmann; part of Eat Well Hospitality, a Chicago-based restaurant group from Doug and Chef Hsing Chen, located in the iconic Flair House in River North, Chicago, IL.  

**Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon) #chefwisebook

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Today on our episode #394 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Wolfgang Puck, famed chef, restaurateur, TV personality 'and author, who has built a brand that encompasses three companies: Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Wolfgang Puck Catering, and Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. The name Wolfgang Puck is synonymous with the best of restaurant hospitality and the ultimate in all aspects of the culinary arts. Wolfgang was born in Austria. He began cooking alongside his mother at a very young age, and worked in some of France’s greatest restaurants, including Maxim’s in Paris, and the Hotel de Paris in Monaco. At the age of 24, Wolfgang left Europe for the United States, first working at the restaurant La Tour in Indianapolis, and then in Los Angeles, quickly garnering the attention of the Hollywood elite as chef of Ma Maison in West Hollywood. In 1982, Wolfgang opened his first flagship restaurant, Spago located in West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip. Spago was an instant success and culinary phenomenon. Today, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining restaurants can be found around the world. In addition, this year, Wolfgang celebrated an Oscar milestone as he marked his 30th year catering for the event. Shari sat down with Wolfgang in Las Vegas at his restaurant Caramá at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino to talk about his impressive career, while she was in town for The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024 in early June. 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to let simplicity rule; and Solo Dining experience at Le Veau d'Or, a revival of the famed French bistro in NYC that originally opened in 1937, brought back by chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, the duo behind NYC's Frenchette and Le Rock. 

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Today on our episode #393 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer has a special show in honor of Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef and restaurateur, who tragically passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in a tubing accident in Oregon at age 49. As a tribute, we are sharing Shari's recorded interview with Naomi from June 3, 2022, focusing on her chef advice for Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon, Spring 2023), which Naomi is a contributor to. The New York Times stated that Naomi was a "chef who made Portland a dining destination," and described her as "a self-taught chef with an irreverent streak whose high standards and generosity of spirit made her the culinary matriarch of Portland, Ore." As a Portland-based chef, Naomi's ventures have included Family Supper, Clark Lewis, Gotham Tavern, and Ripe Cooperative. Her time as chef and owner of Portland's beloved gastronomic shrine Beast from 2007 to 2020 made her one of the region's most successful chefs and earned her the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific Northwest. Naomi was selected as one of America's Best New Chefs by Food & Wine in 2009, and also appeared on multiple cooking competition shows, including as a contestant on Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef, and as a judge on Top Chef Knife Fight and Bobby's Triple Threat. She published her first book in 2016 entitled Taste and Technique, Recipes to Elevate Your Home Cooking, with Jamie Feldmar. In addition, during the pandemic, Naomi became involved in the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC). Shari is grateful for Naomi's friendship and contribution to Chefwise, and to be able to share their conversation today, where they discussed many topics in her book, including leadership, business, team, work-life balance, and fundamentals. Our sincerest condolences to Naomi's family, friends and team. Naomi, you will be greatly missed. #RIP 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to say yes, inspired by Naomi; and Solo Dining experience from 2016 at Beast in Portland, Oregon. 

**Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon) #chefwisebook

Photo Courtesy of Dina Avila.

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #392 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show from The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, which took place in Las Vegas in early June 2024, with its gala awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 5th at the Wynn Las Vegas, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. The 50 Best is a leading authority in global gastronomy and the international drinks scene, showcasing worldwide trends and highlighting great restaurants and bars from all corners of the world. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants was created in 2002 as the brand's first global review of once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences and has since been published annually. Shari was thrilled to attend the 50 Best awards, press conference, #50BestTalks, closing party, a signature sessions dinner, grand media dinner, and more; and has exclusive chef interviews with Brian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf, Las Vegas; Virgilio Martinez, Central (Best of the Best / #1 - 2023), Lima, Peru; Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas, and Eduard Xatruch, Disfrutar (#1), Barcelona, Spain, as well as their winning speeches; Riccardo Camanini, Lido 84 (#12), Gardone Riviera, Italy; Mingoo Kang, Mingles (#44), Seoul, South Korea; Jorge Vallejo, Quintonil (#7), Mexico City; Santiago Lastra, KOL (#17), London; Himanshu Saini, Tresind Studio (#13), Dubai; and Rasmus Munk, Alchemist (#8), Copenhagen, Denmark. Congratulations to the Disfrutar team, and all of the chefs who were recognized, many of whom have been featured guests on our show and are a part of Shari's CHEFWISE book. It was an amazing celebration and honor to be a part of the festivities. For more informaton and the awards list, go to theworlds50best.com, and follow @theworlds50best #worlds50best. 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to celebrate wins; and Solo Dining experience at Sparrow + Wolf in Las Vegas for its signature sessions dinner with Ana Ros, Hiša Franko (#48), Kobarid, Slovenia.  

** Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon), available wherever books are sold! #chefwisebook**

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #391 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Rasmus Munk, head chef and co-owner of Alchemist in Copenhagen, Denmark, where Shari dined in late April and interviewed Rasmus on-location. Shari also has a follow-up interview with Rasmus in Las Vegas in June during The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024. Alchemist was ranked No. 5 on 50 Best in 2023, and is currently No. 8 on its 2024 list. Alchemist has also received two Michelin Stars, and is No. 1 on OAD (Opinionated About Dining) 2024 in Europe, and Rasmus is No. 6 on The Best Chef list 2023. All remarkable achievements. Rasmus was born in Randers in Jutland, Denmark, and at age 22, he became head chef at TreeTop in Vejle, where he started combining ingredients, textures, and flavors in new ways, ultimately leading to the opening of the first Alchemist in Copenhagen in 2015. After two years of preparation, in 2019, he moved Alchemist to a 22,000 square foot space in the industrial district of Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, showcasing “Holistic Cuisine” with 50 edible impressions and an artfully composed dining experience with performers, installations, and incredible architecture, including a planetarium dome. Rasmus has teamed up with SpaceVIP, a luxury space travel group, described as a carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company, to offer ‘stratospheric dining’ on a six-hour flight taking off from Florida, US, in 2025. 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to be a conversation starter; Speed Round; and Shari's Solo Dining experience at chef and owner Beau Clugston's wonderful seafood restaurant, ILUKA, in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #390 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Christina Grdovic, or Chris, an influential and inspiring leader in America’s culinary world. Chris was previously the Publisher of Food & Wine for over a decade, and is currently the Head of Partnerships at Marc Lore’s Wonder, a new kind of food hall, transforming delivery and mealtime. Chris is known for devoting the same endless energy and investment in nurturing people and culture as she does to refining strategy and building brands. With this powerful, focused combination, she has left an indelible mark on the companies and teams she’s led. When Marc founded Wonder, Chris joined to identify and recruit chef and restaurant partners for the platform and help develop concepts for chefs José Andrés, Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, Esther Choi and beloved classics DiFara Pizza and Tejas Barbecue, among others. As Publisher of Food & Wine, Chris transformed the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, fortifying its status as America’s premier food and wine festival. She launched myriad partnerships with culinary festivals in the U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico to create robust year-round offerings. Chris also spearheaded the partnership with Bravo that launched the network’s Emmy Award-winning blockbuster hit, Top Chef. After departing Food & Wine, Chris founded a strategic consultancy advising the Infatuation, Fever Tree, and other culinary brands. 

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to wonder; Industry News on James Kent, also known as Jamal James Kent, an outstanding chef, restaurateur, husband, father, and friend, who suddenly passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from a heart attack at the young age of 45 -- a heartbreaking loss for our industry and beyond; as well as Industry News on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024 in Las Vegas and James Beard Awards 2024 in Chicago, which Shari attended for our "On the Road" coverage; plus, Shari's Solo Dining experience at Clark's Oyster Bar in Aspen during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen 2024. Listen at Heritage Radio Network, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

** Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon, Spring 2023), available wherever books are sold! #chefwisebook**

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #389 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer has a special show in honor of James Kent, also known as Jamal James Kent, an outstanding chef, restaurateur, husband, father, and friend, who suddenly passed away this past Saturday, June 15, 2024, from a heart attack at the young age of 45. As a tribute, we are rebroadcasting our episode #253 with James, which originally aired on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, when Shari spoke with him remotely during the trying times of Covid.  

The New York Times wrote that James was “a distinguished chef and successful Manhattan restaurateur who seemed poised to become a food industry tycoon.” James' company, Saga Hospitality Group, includes restaurants, Crown Shy (one Michelin star) and Saga (two Michelin stars), and cocktail bar, Overstory (No. 3 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list), which are all in the same building in Manhattan's Financial District at 70 Pine Street. Crown Shy is on the ground floor, and Saga and Overstory are part of the 62nd, 63rd, 64th and 66th floors, along with private dining room, 12 terraces and 360 panoramic views. James future plans included Snackville, re-imagined culinary concepts at the amusement park on Santa Monica Pier in California as a partnership with Saga Hospitality Group and private equity platform, SC Holdings; several projects from fine dining to a fast-casual chicken sandwich concept with NBA great LeBron James, whose investment firm is LRMR Ventures; a 140-seat restaurant at 360 Park Avenue South in Manhattan, inspired by the Grand Central Oyster Bar with Executive Chef Danny Garcia, who was just named winner of Bravo’s Top Chef: Season 21; a new bakery and casual all-day cafe in the newly renovated Domino Sugar factory building in Brooklyn with Executive Pastry Chef Renata Ameni; and five restaurants in partnership with Paris luxury department store, Printemps, at 1 Wall Street, led by Culinary Director Gregory Gourdet. James was also working with Shari’s publisher Phaidon on a new book to tell the story of his restaurants at 70 Pine and his life growing up and cooking in NYC.

Shari was honored to know James, and call him a friend. He was not only an extremely well-respected leader, but he had a beautiful soul, and the ability to make others feel special. His incredible legacy will live on.  Our deepest condolences to James’ wife Kelly and their children Gavin and Avery, and everyone who loved James too. Thank you, James, for sharing your story with us, and the wonderful memories. You will be greatly missed. #RIP 

** On episode #253 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer is joined by James Kent, Executive Chef of Crown Shy, and the Owner/Partner of J2K Creative. A Greenwich Village native, James started his culinary career as a summer apprentice at Bouley when he was fifteen years old, and has since spent time in the kitchens of Babbo, Jean-Georges, and Gordon Ramsay. James joined the team at Eleven Madison Park (EMP) as a line cook and was quickly promoted to sous chef, and in 2010, he placed first in the Bocuse d’Or USA Competition; then representing the US at the international finals of the Bocuse D'Or in Lyon, France, placing 10th in the world. When he returned to New York, he was named chef de cuisine of EMP, and under his leadership, the restaurant received numerous accolades including four stars from The New York Times, three Michelin stars, and a coveted spot on World's 50 Best Restaurants. James was promoted to Executive Chef of The NoMad in the fall of 2013, the same year that it received one Michelin Star. In 2017, he left to pursue his first solo project, an ambitious pair of restaurants in the landmark Art Deco building at 70 Pine Street in New York’s Financial District, with his partner Jeff Katz. Crown Shy, the first of those restaurants, opened in March 2019, and received 2 stars from The New York Times and one Michelin Star just six months after opening. Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to strive for excellence; Industry News discussion, including COVID-19; and Solo Dining/Takeout experience from Einat Admony's Taim in the West Village, NYC.

**Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon). #chefwisebook** 

Photo Courtesy of Saga Hospitality Group.

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #388 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer has a special show with Jean-Georges Vongerichten -- acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and author, from their recent live audience event at the James Beard Foundation's Platform by JBF, which took place on Sunday, April 14th in NYC. Their one-on-one conversation centers around Shari's new book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World, which Jean-Georges in a contributor to; diving into a range of topics from Chefwise which encompass matters applicable both in and out of the kitchen. Known for launching such city-defining restaurants such as his first, JoJo on the Upper East Side, flagship Jean-Georges at Columbus Circle and Tin Building at The Seaport, today Jean-Georges is responsible for the operation and success of over 60 restaurants worldwide. 

In addition to her latest book and hosting this podcast, All in the Industry, Shari is the founder of New York City–based Bayer Public Relations, which recently celebrated its 20th year. We're happy to share this exclusive event talk with you today. Many thanks to Jean--Georges, James Beard Foundation's CEO Clare Reichenbach who hosted our event, Phaidon, and Posman Books, who supplied Chefwise copies for our book signing, and teams! And many thanks to all who joined us! In addition, today's show features Shari's PR tip to read books, and Solo Dining experience at Four Twenty Five, a new seasonally driven restaurant by Jean-Georges in NYC, with Chef Jonathan Benno.  

** Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon). #chefwisebook **

Photo Courtesy of Heather Willensky.

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #387 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Tim Brooke-Webb, Managing Director for 50 Best, the leading authority in global gastronomy and the international drinks scene, showcasing worldwide trends and highlighting great restaurants and bars from all corners of the Earth. With overall responsibility for 50 Best since 2009, Tim has overseen more than a decade of key brand developments, including the launches of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2013; the start of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants global tour in 2016; the acquisition of The World's 50 Best Bars in 2017; the launch of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2018; and the more recent additions of 50 Best Discovery, Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants, North America's 50 Best Bars and The World’s 50 Best Hotels to the 50 Best portfolio. He joined William Reed in 2007 as publisher of The Morning Advertiser and was promoted to publishing director in 2009, also overseeing Restaurant magazine, BigHospitality and MCA Insight, highly influential UK hospitality trade publications. Shari is excited to speak with Tim about his career and all things 50 Best, including The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, taking place on June 5th in Las Vegas, which Shari will be attending and covering on an upcoming "On the Road" episode. 

In addition, today's show features Shari's PR tip to build community; Industry News on The 50 Best Bars in North America 2024, via Conde Nast Traveler; and Shari's Solo Dining experience at Casa Playa at the Wynn Las Vegas, which is hosting one of the 50 Best's Signature Sessions dining events with Chefwise contributor Elena Reygadas of Rosetta in Mexico City. 

** Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon). #chefwisebook **

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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Today on our episode #386 of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Gabriel Ornelas, a strategist, producer and founder of Studio Ornelas, a global, multidisciplinary group of business builders who are deeply invested in the worlds of food, hospitality, travel, and culture. An entrepreneur himself, Gabriel has spent his career developing and producing compelling branded experiences through content, media, and partnerships. Gabriel and his teams global work experience and unique point of view has positioned them to successfully drive growth, through new business and marketing campaigns for clients, which include Faena Group, Sbe, Mercedes-Benz, Perfect Day, Citi, Antigua & Barbuda Tourism, Perrier-Jouët Champagne, Moët Hennessy and Valrhona, to name a few. Gabriel is also the creator, host and producer of “On The Pass” podcast, which is powered through Studio Ornelas, serving up inspiring conversations with figures in food, beverage and hospitality, now celebrating its 4th Anniversary. 

In addition, today's show features Shari's PR tip to strive to make a positive impact in the world; Industry News on California's ban on "junk fees" and how it could effect California’s restaurant industry, via Eater SF; and Shari's Solo Dining experience at Chefwise contributor Christian F. Puglisi's BAEST in Copenhagen, Denmark.  

** Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon). #chefwisebook **

Photo Courtesy of Gabriel Ornelas.

Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. 

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