Chefs Without Restaurants
Join Chris Spear as he interviews food and beverage entrepreneurs who have built successful careers outside of traditional restaurant kitchens.
From personal chefs, caterers, and food truck operators to cookbook authors, research chefs, and farmers, each guest has paved their own way in the culinary world. Through candid conversations, they share the challenges, lessons, and successes of creating a business on their own terms.
With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry—including running his own personal chef business, Perfect Little Bites—Chris is dedicated to helping chefs and food entrepreneurs navigate their own unconventional paths in the industry.
If you're looking for inspiration, business insights, and real stories from those who have stepped beyond the restaurant world, this podcast is for you.
🎧 New episodes available—subscribe now and start exploring the road less traveled in the culinary industry!
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 44 minutes
- Episodes
- 259
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
From Food Truck To Restaurant and Condiment Line with Poi Dog's Kiki Aranita
This week's guest is Philadelphia chef Kiki Aranita. You might know her from her Poi Dog food truck and subsequent restaurant of the same name. Unfortunately, due to the Covid pandemic, she had to sh…
Health, Wellness and Vegetarianism with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel
This week I have a bonus episode with Andris Lagsdin of Baking Steel. During our full conversation, we talked primarily about pizza making, and how he created the Baking Steel. While recording the ep…
What is a Chef with Jensen Cummings of Best Served
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
What is a Chef with Matt Collins of Chef Collins Events
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish - Cookbook Author Cathy Barrow
On this episode we have cookbook author and food writer Cathy Barrow. She has written for the New York Times, Garden and Gun, The Local Palate, Modern Farmer, Saveur, Southern Living, NPR, and Nation…
On Pizza and Entrepreneurship - How Andris Lagsdin Created the Baking Steel
This week I have Baking Steel founder Andris Lagsdin. It’s the inspiring story of how Andris built his successful business. He spent a number of years working in restaurants, which included being on …
What is a Chef with David Pollack of Cooking Without Kidneys
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
What is a Chef with Virginia Willis
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
Chef Virginia Willis on Writing Cookbooks and Her Wellness Journey
This week I have James Beard Foundation Award-winner, chef Virginia Willis. She was the TV kitchen director for Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay, and Nathalie Dupree and executive producer for Epicurious T…
Show Your Work and Don't Fear Criticism
This is a mini-episode about showing your work. I made this episode for the new creators out there. Whether you’re blogging, podcasting, or posting photos on Instagram, there are going to be people o…
Learn How to Start an Online Cooking Class Business with Chef Matt Finarelli
This week I have personal chef and cooking instructor Matt Finarelli. Matt was a guest on our show way back in March 2020. In fact, he might’ve been the last in-person show that we recorded before th…
From Fine Dining to the Personal Chef Business with Chef Lana Lagomarsini of Lana Cooks
This week, we're joined by Lana Lagomarsini. Lana is the chef and owner of Lana Cooks, a personal chef business based in the New York City area. Lana comes from a fine-dining background, having cooke…
What is a Chef with Justin Khanna
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
What is a Chef with Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle
This week, we have a mini-episode about what it means to be a chef. This is something I'm asking many of the guests as part of my upcoming season 3 interviews. I thought it would be great to get as m…
2021 Wrap-Up and Things to Come in 2022
This week, we're wrapping up 2021, and ready to welcome in 2022. Listen to this episode for an update on the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast, and what you can expect in 2022. Wishing everyone a hea…
Intuitive Eating and the Anti-Diet Approach with Registered Dietitian David Orozco
This week, we're joined by David Orozco. David owns Orozco Nutrition, a nutrition and wellness practice in Atlanta Georgia. David’s been in practice for close to 20 years as a Registered Dietitian Nu…
Sobriety and Starting a Baking Business - Louis Remolde The Single Baker
On this episode, we're joined by Louis Remolde, otherwise known as The Single Baker. Louis is someone who's worked in the food and beverage industry in Philadelphia, PA since he was 14 years old. At …
Pot Liqueur - Personal Chef Gabrielle Jenkins Shares Her Story
On this episode, we're joined by Gabrielle Jenkins. She's the chef and owner of Pot Liqueur, a catering, personal chef, and meal prep business that serves the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia)…
Running a Successful Food Truck Business - A Return Visit from Jerrod Cline of Bub-B-Que
On this episode, we're joined by Jerrod Cline of Bub-B-Que, a food truck based in Frederick, Maryland. Jerrod was the 2nd guest we had on the podcast way back in Dec 2019. The food world, and the wor…
Even More Cooking Issues and Food Science with Dave Arnold - Part 2
On this episode, we're joined by chef Dave Arnold. He’s the host of the Cooking Issues podcast, author of the cocktail book Liquid Intelligence, and creator of the Searzall and Spinzall. Dave is also…