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!
Episodes
252 episodes
How to Start a Successful Cottage Bakery with Maria Baradell of Leaf & Loaf
Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter.Have you ever thought about turning your love for baking into a...
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Season 6
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Episode 251
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38:09
Jacques Pépin: A Culinary Legend Reflects on 75 Years in Food
Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter.This week on Chefs Without Restaurants, we celebrate ...
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Season 5
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Episode 250
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40:30
Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking with Joe Yonan
Join Chris Spear in this episode as he interviews Joe Yonan, the acclaimed food and dining editor of The Washington Post and celebrated cookbook author. Joe’s latest work, Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking, redefines pl...
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Season 5
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Episode 249
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55:25
German Heritage Baking: Preserving Tradition with Heidrun Metzler
In this episode, Chris Spear chats with Heidrun Metzler, a passionate baker and author of German Heritage Baking. With recipes that include everything from Apple Strudel to Black Forest Cake, Heidrun's cookbook is a true labor of love ...
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Season 5
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Episode 248
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38:20
Exploring Cookie History and Recipes with Ben Mims, Author of Crumbs
In this episode, Chris Spear chats with cookbook author Ben Mims about his new book, Crumbs. The conversation delves into the cultural history of cookies, what defines a cookie, and Ben's research process for compiling recipes f...
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Season 5
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Episode 247
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55:29
Big Changes Ahead: What’s Next for Chefs Without Restaurants
In this solo episode, host Chris Spear shares some exciting updates and future plans for the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast. As the show approaches its 250th episode and five-year anniversary, Chris reflects on the incredible journe...
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Season 5
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Episode 246
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5:27
The Art of Sandwich Making with Owen Han: From Viral Videos to a New Cookbook
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear talks with Owen Han, viral content creator and sandwich aficionado. With a new cookbook titled Stacked about to launch, Owen shares his journey from making his fir...
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Season 5
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Episode 245
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37:10
Mastering Baking, Blogging and Photography with Broma Bakery's Sarah Fennel
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear speaks with Sarah Fennel, the founder of Broma Bakery and author of the new cookbook Sweet Tooth. What began as a simple creative outlet during her coll...
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Season 5
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Episode 244
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57:37
Chef David Burke on Creativity, Craftsmanship and Culinary Innovation
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear sits down with renowned chef David Burke, a trailblazer in modern American cuisine. Burke discusses his journey from a young chef leading kitchens in New York City to build...
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Season 5
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Episode 243
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33:09
Balancing Passion, Profit, and Culinary Innovation in the Restaurant Industry with Chef Michael Gulotta
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear talks with Chef Michael Gulotta, the chef-owner behind New Orleans hotspots MoPho, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 242
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56:04
Reimagining Hungarian Cuisine with Chef Jeremy Salamon of Agi’s Counter
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear sits down with Jeremy Salamon, the talented chef behind Agi’s Counter in Brooklyn and author of the newly released cookbook, Second Generation. Jerem...
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Season 5
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Episode 241
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47:45
From Punk Drummer to Vegan Private Chef: Aaron Elliott’s Culinary Journey
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear speaks with Aaron Elliott, a vegan chef with a unique background in punk music. Aaron shares his journey from being a drummer in various bands to becoming a private chef for high-pr...
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Season 5
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Episode 240
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58:04
Exploring Landrace Heirloom Grains & Sustainable Farming | Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear is joined by Glenn Roberts, the founder of Anson Mills, a company renowned for its dedication to preserving landrace crops and advancing sustainable farming practices. Glenn shares his f...
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Season 5
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Episode 239
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1:21:26
The Business of Food Content Creation with Preppy Kitchen’s John Kanell
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear continues his conversation from last week with John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen.
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Season 5
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Episode 238
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15:42
Super Easy Recipes with Preppy Kitchen's John Kanell - Part 1
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear sits down with John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen for part 1 of their discussion. John's a former middle school teacher turned cooking personality. They discuss John's new cookbook <...
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Season 5
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Episode 237
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31:37
Navigating Client Communication and Building Authentic Brands with Meghan Kix of BeeCat Creative - Part 2
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear sits down with Meghan Kix for part 2 of their discussion on marketing and branding.
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Season 5
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Episode 236
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41:04
Mastering Your Brand with Meghan Kix: A Deep Dive into Marketing and Branding for Food Entrepreneurs - Part 1
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear sits down with Meghan Kix, a marketing and branding specialist who's worked with major brands like Flying Dog Brewery, and now runs her own creative agency, BeeCat Creative. The...
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Season 5
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Episode 235
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37:12
Heirloom Beans and Beyond: Inside Rancho Gordo with Steve Sando
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear welcomes Steve Sando, the founder of Rancho Gordo, a company known for its heirloom beans. Steve shares his unconventional journey from a diverse range of careers, to becoming a renowned...
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Season 5
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Episode 234
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40:32
Exploring Chinese Gastronomy with Carolyn Phillips
In this episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, Chris Spear sits down with Carolyn Phillips, a renowned expert in Chinese gastronomy and the author of acclaimed cookbooks such as All Under Heaven and the upcoming The Art of ...
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Season 5
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Episode 233
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59:19
How to Market Your Business by Using Your Car as a Mobile Billboard
Today, I’m diving into a unique and cost-effective marketing strategy that has worked wonders for my personal chef business: using your vehicle as a mobile billboard. If you're a service-based business owner, you’ll want to hear about this!...
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Season 5
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Episode 232
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8:46
Advice For Writing a Better Cookbook from All Under Heaven's Carolyn Phillips
In this mini-episode of Chefs Without Restaurants, host Chris Spear is joined by the acclaimed author Carolyn Phillips to discuss the art of writing a successful cookbook. Known for her works such as ...
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Season 5
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Episode 231
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14:53
The Office’s Brian Baumgartner Spills the Beans on Chili and Barbecue
This week on Chefs Without Restaurants, I speak with Brian Baumgartner, the actor best known for his role as Kevin Malone on the TV show "The Office."Brian’s portrayal of Kevin provided countless laughs and unforgettable moments, especia...
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Season 5
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Episode 230
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55:01
Cooking with Pat Lee: A Food Content Creator's Journey
🎙️ This week on Chefs Without Restaurant I speak with Pat Lee, a food content creator and private chef who resides in Delaware. 💰 Pat started his career working in the financial industry. But in the early days of the Covid pandemic, he ...
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Season 5
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Episode 229
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56:17
Using Pizza to Raise Awareness and Money for Muscular Dystrophy with The Real Billy Z
This week my guest is Billy Zureikat, known online as The Real Billy Z. He's a home cook, baker and pizza-maker who's life took an unexpected turn. He went from an active lifestyle, playing basketball and working at ESPN radio, to a challenging...
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Season 5
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Episode 228
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1:15:48
Modernist Cuisine, Sustainability, Culinary Traditions and More with Nathan Myhrvold
This week my guest is Nathan Myhrvold of Modernist Cuisine. Nathan graduated high school and went to college at 14. He holds a doctorate in theoretical and mathematical physics, as well as a master’s degree in mathematical economics, from Princ...
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Season 5
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Episode 227
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58:55
