69 min listen
Episode 174: Rich Melman, R.J. Melman, and Jerrod Melman (Lettuce Entertain You); Vicki Freeman (The Bowery Group, NYC) on Operating and Opening Resta…
Episode 174: Rich Melman, R.J. Melman, and Jerrod Melman (Lettuce Entertain You); Vicki Freeman (The Bowery Group, NYC) on Operating and Opening Resta…
ratings:
Length:
113 minutes
Released:
Aug 12, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
During a recent book research trip to Chicago, Andrew made time to sit down with industry legend Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You; Lettuce Entertain You president R.J. Melman; and executive partner Jerrod Melman. On the occasion of the company's 50th year in business, the family open up about the company's origins, evolution, and management style, as well as other aspects of running restaurants and managing teams. This is a rare and fascinating chance to learn about a philosophy of hospitality from some of the best in the business.And in The Line-Up, our news and commentary segment, NYC restaurateur Vicki Freeman of The Bowery Group calls in to talk about their new restaurant Shukette (with chef Ayesha Nurdaja at the helm), and the ups and downs of opening and operating restaurants at this delicate moment in time.In our jobs-of-the-week segment, we share some of the great positions our sponsor Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions (BMRS) is currently looking to fill. (Andrew Talks to Chefs listeners are encouraged to reach out to BMRS at the special, dedicated email address created just for you at ATC@restaurant-solutions.com.)Andrew Talks to Chefs is sponsored in part by meez; please check out this revolutionary new interactive recipe database and tool for professional chefs and cooks.Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.
Released:
Aug 12, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Episode 5: Paul Kahan: While in Gotham City to promote his new cookbook Cheers to the Publican (coauthored with chef Cosmo Goss and collaborator Rachel Holtzman) Chicago's Paul Kahan--named Outstanding Chef in 2013 by the James Beard Foundation--dropped by for a chat about growing up the son of a Chicago smoked fish purveyor, bolting the computer programming trade for the pro kitchen, his formative years working for Erwin Drechsler and Rick Bayless, and his culinary kinship with California. Oh, and he tells us why the "wrestler's mentality" he developed in high school has served him well to this day. He also takes us through his early chef-owner days opening Blackbird, avec, and The Publican, and up to the 10-entity empire he and his partners run today. And, of course, we chat about why he wrote this cookbook, at this time. by Andrew Talks to Chefs