Chefs Without Restaurants
The Chefs Without Restaurants Network
Recent Episodes
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 8-year medical journey that resulted in a diagnosis of limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2L.
As his body underwent changes, he found solace and a newfound passion in the kitchen. He traded his jersey for an apron, re-focusing his energy on becoming a better home cook and baker. Sandwiches and pizza became his canvas, and from that emerged the "Tripping Billy" pizza. Little did he know, this creation would become a catalyst for raising funds and awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Teaming up with some of Chicago's best pizzerias and restaurants, he shares his story of reinvention through food. It became a way to show people that even in the face of change, positive things can happen. Over the past few years, he's collaborated with over 50 culinary giants, raising $50,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He's been the Illinois Ambassador for the MDA since January of 2022.
BILLY ZUREIKAT
Billy's website
Billy's Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
Donate to The Muscular Dystrophy Association
CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
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Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites
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Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
I'm excited to introduce you to Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond delivers a flavor profile that's unmatched. This bourbon is aged for seven years, three more than required, creating a richer, more sophisticated flavor profile. When you select this premium bottled-in-bond bourbon, Heaven Hill’s commitment to excellence is evident in every sip. Available Nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store.
Heaven Hill reminds you to Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.
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 Princeton University. His master’s degree is in geophysics and space physics, and he did postdoctoral cosmology work with Stephen Hawking. Nathan then spent 14 years at Microsoft, where he was their first Chief Technology Officer.
While working at Microsoft, he took a leave of absence to earn his culinary diploma from École de Cuisine La Varenne in France. Myhrvold retired from Microsoft in 1999 to found Intellectual Ventures and pursue several interests. Inspired by the void in literature about culinary science and the cutting-edge techniques used in the world’s best restaurants, Myhrvold assembled the Modernist Cuisine team to share the art andscience of cooking with others.
In the culinary world, Nathan is known for his cooking lab, and the in-depth book sets Modernist Cuisine, Modernist Bread, and Modernist Pizza, as well as Modernist Cuisine at Home, and Modernist Bread at Home. His photography is sold at Modernist Cuisine Gallery by Nathan Myhrvold with locations in Seattle, New Orleans, and La Jolla.
Topics discussed:
The upcoming Modernist Pastry books
Pizza-making at home
What is Modernist Cuisine?
Breaking culinary traditions, and exploring cooking myths and lore
Microwaves, safety, and how they work
Cooking equipment such as combi ovens and induction cooktops
Sustainability as it relates to the food and beverage industry
NATHAN MYHRVOLD and MODERNIST CUISINE
Nathan's Website
Modernist Cuisine Website, Instagram and Facebook
The Modernist Pizza Podcast
CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).
Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter
Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram and Threads
The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group
Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites
SPONSOR INFO
Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
I'm excited to introduce you to Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond delivers a flavor profile that's unmatched. This bourbon is aged for seven years, three more than required, creating a richer, more sophisticated flavor profile. When you select this premium bottled-in-bond bourbon, Heaven Hill’s commitment to excellence is evident in every sip. Available Nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store.
Heaven Hill reminds you to Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.
This week I'm sharing a clip from another podcast I was featured on a couple of years ago. I share a couple of funny stories that I've never shared before. The first story is about how actor Bill Murray inadvertently ruined my anniversary dinner. I love Bill, and this isn't something he intentionally did, but the story relates to good (and poor) customer service.
The other story is about scrapple, an original recipe of mine, and how a large spice company might have appropriated this recipe, passed it off as their own, and it subsequently ended up in a book. I've joked about it, but I'm still kind of salty. In today's content creation era, it's something that I think is relevant.
PEOPLE AND THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST
Plum Luv Foods Episode 362 with Chris Spear
Chef Plum on Instagram
The ORIGINAL Scrapple Dip Recipe
The Bill Murray dinner incident post from 2012
Buy the book Pennsylvania Scrapple
The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group
Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites
This week my guest is "the whiskey professor" Bernie Lubbers, Heaven Hill Distillery's national brand ambassador. If you want to learn more about bourbon, and one of America's oldest and best distilleries, this episode is for you. Bernie explains the criteria for bourbon, as well as the bottled-in-bond classification, something he's championed since beginning his bourbon career in 2005.
We also discuss whiskey tastings and tasting notes in general. I asked him about the price of bottles, especially as it relates to the quality of the spirit. And I feel like it can be overwhelming when you go into the liquor store and see 200 different bottles of bourbon. Where do you even start? Bernie provides guidance.
Being the bottled-in-bond guy, we talk about that particular class of bourbons, and how to create your own tasting at home.
BERNIE LUBBERS and HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY
Find Bernie on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
Heaven Hill's Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whiskey
Buy Bernie's book Bourbon Whiskey: Our Native Spirit
CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).
Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter
Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram and Threads
The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group
Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites
SPONSOR INFO
Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
I'm excited to introduce you to Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond delivers a flavor profile that's unmatched. This bourbon is aged for seven years, three more than required, creating a richer, more sophisticated flavor profile. When you select this premium bottled-in-bond bourbon, Heaven Hill’s commitment to excellence is evident in every sip. Available Nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store.
Heaven Hill reminds you to Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.
Find out more at Heaven Hill Distillery
This week my guest is Shawn Niles (aka The Fat Pastor). Shawn started his church in 2015, but his love of cooking led him to competing on MasterChef in 2016. What chef Gordon Ramsay told him would change his life forever.
Wanting to combine his two passions, Shawn started a program for at-risk youth in Yakima, WA called Urban Kitchen, to teach them culinary and business skills. At the end of the program, the students would open and run a 3-night pop-up restaurant.
He would later start BiteClub Yakima, and have the opportunity to go to Italy to work with chef Massimo Bottura. Also, following in the footsteps of his dad, his 9-year old son Asher is a current contestant on MasterChef Junior.
SHAWN NILES/THE FAT PASTOR
Find Shawn on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
Shawn's website
BiteClub Yakima
CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).
Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter
Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram and Threads
The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group
Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites
SPONSOR INFO
Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
I'm excited to introduce you to Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond delivers a flavor profile that's unmatched. This bourbon is aged for seven years, three more than required, creating a richer, more sophisticated flavor profile. When you select this premium bottled-in-bond bourbon, Heaven Hill’s commitment to excellence is evident in every sip. Available Nationally, look for a bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond at your local store.
Heaven Hill reminds you to Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.
Find out more at Heaven Hill Distillery