CULINARY MECHANIC

If your labor is "fine" but your profits aren't, you've got a leadership and systems problem—not a math problem. In this episode, Mac's Hospitality's Jeff Boland (9-unit beer-bikes-barbecue group in the Carolinas) gets real about building restaurant systems that actually run, cutting bloaty menus without losing soul, and measuring the right productivity signals (sales per labor hour, covers per labor hour) so your team wins without red-lining. We dig into kitchen leadership that models humility, chef culture that attracts talent, and the operational clarity independents need to grow—plus how to reset incentives so FOH stops staffing for bonuses and starts staffing for guest experience.

If you want calmer shifts and better numbers without burning people out, this one's your field manual.

Connect with Jeffrey Boland

If your knives feel "sharp" but still fight the carrot, this episode will save you time and fingertips. We get into the craft behind truly effective edges with Josh Donald of Bernal Cutlery—what geometry really means, why knives get "wedgy" over time, and how to think about tools like an operator, not a collector. We also hit the real-world stuff: sharpening flows that hold up in busy services, when to thin versus when to replace, and how chef culture drifts into trends that don't actually help you work faster.

You'll walk away with plainspoken guidance you can use tonight—better edges, better cuts, calmer prep. Keywords: restaurant systems, kitchen leadership, chef culture, operational clarity, independent restaurant.

Build a kitchen where you're the accelerator - not the crutch. In this episode, Chef Franck Desplechin lays out a straight path from talented-but-chaotic to calm, accountable, and scalable. We break down why sous chefs stall, how to teach leadership like a skill, and the mindset shift that turns "chef-as-hero" into "chef-as-vision." We get specific on training the "why," making yourself operationally irrelevant (on purpose), and building systems that raise standards without burning people out.

You'll leave with field-tested plays for restaurant systems, kitchen leadership, chef culture, and operational clarity—built for the restaurant operator who needs results, not theory.

If your kitchen is held together by heroics, this episode is your reset. Chef Gerald Chin (Head of Culinary, MINA Group) breaks down how 30+ restaurants stay sharp: a non-negotiable expediting system, real SOPs everyone can find and use, and weekly manager reviews that grow leaders instead of babysitting them. We talk patience, holding the line on standards, and why fun and clarity can live in the same kitchen. If you're chasing consistency, culture, and operational clarity without burning out your best people, this one's for you.

You'll hear practical plays for restaurant systems, kitchen leadership, chef culture, and what it takes to run a restaurant that doesn't depend on a superhero chef.

Want a calmer, more profitable kitchen? Book a call with Simon.

Connect with Chef Gerald

Show Notes Old-school training meets modern leadership. Chef Andrea Pancani spent eight years scaling teams across San Ambroeus Hospitality Group, and he's blunt about what has to change: ego down, teaching up. We dig into why "meet them where they are" isn't soft—it's the key to operational clarity.

You'll hear how daily huddles actually work when they're done right, why orders should never be placed at the end of service, and how to build a sous chef pipeline so you're not stuck doing two jobs.

If you're an independent restaurant operator trying to run a calm kitchen without losing standards, this episode delivers: systems that cut chaos, leadership that respects people, and culture that keeps your best cooks.