Chef's PSA Podcast

Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher are the husband-and-wife chef-owners of Lenoir, a MICHELIN Guide restaurant in Austin's Bouldin Creek neighborhood open since 2012. They also formerly owned Métier Cook's Supply next door and opened Boni's Bar, a Spanish drinks and bites concept, in Spring 2026. Todd is a native Texan who trained at The Danube under David Bouley and served as chef de cuisine at the Four Seasons Austin before opening Lenoir. Jessica cooked through the Bouley restaurant family and at Tabla with Floyd Cardoz and Gray Kunz before moving to Austin. They met through the Bouley restaurants and have built Lenoir together for 14 years.This episode is about the gap between technically skilled and genuinely great, and what it actually takes to close it.Why great cooking is built through process, patience, and accumulated experience, and why social media trends actively work against that developmentThe foundational cookbook list every serious cook should own, from Ducasse's Grand Livre de Cuisine to Jacques Pépin's La Technique to Paul Bertolli's Cooking by HandHow mentorship through observation, athletic team dynamics, and genuine hospitality have kept Lenoir evolving for 14 years without losing what makes it worth returning toAndré Natera, Todd Duplechan, and Jessica Maher cover Todd's stage at The Danube, being hired, and the 12-course meal at the pass that changed how he understood professional cooking, how they met through the Bouley restaurant family, what separates cooks who develop into great chefs from those who plateau, and the teamwork and hospitality philosophy that has driven Lenoir's 14-year evolution. The episode closes with rapid fire kitchen gear, the chef Mount Rushmore, and the story behind Métier and Boni's Bar.GuestTodd Duplechan on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/duplechananigans/Lenoir on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lenoiratx/Boni's Bar on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bonisbaratx/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Lead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef

Chef Jason Dady is one of San Antonio's most prolific restaurateurs, having opened 20 restaurants over 25 years through the Jason Dady Restaurant Group. A San Antonio UNESCO City of Gastronomy Chef Ambassador and Food Network veteran with appearances on Iron Chef Gauntlet, BBQ Brawl, and Beat Bobby Flay, Dady most recently opened Mexico Ceaty, a 25,000-square-foot food hall on San Antonio's River Walk at the Shops at Rivercenter. The concept opened April 20, 2026 and includes eight distinct dining and drinking venues celebrating Mexican and San Antonio food culture, with direct River Walk access.This episode covers the full operational story behind Mexico Ceaty, from a decade-old idea to 196 employees hired in one week.How an 18-month lease negotiation, financing setbacks, and a small Houston bank shaped the opening before a single taco was servedHow targeted social media ads and structured onboarding placed 196 employees across nine concepts in a single weekWhy SOPs and recipes calibrated to the gram are not micromanagement but the only way to maintain standards at scale.André Natera and Jason Dady cover the Eataly-inspired origin of Mexico Ceaty, the nine concepts inside the space, the transition from chef-operator to CEO, profit margin realities across fine dining and fast casual formats, and the EOS Traction L10 meeting structure that creates leadership accountability without requiring the founder in every room. The episode closes with career advice, the importance of stages as learning rather than labor, and rapid fire chef questions.GuestJason Dady on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chefjasondady/Mexico Ceaty on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/mexicoceatysa/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Lead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef

Evan LeRoy is the co-owner and pitmaster of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin, Texas. A Michelin star recipient in the MICHELIN Guide Texas 2024, number two on Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints in 2025, and 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef Texas, LeRoy has spent nearly a decade redefining Texas barbecue through whole-animal butchery, locally sourced meats, and a cooking philosophy that refuses to treat barbecue as a fixed menu. His debut cookbook, New School Barbecue: Recipes for Next-Level Smoking and Grilling from Austin's LeRoy and Lewis, co-authored with Paula Forbes, is out May 12, 2026.In this episode, he gets direct about the one thing most chefs with new recognition do not want to admit: the star changed everything, and not all of it in ways that are easy to manage.What earning and retaining a Michelin star actually does to a barbecue operation in terms of volume, scrutiny, and internal pressureWhy Texas barbecue's dominance as the national formula is creating a copycat monoculture that is hurting the genreThe complete brisket process from trimming for airflow to Dalmatian rub ratios, wood selection, wrapping decisions, and the overnight heated restAndré Natera and Evan LeRoy cover the ways success can quietly destabilize priorities, how portioning precision and pricing realities shift under heightened expectations, and the three-year process behind translating LeRoy and Lewis's restaurant technique into nearly 100 home-cook-friendly recipes for the cookbook. The episode closes with how LeRoy steps away from the pressure and what he is watching in the broader BBQ landscape.New School Barbecue is available wherever books are sold, out May 12, 2026.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestEvan LeRoy on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evanleroybbq/Standard Links BlockLead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachefSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/

Chef Josh Sutcliff is the Corporate Executive Chef and Partner at 55 Seventy, a private members club for wine lovers with locations in Dallas and Houston. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate, CultureMap Dallas Rising Star Chef of the Year, and Zagat 30 Under 30 honoree, his career includes chef de cuisine at FT33, executive chef at Mirador, and stints at The Joule and Knox Bistro.He started washing dishes at 13. Federal agents had just arrested his father. His family was living in a camper. The kitchen gave him stability when nothing else did, and the chaotic, pirate-energy environment he found there never stopped feeling like home.Why consistency and station setup reveal more about a cook than talent ever willHow to map a chef career by starting at the end goal and working backward, not forwardWhat the shift from chef to business thinker actually requires when you are scaling new openingsAndré Natera and Josh Sutcliff cover the sports mindset that shaped his approach to kitchen teams, what makes young cooks succeed or stall, his systems for onboarding and standardized recipes, and the long game of reputation and networking in a small industry. The episode closes with the transition from day-to-day cooking to corporate executive chef and what that demands from a leader.GuestJosh Sutcliff on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jsutcliff/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Lead Like a Chef App https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachefShop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/

Brandon Harpster is the National Corporate Chef for Training and Events at RATIONAL USA. He trains chefs across the country, runs RATIONAL's culinary academies, and develops cooking programs that translate connected kitchen technology into repeatable, scalable results for working operators.This episode starts with a brunch disaster. A steamship round failed overnight at a country club, no monitoring, no alert, no way to intervene. Harpster uses that story to frame the entire case for connected cooking, and then spends the next hour proving it.How the iCombi Pro handles delta-T roasting, built-in resting, and consistent brunch egg production at volumeHow the iVario Pro runs overnight stock for better clarity and yield with no one in the buildingHow a 15-minute risotto program that requires only three stirs is a repeatable kitchen system, not a shortcutAndré Natera and Brandon Harpster cover the iCombi Pro, iVario Pro, and iHexagon across real kitchen scenarios including Peking duck skin development, brisket hybrid smoking workflows, zone heating, sous-vide-style cooking, and pasta-in-sauce preset functions. They also discuss what RATIONAL's corporate chef network actually does, how the training academies work, and what a field role in this industry looks like for chefs who want to move off the line.RATIONALRATIONAL USA Linktree → https://linktr.ee/rational_usaRATIONAL USA Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rational_usa/Chef Brandon's Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/brandon.harpster/RATIONAL ChefLine → https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/customercare/contact-us/chefline/ | 866-306-2433Chef's PSASubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/

Everyone wants the spotlight. Until it actually hits.Andre sits down with Emmanuel Chavez from Tatemo in Houston to talk about what happens when your restaurant gets attention before you’re ready for it.Tatemo went from a tortilla operation to a full tasting menu fast. Recognition came with it. So did pressure.This conversation gets into what it takes to run a tight kitchen with almost no space, how leadership changes when expectations spike, and the mistakes that come with building something in real time.• What early success actually feels like• How to run a tasting menu in a small kitchen• Why leadership matters more than techniqueFollow Chefs PSA and send this to a chef who thinks they’re ready.Emmanuel Chavez on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.comVisit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.comSponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com

Chef Dan Kennedy spent over 20 years in high end kitchens, most recently as head chef at Pasta|Bar Austin before the concept closed in February 2026. He is now working on Morri, his own concept in Austin.In this episode, Andre Natera and Dan Kennedy argue that social media has replaced technical skill with aesthetic performance, and duck is the clearest casualty.Why duck is almost always undercooked and how proper skin rendering changes the entire dishWhy wagyu and high-fat cuts need more heat than most cooks give them, not lessHow to build a tasting menu around timing and satiety instead of story and egoKennedy covers proper rendering technique, skin drying and aging, heat control, extended resting, and pre-service prep decisions that determine outcome before service starts. They also cover lamb, octopus, and grilling over binchotan and wood embers, using cake testers and feel over thermometers, and finishing with fat and flaky salt. On tasting menus, Kennedy favors 5 to 9 courses with canapés, cold starters, and two desserts, structured around deliciousness over narrative. The episode closes with reactions to America's Culinary Cup, commentary on Pasta|Bar's closure, and Chef's PSA merch.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestDan Kennedy on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cocinero_dk/Dan's Hip Hop Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6WjAtI8aeONJSnk1FUAeYf?si=vvki6CM9SUSJ-k1BuOm15gLinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by Rational USA → https://rationalusa.com

Chef Andre Natera sits down with Dallas chef Josh Sutcliff and food commentator Drew Stephenson to unpack the viral debate surrounding the Dallas dining scene.After Drew’s Instagram post sparked widespread reactions among chefs and diners, the conversation expanded into a deeper look at restaurant success, Michelin expectations, and the economic realities of running restaurants in Texas.They discuss the polarizing response to Mamani, why tasting-menu-only restaurants often struggle in Texas, and the operational realities of Dallas restaurants, including large spaces, high rent, and limited kitchen infrastructure.The episode also examines how chefs balance creativity, identity, and profitability while navigating diner expectations, influencer culture, and the evolving fine-dining landscape.Restaurants discussed include Lucia, Sushi Cozy, Petra and the BeastDrew Stephenson on InstagramJosh Sutcliff on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com

Most chefs should not open a restaurant.James Trees explains why ownership is finance and leadership, not cooking. From prime cost and food cost velocity to EBITDA, triple net leases, and delivery app traps, this episode is a restaurant business masterclass.If you are thinking about opening your first restaurant, learn the numbers first.How prime cost actually worksWhy food cost velocity matters more than percentagesHow to negotiate leases and protect downsideBuilt for chefs serious about ownership and profit.Follow Chefs PSA and share this episode with a chef who wants to open a restaurant.James Trees InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com

She left finance to open two of Austin’s most talked-about restaurants.In this episode of Chefs PSA, Laila Bazahm explains how fine dining discipline, financial literacy, and cultural awareness shaped her path from Wall Street to restaurant ownership.This conversation is essential for chefs who want to open their first restaurant without guessing their way through funding.How to secure capital for a restaurantWhat elite kitchens actually teachWhy financial literacy determines survivalBuilt for chefs serious about ownership and leadership.ollow Chefs PSA and share this episode with a chef planning to open a restaurant.Laila on InstagramSiti on InstagramEl Raval on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com

Chef Francis Pascal of Vendador joins André Natera to talk private dining, leadership, contracts, pricing, and the real business behind luxury events. From immigrant roots to building a high-end operation, this episode is packed with practical insight for chefs looking to go independent.If this episode helped you, leave a 5-star rating and follow Chef’s PSA.Francis Pascal on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCES Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/

If this episode brings you value, leave a 5-star rating and follow Chef’s PSA.Great restaurants are designed, not improvised.Andre Natera sits down again with Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel of Birdie’s to break down menu structure, kitchen culture, mentorship, and leadership. They explore why Birdie’s moved to a prefixed format, how structure improved creativity, and what it really takes to build sustainable restaurant teams.This episode is for chefs thinking long-term.Follow Tracy on InstagramSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Learn More about MarketScale → https://company.marketscale.com/book-demo?oid=1&affid=181

Is the climb to "Executive Chef" actually worth the sacrifice? Chef and Hospitality Leader Franck Desplechin joins André Natera to dismantle the myth that a higher job title equals more happiness.They discuss the operational and emotional reality of running luxury hotel kitchens:The Title Trap: Why chasing the next promotion often leads to burnout, not fulfillment.Hotel Operations: The specific leadership skills required to manage massive teams in a corporate luxury environment.Generational Shifts: How to lead and mentor the new generation of cooks who value work-life balance over prestige.The "Why": Redefining what success looks like after you have already reached the top.A crucial listen for Hotel Chefs, Directors of Food & Beverage, and Culinary Leaders questioning their next career move.Franck on InstagramLinks & Resources Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA → https://chefspsa.com/Learn More about MarketScale → https://company.marketscale.com/book-demo?oid=1&affid=181