Learning in Omaha's Elite Kitchens w/ Collin Werner (Au Courant)

Learning in Omaha's Elite Kitchens w/ Collin Werner (Au Courant)

From Restaurant Hoppen by Hurrdat Media

May 21, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

Collin Werner discusses his journey in Omaha's elite kitchens and the lessons learned along the way.

Collin Werner might only be 27, but don't let his age fool you. He's already worked in some of the most well-regarded kitchens in Omaha, now advancing to become the Chef de Cuisine at Au Courant. We run through Collin's career, assess the lessons he learned at different stops, discuss the value of culinary school, and more! This episode is a deep dive into creativity, discipline, and what it really takes to succeed in a modern kitchen. 🌐 Learn more about Au Courant:https://www.aucourantrestaurant.com/ This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Meet Chef Collin Werner (Au Courant) 00:00:57 – What Makes Au Courant Unique (New Menu Every Week) 00:02:30 – How the Team Creates Dishes Together 00:03:30 – What a Chef de Cuisine Actually Does 00:04:30 – Learning from Chef Ben Maides 00:05:00 – Inside the Weekly Tasting Menu Process 00:07:00 – Why Menu Structure Matters in Fine Dining 00:08:30 – A Dish He’s Most Proud Of…

People in this episode

Guest: Collin Werner

Topics covered

  • culinary career
  • fine dining
  • kitchen management
  • creativity in cooking
  • culinary education

Keywords

  • chef
  • cooking
  • Omaha
  • fine dining
  • culinary school
  • kitchen discipline
  • restaurant management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Au Courant, Hurrdat Media

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