Kevin Boehm: “How Hospitality Saved My Life”

Kevin Boehm: “How Hospitality Saved My Life”

From The Ultimate Dish by Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

January 13, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 142

About this episode

Kevin Boehm discusses how hospitality provided him with structure and purpose during a tumultuous childhood.

In today’s episode, we welcome back Kevin Boehm, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur, co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, and author of The Bottomless Cup. Kevin reflects on a childhood shaped by instability and the unlikely refuge he found in restaurants. He shares how hospitality gave him structure, purpose, and a way to build the kind of spaces he was searching for himself. Kevin talks about writing his memoir, the response it has sparked, and why telling the truth about his life has o...

People in this episode

Host: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Guest: Kevin Boehm

Topics covered

  • hospitality
  • memoir
  • restaurant industry
  • personal growth
  • childhood experiences

Keywords

  • hospitality
  • restaurants
  • memoir
  • James Beard Award
  • personal story

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Boka Restaurant Group

Books & works: The Bottomless Cup

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