Turn and Burn: Restaurant War Stories

Chef-Owner Tita from Portland

Three Peruvian food carts, two juice bars, and a donut shop... and she's still growing! Fabiola (aka "Tita") came at food cart and restaurant ownership with the drive, passion, and enthusiasm of a true super entrepreneur. Inspired by her love of family, her father's legacy, and her Peruvian roots—and ably supported by her sister Fabiana, her mother, and a robust staff with a similar background—Tita is building a mini food empire in the Portland, Oregon area. Follow Tita on Instagram @fabiolachipoco [https://www.instagram.com/fabiolachipoco?igsh=MzZpbjc0OWJ1Y212]. Check out Tita's Kitchen @titaskitchenpdx [https://www.instagram.com/titaskitchenpdx?igsh=bGhvcHY3aHJ0NnA0], Lil Funky Donuts @lil.funky.donuts [https://www.instagram.com/lil.funky.donuts?igsh=MWN0Nm0wZzl4eWtrcA==], and Tita's Juice Bar @titasjuicebar [https://www.instagram.com/lil.funky.donuts?igsh=MWN0Nm0wZzl4eWtrcA==]. Restaurant sound effect from Pixabay. Intro clip: The power of food in community | Shelina Permalloo | TEDxSouthamptonUniversity [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBUKQZClj14]. There are some audio quality issues with parts of this episode due to unforeseen problems with the studio platform. We apologize if the production is not quite what you would expect it to be!

Chef-Owner Matt from Wheeling

The Vagabond Chef enters the studio: culinary anthropologist, West Virginia prodigal son, and all about stories and real f*cking food made with intention. This self-described "more vigilante than superhero" is reimagining the way small communities look at food culture—through the lens of Appalachian history and his travels. The true embodiment of artist and adventurer—inflected perhaps with a bit of stoic Memento mori—this dairy farm kid turned entrepreneur has bootstrapped his way to becoming a farm-to-table restaurant owner, executive chef of West Virginia State Parks [https://wvstateparks.com/], and Value Added Product Coordinator for the WV Food and Farm Coalition [https://www.wvfoodandfarm.org/]. Follow the Vagabond Chef's journey on the Vagabond Kitchen [https://www.thevagabondkitchen.com/] website, YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/theVagabondChefRides], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thevagabondchefrides/], and Instagram @thevagabondchef [https://www.instagram.com/thevagabondchef/?hl=en]. Restaurant sound effect from Pixabay. Intro clip: Anthony Bourdain, as interviewed by Fast Company [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUEFdWAKpf0&t=0s].

Chef Camila from Brooklyn

Is there room for more empathy in fine dining kitchens? Our interview with Chef Camila Rinaldi [instagram.com/chefcamilarinaldi] explores the topic in an honest, heartfelt discussion of the roles that fear and respect play in the restaurant industry. We chat about balancing vulnerability and toughness in some of the most intense restaurant kitchens in New York City, as well as the patience and survival skills that many upward-moving female chefs employ every day to be taken seriously. Restaurant sound effect from Pixabay. Intro clip: Dominique Crenn, World’s Best Female Chef 2016, as interviewed by The Upcoming [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge_bA1opEPo].

Side Dish: Band-Aids in the Salad

Get to know podcast cohosts Fred and Sarah, including how they work with the restaurant industry, how to improve restaurant systems, and how Turn & Burn came to be. Also hear some of Sarah's funniest and goriest restaurant war stories: building a Dunkin' Donuts doughnut tank and surviving as a young garde manger without cutting your thumbs off. Score some Turn & Burn merch and become a monthly supporter at turnburn.co/shop/ [https://turnburn.co/shop/] Learn more about Fred's restaurant consulting at grc365.biz [https://grc365.biz] and Sarah's brand + business advisory services at 816newyork.com [https://816newyork.com].

Chef Tajahi & Danielle from Denver

On Valentine's Day, we share Chef Tajahi Cooke, the Gatherer, and his wife Danielle, the Handler. Listen in to a celebration of love, music, food, and community—a journey of diversity, acceptance, and connection. They inspire us never to forget our origin stories or ignore how interwoven we are. Out of many, we truly are one... Chef Taj and Danielle are affiliated with Chef José Andres's World Central Kitchen [https://wck.org/] and many Colorado food and restaurant associations, as well as deeply embedded in their beloved Denver community. A huge shout out to Zeppelin Station [https://www.zeppelinstation.com/] for connecting us to Chef Tajahi (@tajah_i [https://www.instagram.com/tajah_i?igsh=dndmYjMyY211ZWt1]) and Danielle (@rubee_leo [https://www.instagram.com/rubee_leo?igsh=YzE0dDMzOTRxa3l6]) and for supporting all their incredible work with Ms Betty's Cooking (@msbettysgrandson [https://www.instagram.com/msbettysgrandson?igsh=M2Y0NndhdG9xazNi])! Throughout the interview, the couple generously praised so many who have enriched their journey. We have compiled as many as we could find—music, food, and community groups—and listed their Instagram accounts on our website, or follow us on Instagram @turnburnshow [https://www.instagram.com/turnburnshow?igsh=NDl5dWI2bmk4YjA3&utm_source=qr] to get links there. Restaurant sound effect from Pixabay. Intro clip: Bob Marley.