The Burnt Chef Journal

From Waiting Tables to Viral Tales: Drew Talbert’s Bistro Huddy Journey

This week, Kris Hall is joined by Drew Talbert (Bistro Huddy).

Drew Talbert is the creator and star of Bistro Huddy, a wildly popular comedic series that humorously captures the chaos of restaurant life. In addition to his content creation, Drew is a professional actor and improv coach at the renowned Groundlings Theatre.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Drew now lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his wife, Andrea, and their children.

Tune in as we dive into Drew's 23 years in the hospitality industry and explore how his waiter-themed TikTok channel—ranked in the top 5 percent for followers and likes—has resonated with audiences worldwide.

 

View Drew's channels here: 

Instagram

TikTok
Facebook
YouTube 

From Michelin Stars to Mental Health Advocacy: Chef Daniel Garwood’s Mission to Change Hospitality

Chef Daniel Garwood has worked in some of the world’s top restaurants, from Australia to Michelin-starred kitchens in Seoul and New York. But beyond perfecting his craft, he’s passionate about reshaping the hospitality industry into a more sustainable and mentally supportive space. Inspired by Australia’s “R U OK Day” and troubled by South Korea’s rising suicide rates, Daniel launched a chef collaboration pop-up in Seoul to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.

Now, as Chef/Partner at ACRU in NYC, he continues to advocate for well-being in the industry. In this episode, we discuss his journey, the inspiration behind Oralis: A Conversation on Food and Mental Health, and how he’s driving change in kitchens worldwide.

 

We hope you enjoy this week's episode.

Vienna After Dark: Mental Health and Nighttime Industry – How to Prevent Burnout

Stress, irregular working hours, drugs and alcohol are not good for your health - people who work in nightlife are much more exposed to these risk factors than others.

According to a 2021 study, for example, almost 66% of DJs and electronic music artists have suffered from burnout at least once during their career - but it's rarely talked about.

It's time to break this taboo!

What is the best way to deal with the risks that come with a night-time profession? What structural changes would be necessary to take better account of the mental well-being of employees and artists? And what successful approaches are known, e.g. from other professional environments?

This episode was recorded live during the Vienna After Dark conference.

Speakers:
Moderator: Gersin Livia Paya
Carly Heath
Erich Joseph
Kris Hall
Magdalena Fuernkranz

 

*2021 survey carried out by Pirate Studios

 

 

A conversation with Alice Hendy MBE, Founder of Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity

TW: Suicide

On this episode of The Burnt Chef Journal, Kris Hall is joined by Alice Hendy MBE, founder of Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity. 

Alice started R;pple in 2020, after losing her only sibling, Josh, to suicide at 21 years old. R;pple is an online interceptive tool that has been downloaded over a million times and saved countless lives. It displays a message of hope and a selection of mental health resources on a user's device once they have been flagged as searching for harmful content online.

Listen in to this very raw and emotive conversation, as we discuss how crucial R;pple Suicide Prevention is to ensuring more help and support is given to anyone searching for harmful content online. 

Learn more about Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴:
📱 Text BURNTCHEF to 85258 (UK) 24/7
📞 Call 0800 085 1376 (UK) 24/7
📞 Call +44 (0)20 7938 0963 (Global) 24/7
📧 Email burntchef@cicwellbeing.com (Global)

Transformation Following Trauma: Angelika's ABC Change for Life Journey

TW: Abuse

This week, Kris Hall is joined by Angelika Breukers, a trauma-informed transformational coach, whose personal journey has led to her signature ABC Change For Life programs which supports amazing people, who are going through a difficult time in life and need encouragement to leave your past behind so that you can move forward positively and be in control of your life.

This episode is a very raw and honest discussion of childhood trauma and journey through transformation.

 

Learn more about Changing Life here.

Visit Angelika's website here.

Leadership, Resilience, and Mental Health in Hospitality with Ian Lay

In this episode of The Burnt Chef Journal, we’re joined by Ian Lay, a passionate advocate for mental health in hospitality and a dedicated supporter of The Burnt Chef Project.

Drawing on his extensive HR expertise, Ian sheds light on mental health challenges within the industry and explores how leadership styles can make a transformative impact.

As an ultra-marathoner, Ian shares how personal resilience and a commitment to well-being have shaped his journey. Learn about his inspiring fundraising efforts and his role in fostering community through run clubs in London and Bournemouth, all in support of The Burnt Chef Project.

Tune in for an engaging conversation about fostering a healthier hospitality industry and finding strength through leadership and community.

Career paths and industry growth: a conversation with Alice Cheng

Alice Cheng is the Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, the hospitality industry's go-to professional community and trusted hiring platform.

Her journey began in hospitality, where early jobs sparked a passion for helping others overcome both job-seeking and hiring challenges. From mailroom temp to global marketing executive, Alice then honed her business skills during a 13-year tenure at IBM, where she facilitated innovation and advised leading Silicon Valley firms like Netflix on tech-driven growth strategies. This love for the hospitality industry combined with carving out her own career path in technology, led her to found Culinary Agents, providing tech solutions that have revolutionized how talent and hiring businesses connect in the hospitality world. 

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Alice is dedicated to mentoring professionals across diverse fields and is a distinguished member of The Society of Fellows for the Culinary Institute of America. She also serves as a strategic advisor for Hot Bread Kitchen, empowering individuals through food-based careers. 

Recognized as a thought leader, Alice’s expertise is often sought out by major networks like Bloomberg and in publications such as Eater, Grub Street and LA Magazine. Her monthly newsletter, Pre-Shift Career Lineup, continues to inform and inspire professionals worldwide.

 

Listen in as we discuss why the restaurant industry is behind when it comes to career growth, and ways to build a long term career in hospitality.

 

Learn more about Culinary Agents and Hospitality Career Paths.

Leadership in Education: a conversation with Chef Kirk Bachmann

This week, joining The Burnt Chef Project founder, Kris Hall, we have Chef Kirk Bachmann. 

Chef Bachmann is President and Provost of The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado doing what he loves most - sharing his passion for the craft of cooking and serving students from all walks of life on their respective journeys to becoming “cooks for life.”

As a teen, Chef Bachmann spent time training at the Hotel Waldschaenke, a resort in Northern Germany owned and operated by his uncle, also a classically trained chef. After graduating from the University of Oregon, with an honors degree in International Studies, Chef Bachmann went on to receive his formal culinary training at The Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon. Later, Chef Bachmann earned a Master’s in Education from American InterContinental University.

Bachmann honed his front-of-the-house skills while working with acclaimed Portland, Oregon Chef Xavier Bauser at the world-class, Mobile 5-Star Benson Hotel in Portland. Chef Bachmann then owned and operated his own restaurant in Colorado where he and his staff earned restaurant of the year accolades in 1990.

In 1992, Bachmann was chosen for Citation’s Who’s Who Among Rising Young Americans. In 1999, Chef Bachmann initiated a career in Culinary and Hospitality education with Le Cordon Bleu Cooking Schools. While with Le Cordon Bleu, Chef Bachmann was instrumental in the implementation of Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality Programs on 18 campuses across the United States. For several years, Chef Bachmann served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Corporate Chef for Le Cordon Bleu Schools in North America, where he held the responsibility of maintaining standards of quality, curriculum development, training, employer relations, and career services.

 

Thank you Chef Bachmann for taking the time to talk with us! 

Learn more about Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts here. 

Carole Spiers: Founder of International Stress Awareness Day

Ahead of Stress Awareness Week, we caught up with Carole Spiers.

CEO and Founder of Carole Spiers Group, Carole is recognised as a world leading authority on wellbeing and stress at work. She is the media’s first choice for comment on workplace stress issues and best-selling author of Tolley’s ‘Managing Stress in the Workplace’ and ‘Show Stress Who’s Boss!’ Carole’s focus is on developing a healthy workplace culture through the successful management of stress and organisational change – all of which is underpinned by a compelling philosophy reinforced by her own xperience as an Expert Witness before the UK Courts.

Her noteworthy contributions to the field include founding International Stress Awareness Day in 1998, a significant event that raises awareness about the impact of stress on individuals and communities.

Demonstrating her commitment to this cause, she also established International Stress Awareness Week in 2018, commemorating its 20th anniversary and furthering the mission of stress awareness and mitigation on a global scale.

Listen in, and learn more about stress!

 

Visit The Carole Spiers Group website here.

Giving Kitchen: Fighting to serve thousands.

This week on The Burnt Chef Journal, Kris Hall is joined by Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, Founder of Giving Kitchen.

Giving Kitchen is a food service community meeting crisis with compassion and care.

Their mission is to provide emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.

Giving Kitchen grew out of a beyond-expectation response to the devastating, stage-four cancer diagnosis of Chef Ryan Hidinger in December 2012. Ryan was well-known in the Atlanta restaurant community for his work at Bacchanalia, Floataway Café and Muss & Turner’s. And he and his wife, Jen, were beloved for their supper club called Prelude to Staplehouse, which they hosted for several years as a precursor to opening their dream restaurant.

The response to Ryan’s diagnosis - initially from friends within the restaurant industry, and then quickly from an ever-expanding community across Atlanta - was truly heroic: an outpouring of love and financial support to help with his expenses not covered by insurance.

Jen said that this outpouring gave Ryan a peace of mind that she believes extended his life by at least six months. The community’s overwhelming response to the Hidingers' crisis set the intent, beliefs and values for Giving Kitchen.

To this day, thanks to the leadership and vision of the Hidinger family and their donors, partners, staff, and board, Giving Kitchen has supported thousands food service workers in crisis.

We'd like to thank Jen for taking the time to talk with us, and share her experiences with our wider community.

 

Tap here to learn more about Giving Kitchen.