Host Dave Fiore speaks with Chef Leon Brunson, owner of Leon's at Lake Ella. His journey to owning a restaurant has included working the line at his hometown Waffle House in Panama City, refining his skills at fine dining restaurants, being a private chef, and time at Kool Beanz Café, where he says he really learned to cook.

He describes himself as a Southern chef with international flair and loves exploring new flavors and techniques to offer his diners a unique experience.

As much as Leon loves food, his first passion is the video game Dance Dance Revolution, which he says dominated his childhood. His DDR skills and competitive drive led to appearances in the World Champions League and being ranked as high as No. 4 in the U.S.

During COVID, Leon starting streaming cooking classes online, which would eventually lead to a spot on the Hulu reality cooking show, Secret Chef. Leon discusses the reality of being on a reality show and his thoughts on the outcome.

After trying to leave more than once, Leon has come to love Tallahassee and is committed to helping with regional food insecurity through his work with Second Harvest of the Big Bend.

_________________________________

Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast.

Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode.

Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

About the Podcast:

How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by Fiore Communications, a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit hightlh.com for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates.

Connect with Dave Fiore: LinkedIn

Explore more local podcasts: Tallahassee Podcast Network

Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube