Dr. Lilly Jan is a faculty member at Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, where she teaches courses on restaurant design, food and beverage management, and global cuisines. A seasoned educator, consultant, and industry pro, she brings nearly 15 years of hands-on experience in catering, events, retail, and television to her work. Outside the classroom, she specializes in food and beverage entrepreneurship, guiding small business owners through everything from concept development to market launch. Her consulting work has supported a wide range of ventures—from food trucks and on-demand delivery services to CPG startups and community markets—making her a go-to expert for those looking to turn a culinary idea into a thriving business.

In this episode, Lilly joins Steve for a conversation about teaching a culinary program without attending culinary school herself, the historical context of different cuisines, and her love for soup dumplings.

Thank you to Stolon Food Lab for allowing us to use the space to film this episode.