In this episode of Setting The Table: The Chefs of Best Fest, Tay Westbury sits down with Chef Joel Walsh of Le Bouillon for a conversation about seasonality, family, mentorship, and the journey that brought him back home to Nebraska.

Raised on a farm in Fort Calhoun, Chef Joel learned to cook at an early age while helping feed a household of eight siblings. From harvesting produce straight from the field to making pasta by hand as a child, food became deeply tied to home, family, and community. That foundation eventually carried him from Nebraska to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he trained under acclaimed chefs, opened his own restaurant, and built a career rooted in fresh ingredients and thoughtful cooking.

In this episode, Chef Joel reflects on kitchen culture, the importance of mentorship, the evolution of hospitality, and why creating a healthy environment in the kitchen matters just as much as the food itself. He also shares how local farmers, seasonal produce, and Midwest values continue to shape the dishes he creates today.

Warm, thoughtful, and deeply personal, this conversation explores what it means to leave home, grow, and ultimately return with a new appreciation for where you started.