Today's guest is a multi-James Beard Award nominee; his desserts have received several notable recognitions from the New York Times to Pellegrino's The Worlds 50 Best, a guest judge on some of your favorite food competition shows, cookbook author of The Sweet Spot. He is completely self-taught--the incredibly talented and kind Chef Pichet Ong.
He has worked with several notable culinary giants and iconic brands such as Jean- Georges Vongerichten, Max Brenner, Peter Chang, Kit Kat, and Häagen-Dazs.
We discuss his journey to becoming a pastry chef and his deep-rooted love for hospitality, bringing immersive, sweet, savory, and beautiful Asian flavors to the forefront in the 90s and early 2000s. The closure of his restaurant due to the financial crisis in 2008, how he picked himself back up by traveling globally as a restaurateur and consulting, the discovery of his passion for traveling and exploring other cultures and food, opening the highly anticipated Chang Chang by Peter Chang, and much more.
Chef Pichet reminds us that our life is a constant education, evolving and changing is essential for restaurants, and his hope for future chefs and the hospitality industry.
To learn more or connect with Chef Pichet follow him on Instagram @pichetong.
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Hospitality Bites is a podcast hosted by Colleen Silk, who is also the founder of Hospitality Bites Media (HBM). HBM aims to promote the human side of hospitality and create a brand that amplifies individual voices while encouraging the industry to prioritize mental well-being, create sustainable workplaces, and foster a culture of inclusivity and support. HBM provides consulting services for restaurateurs, sells products and digital toolkits, and hosts events, workshops, and this podcast.
The hospitality industry is known for its high standards, achievements, and recognition. However, these pressures of perfection and the constant need to be "on" have led to a mental health issue that has been hidden for too long. It is time to bring awareness to these struggles, highlight smaller successes, and offer different career avenues within the industry. This podcast features conversations with a variety of hospitality experts, from lesser-known individuals to celebrities, with the goal of destigmatizing, enlightening, and normalizing a more realistic expectation of the industry.
If you want to work with HBM or be a guest on the show, don't hesitate to reach out and follow Colleen Silk on LinkedIn!