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In this episode of Terms of Service, we sit down with the brilliant culinary duo Heather Bublick and Chef D'Andre Carter of Soul & Smoke — a restaurant that has redefined comfort food in Chicago and beyond. 

From their early days at the avant-garde kitchen of Moto to creating deeply soulful meals in takeout containers, this conversation explores the layered origins, philosophies, and community ethos that power one of the city’s most beloved concepts.

We explore their time at Moto and and the early spark of Soul & Smoke  and why they decided on this path from translating fine dining into everyday nourishment. 

How "comfort dining food with fine dining techniques" integrates into their brand while balancing culinary precision with deep emotional resonance. 

The importance of care from their kitchen to packaging while also redefining hospitality and innovation beyond a white tablecloth environment. 

This episode is a fresh perspective of navigating burnout, balance and self preservation of leaders and a powerful reflection on their pandemic response and its lasting impact. 

We are so grateful for this narrative as it highlights the responsibilities food businesses carry within their communities and how the trajectory of success is not linear, its dynamic. 

Whether you’re in the industry or just deeply curious about how food can heal, build bridges, and drive equity—this episode is for you.

As always, thank you to Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation and the work Soul & Smoke commit to everyday for the enrichment of everyone around them. 

See you soon, 

- The T o S Crew

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