If you think back to the early days when you first started in this industry, you'll probably remember fondly some of those early memories of working on the line, battling it out with your fellow cooks and friends, just hoping to get to the end of service without running out of mise en place.
But those are the moments that you forged really close bonds with your colleagues as you would finish service, maybe get a shift drink, and then head out into the night in search of something fun to get into, just to come back the next day and do it again.
But then there are those times when you meet someone with whom you really connect and who is as passionate about the industry as you are, with lofty ambitions and goals that help stoke the fire within you and propel you forward throughout your career.
Rich Torrisi is that person for our host, Chef Eli Kulp. Rich is a fiercely dedicated chef whose unbridled ambition, blended with his self-described "stubbornness," has created an international restaurant juggernaut, along with his friend, Chef Mario Carbone, and business partner, Jeff Zalasnick, who have opened, on average, about 2.5 restaurants a year for the past 10 years.
This is a fascinating story of how two Italian American kids from working class families have been able to build Major Food Group into a world-class company from a tiny little restaurant on Mulberry Street in Manhattan, called Torrisi Italian Specialties.
Working with Rich and Mario, Eli was able to create a framework within his repertoire that would eventually lead to his success in Philadelphia, where he applied a similar approach to cooking, but through a lens that was more personal to him.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Check out more restaurants you can visit from Major Food Group: https://www.majorfood.com/our-concepts/
Head to our website for more episodes of The Chef Radio Podcast and connect with us on Instagram!
Also, be sure to check out our other podcast Delicious City Philly.
Connect with Eli: Instagram
A huge shout out to our sponsors Maxwell McKenney and Singer Equipment for their unwavering support, so we are able to bring these thoughtful conversations to you. Check out their websites for all the quality equipment they can supply your restaurant with to make it more efficient and successful.
Episode 114: Chef Gregory Gourdet of Kann and Sousol in Portland
Episode 113: Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern in NYC
Episode 112: Chef Radio Live 2024 with Chefs Alex Kemp, Eric Leveillee, and Chance Anies
Episode 111: Chefs Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith of Saint-Germain restaurant in New Orleans
Episode 110: Missy Robbins of Lilia, Misi and Misi Pasta in Brooklyn NY
Episode 109: Hari Cameron of The Chef's Table in Rehoboth Beach
Episode 108: Charlie Mitchell of Clover Hill in Brooklyn
Episode 107: Matt Kelly of MK Hospitality in Durham, North Carolina
Chef Jeremy Fox Coming to Philadelphia!
Episode 106: Chef Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi and Izakaya in Philadelphia
Episode 105: Matt Orlando of Amass* & AIR in Singapore as well as Endless in CPH
Episode 104: Author Spotlight – Shari Bayer of Chef Wise - Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World
Episode 103: Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai in LA
Episode 102: Author Spotlight - Andrew Friedman of The Dish and Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll
Episode 101: Jordan Rubin of Mr. Tuna, Bar Futo and Crispy Gai in Portland, Maine
Episode 100: Daniel Boulud of Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud and the Dinex Group
Episode 99: Chef Dave Beran of Pasjoli in Santa Monica
Episode 98: Chef Ana Castro of Lengua Madre and Acamaya in New Orleans
Episode 97: Chef Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy
Josh Sharkey - Chef, Entrepreneur and Founder of meez
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
50 Tastes Of Gray
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
Be My Guest with Ina Garten
Great Expectations
Pollyanna
Walk-In Talk Podcast
Gastropod