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 80 – Jeremy Fox of Birdie G's and Rustic Canyon
Episode 78: Chef Eli Collins of a.kitchen + a.bar
Episode 77: Chef Stuart Brioza of State Bird Provisions, The Progress and The Anchovy Bar
Episode 76: Chef Christopher Kearse of Forsythia
Episode 75: Chef Andrew Carmellini of The Dutch & NoHo Hospitality Group
Episode 74: The Kitchen Culture Code
Episode 73: Chef Philip Krajeck of Rolf & Daughters and Folk Restaurants
Episode 72: Geno Vento of Geno’s World Famous Cheesesteak's
Episode 71: Chef Kurt Evans of Everybody Eats
Episode 70: Jen Carroll of Carroll Couture Cuisine
Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya Restaurant
Chefs Angie Rito & Scott Tacinelli of Don Angie NYC
Chef Yehuda Sichel of Huda
Chefs Scott Calhoun and Dave Feola of Ember & Ash
Justin Rosenberg of Honeygrow
Chef Wylie Dufresne of wd~50
Christopher Curtin of Éclat Chocolate
Chef Ron McKinlay of Canoe Restaurant
Chef Tyler Akin of Le Cavalier
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