ME / MYSELF / & I

ME / MYSELF / & I

Author: Jeff Fell February 2, 2026 Duration: 51:10

This week on the Fell Into Food podcast, I’m doing something I’ve never done before—a solo episode. I realized that while I’ve shared bits and pieces of my background with guests, I’ve never actually told you the full story of how I got here. This episode is just as much for me as it is for my listeners. I was scared, nervous, anxious, and everything in between deciding to hit record. My goal was to step out of my comfort zone and tell the truth of my story. 


I’m taking you back to the beginning, growing up in a tiny farm town in the middle of an Illinois cornfield where I learned the value of a hard day's work before I was old enough to drive. From my first "food" gig making pizzas at a local gas station to a "failed" stint as a geology major dreaming of digging up dinosaurs, my path has been anything but linear.


This is a raw look at the grit, the burnout, and the systems it takes to make it in this industry. Whether you're just starting out or looking for your next pivot, I hope my "truth" gives you the push you need.

Listen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.

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Chef Jeff Fell hosts Fell Into Food Podcast, a series built on the idea that what happens behind the kitchen door is about far more than recipes. It’s a place for honest talk about the equipment, software, and supply chain logistics that form the backbone of today’s food service, alongside the personal journeys of the people who make it all function. These are discussions that dig into the practical realities of running a kitchen, the impact of new technologies, and the business acumen needed to thrive. Whether you’re developing products for chefs, teaching the next generation, or managing a restaurant group, this podcast offers a unique perspective from within the industry. You’ll hear from a range of voices-from line cooks to CEOs-all focused on the intersection of culinary tradition and necessary innovation. Tune in for a candid look at the systems and stories that define our modern relationship with food, all through the experienced lens of a chef who has been in the trenches. The conversations here are grounded in real-world experience, aiming to connect and inform anyone with a professional or deep personal interest in how food actually gets to the plate.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 72

Fell Into Food Podcast
Podcast Episodes
DUSTIN SELVAGGIO PART 2: CHEFS THE MODERN DAY PIRATES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:01
In Part 2 of our conversation, Dustin dives deep into the hard truths of the restaurant industry — from outdated mentalities and toxic kitchen culture to how chefs can reclaim time, sanity, and sustainability through sys…
DUSTIN SELVAGGIO PART 1: OG OF KOJI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:23
In Part 1 of my conversation with Dustin Selvaggio, we dive into the evolution of chef culture, the science behind koji, and how food tech like dry-aging cabinets and fermentation is reshaping kitchens. From navigating e…
SHANE LEE: MAP/HACCP/R&D/DO WE NEED MORE ACRONYMS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:16
Guest:Shane Lee – Founder of Dharma Food Group | Food Systems Innovator | MAP Packaging ExpertFrom sweeping peanut shells at LongHorn Steakhouse to managing multimillion-dollar senior meal operations, Shane Lee’s journey…
JIM FULLER: FABLE/CHEF/SCIENTIST/MUSHROOM REBEL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:59
From fine dining kitchens to chemical engineering labs to mushroom farms, Jim Fuller’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, we dig into how shiitake stems became a slow-cooked brisket alternative, why most…
ROB MATTOCH: SPAM / COOK-CHILL / SCHOOL LUNCHES THAT DON’T SUCK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Mattoch—a chef-turned-equipment-expert who’s out to make kitchens more human. We talk about how he fell into food growing up in Hawai’i, what sparked his transition from the line to the…
LUIS ALVARADO: CORN IN A CUP & CATCHING UP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
In this episode, I’m joined by Luis Alvarado, one of the first cooks I ever worked with—back in our casino kitchen days. We catch up on life, swap some wild kitchen stories, and make his elevated version of corn in a cup…
TOMMY “THE MUSHROOM MAN”: TO MAKE AMERICA SHROOM AGAIN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:19
This episode is best watched vs listened to. We were live on sight in the Content Kitchen. You don’t want to miss out.This episode is all about mushrooms—how to cook them, why they’re blowing up right now, and how they c…
LENZY RUFFIN: LIGHTS/CAMERA/COOK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:03
In this episode of Fell Into Food, I sit down with Lenzy Ruffin, a former IT professional who unexpectedly found his way into the food industry—helping chefs turn their passion into cooking shows. Lenzy shares his journe…
AARON SHAPIRO: GRILLICIOUS/ GRILLING 2.0 / THE FUTURE OF FLAVOR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:03
I had a fantastic conversation with Aaron Shapiro, the founder of Grillicious, a company revolutionizing the way we add flavor to our food. Aaron's journey began with a simple desire for a better grilling experience, lea…