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Walk-In Talk Podcast

Walk-In Talk Podcast

Carl Fiadini 201 Episodes Jul 3, 2026

Walk-In Talk Podcast is a food industry podcast hosted by Carl Fiadini, founder of Walk-In Talk Media. It features raw, unfiltered conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, bartenders, and other food professionals. The show includes trade show coverage, mini-documentaries, and interviews with culinary leaders. It is the official podcast partner for several restaurant shows and culinary events.

Episodes

Chef Ferrell Alvarez: Built from Survival, Driven by Belief | Ep. 204 Jul 3, 2026 59:32 Chef Ferrell Alvarez has helped shape modern Tampa dining through Proper House Group, the team behind Rooster & the Till, Ash, Alter Ego, Gallito Taqueria, and Dang Dude. But Episode 204 is not just about restaurants. It is about the life that built the chef. Ferrell sits down with Carl Fiadini for one of the most personal conversations in Walk-In Talk history, tracing his path from a fiftee
Inside Food Safety Ep. 3 | A $20,000 Alert: How One Notification Saved a Restaurant Jun 27, 2026 25:34 What happens when a single notification prevents thousands of dollars in product loss? In Episode 3 of Inside Food Safety, we're on location at The Tampa Club with Executive Chef Thomas Mandzik and Eric Moore from Testo North America to discuss a real incident that occurred just one week after a new automated temperature monitoring system was installed. While away from the restaurant, Chef Thomas
Chef Sherief Shawky: From Egypt to Unox, A Journey Built on Opportunity Jun 19, 2026 01:01:51 Chef Sherief Shawky's journey is anything but conventional. Raised between Virginia and Egypt, Sherief's path began in a family-owned pizzeria before taking him through some of the industry's most demanding kitchens, working alongside award-winning chefs, opening restaurants, leading culinary teams, and ultimately becoming Corporate Chef and Team Leader for North America at Unox. In this episode,
Chef Thomas Mandzik on our 200th Episode Celebration Party, Community, and His Next Chapter in Texas | Ep. 201 Jun 12, 2026 50:26 Episode 201 picks up just days after Walk-In Talk Media celebrated its 200th episode at Tampa Club. What started as a milestone celebration became something much bigger: more than 120 hospitality professionals, chefs, operators, distributors, manufacturers, brand partners, creators, and friends gathered in one room to celebrate the community that has formed around Walk-In Talk Media. Chef
One Year Later: Chef Elijah Rock on Leadership, Fatherhood, and Letting Go of Control | Walk-In Talk Podcast Ep. 200 Jun 5, 2026 34:11 Almost exactly one year ago, Chef Elijah Rock joined Walk-In Talk Media to discuss the early stages of building Bricks and navigating life as a new restaurant owner. A lot can change in a year. In Episode 200, Elijah returns to reflect on what the last twelve months have taught him about leadership, delegation, fatherhood, burnout, trust, and the reality of restaurant ownership beyond what guests
Inside Food Safety Ep. 2: The Most Dangerous Words in Hospitality, "We've Always Done It This Way" May 29, 2026 29:24 In Episode 2 of Inside Food Safety, Eric Moore of Testo North America returns to discuss one of the biggest threats facing restaurants today, not a single catastrophic mistake, but the slow erosion of standards through complacency. From leadership and food safety culture to burnout, staffing challenges, and operational blind spots, Eric and Carl explore how small shortcuts can become dangerous hab
Inside the NRA Show 2026: Chicago, Royal Cup Coffee, and the Energy Behind Hospitality with Ashley Peeples May 25, 2026 36:18 Episode 198 – NRA Show Chicago Recap The National Restaurant Association Show always brings the food industry together at the highest level, and this year in Chicago was no exception. From nonstop movement on the show floor, to conversations with operators, chefs, manufacturers, and hospitality leaders from across the country, Episode 198 captures the energy, relationships, and momentum that conti
From New Orleans to Con Amor: Chef Taylor Dillon on Mexican Food, Identity, and Building with Purpose May 8, 2026 41:37 Chef Taylor Dillon's path into Mexican cuisine wasn't traditional, and that's exactly what makes this conversation interesting. Born and raised in New Orleans, trained in some of New York's most demanding kitchens including Daniel and Jean-Georges, Taylor eventually found himself completely immersed in the craft, history, and technique behind Mexican food. What started as curiosity turned into obs
Inside Food Safety Ep. 1: What Kitchens Get Wrong May 4, 2026 30:48 Inside Food Safety is a recurring monthly segment on the Walk-In Talk Podcast. This is the first one. The inaugural episode of our Inside Food Safety segment, and it starts with a conversation every kitchen needs to hear. Eric Moore joins us, food safety expert with Testo North America, bringing real-world insight into what food safety actually looks like in practice. Not theory, not checklists, b
Living with Endometriosis in Hospitality | Ciji Castro on Pain, Advocacy, and Showing Up May 1, 2026 44:08 What does it look like to keep showing up when your body is working against you? In Episode 195, Ciji Castro returns to the show for one of the most personal conversations we've had. Ciji is currently battling stage four endometriosis, a disease that affects millions of women, yet remains widely misunderstood, especially in high-pressure industries like hospitality. And still, she shows up. Still
Shooting Wasn't Enough | John Hernandez on Food Styling, RAK, and Owning the Plate Apr 24, 2026 29:04 What happens when the person behind the camera starts understanding the plate better than ever before? Episode 194 is a different kind of conversation. No guest rotation. No outside voice. Just Carl Fiadini and John Hernandez, the creative force behind the lens at Walk-In Talk Media. Over the last year, John's role has evolved in a way most people wouldn't expect. He's still behind the camera. But
Mike Lombardi & Chef Stephen Hicks on Seafood, Trust, and Building Real Vendor Relationships Apr 17, 2026 45:01 What does a real vendor relationship actually look like?   In Episode 193, Mike Lombardi, third-generation seafood distributor behind a 65-year family business, joins Chef Stephen Hicks in studio for a conversation that goes far beyond product and price.   This episode dives into what really drives long-term success in the restaurant industry, trust, accountability, and understanding the pressure

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