Chefs Without Restaurants
Join Chris Spear as he interviews food and beverage entrepreneurs who have built successful careers outside of traditional restaurant kitchens.
From personal chefs, caterers, and food truck operators to cookbook authors, research chefs, and farmers, each guest has paved their own way in the culinary world. Through candid conversations, they share the challenges, lessons, and successes of creating a business on their own terms.
With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry—including running his own personal chef business, Perfect Little Bites—Chris is dedicated to helping chefs and food entrepreneurs navigate their own unconventional paths in the industry.
If you’re looking for inspiration, business insights, and real stories from those who have stepped beyond the restaurant world, this podcast is for you.
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Have you ever thought about turning your love for baking into a real business? That’s exactly what Maria Baradell, founder of Leaf & Loaf, did. Starting in her home kitchen, she quickly scaled her sourdough micro-bakery into a thriving business. In this episode, she shares her journey, tips for success, and how she turned a viral moment into brand growth.
We discuss:
- How Maria got started in the cottage baking industry
- The realities of running a profitable home bakery
- Using Hotplate and other tools to streamline orders
- Social media marketing for micro-bakeries
- Her viral TikTok moment—mixing sourdough on an airplane
As always, stay connected to the Chefs Without Restaurants community and look out for the Personal Chef Business Startup Guide podcast, launching January 2025.
MARIA BARADELL
Maria's Instagram (Leaf & Loaf) and TikTok
Find Maria's resources
Buy the bread pans Maria uses
CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
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PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE
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