Chef Amanda Rockman joins Chef’s PSA to break down the real pastry chef life—high pressure, long hours, technical discipline, and the mental toll that comes with it. With 20 years in Chicago’s top kitchens and a new bakery and coffee shop in Austin, she shares the truth about pastry work, insomnia, ingredient quality, modern management, and the realities of building a bakery from nothing.

This episode is direct, unfiltered insight for pastry cooks, chefs, and anyone considering pastry as a career.

Links & Resources
Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/
Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/
Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
Chef Works (Sponsor) → https://www.chefworks.com/ — Promo code chefspsa20
Follow Amanda Rockman → https://www.instagram.com/arockman/

Guest: Andrew Turner – Valley Wine Merchants (Newberg, Oregon)

André Natera sits down with Andrew Turner to discuss what it takes to thrive in the world of haute cuisine. From working with legendary chefs like Alain Ducasse, Laurent Gras, and Joachim Splichal to running his own wine shop, Turner shares his journey through Michelin-level kitchens and beyond.

Learn what separates good from great in the kitchen, how to handle career pivots, and why understanding ingredients is the foundation of every lasting culinary career.

Topics:
– Lessons from Ducasse and Gras
– The evolution of fine dining culture
– Building and managing a wine program
– Transitioning from chef to entrepreneur
– How mentorship shapes a chef’s career

Andrew Turner on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valley_wine_merchants/

Links & Resources
Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/
Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/
Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/

Sponsors
Chef Works → https://www.chefworks.com/ — Use promo code CHEFSPSA20 for 20% off your order
Bragard USA → https://www.bragardus.com/ — Use promo code CHEFSPSA20 for 20% off your order

Chef Ron McKinlay joins André Natera to talk pop-up dinners, cooking techniques, and mental health in the culinary industry.

From mastering meat cookery to navigating post-restaurant life, Ron shares the lessons, struggles, and small victories that come with a life in food. This episode is both raw and inspiring — a reminder that great cooking and self-awareness go hand in hand.

Follow Ron on Instagram

Ron's Spotify Playlist

Chef's PSA Hip Hop Playlist on Spotify

Sponsored by Bragard USA — bragardus.com
Use code CHEFSPSA20 for 20% off.

Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/
Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/
Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/