che fico

At the heart of their successful Brooklyn restaurants Colonia Verde and Disco Tacos is the longstanding romance between Felipe Donnelly and Tamy Rofe. The couple sat down with Andrew in Williamsburg to discuss how they met, fell in love, and eventually ditched their marketing careers for a new life in hospitality. At this precarious moment in time, this is a feel-good conversation sure to put a smile on your face.

In The Line-Up, our news and commentary segment, David Nayfeld and Matt Brewer of Che Fico and Che Fico Alimentari discuss the complexities of the tipping issue and how they've changed their own practices to create a more profitable and equitable structure for their team.

In this week's Andrew Talks to Chefs classic moment, we revisit Andrew's conversation with the late Anthony Bourdain. (Please peruse our alphabetical archive of hundreds of guests at the pod's website to hear your favorite chefs on demand.)

And in our jobs-of-the-week segment, we share some of the great positions our sponsor Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions (BMRS) is currently looking to fill.  (Andrew Talks to Chefs listeners are encouraged to reach out to BMRS at the special, dedicated email address created just for you at ATC@restaurant-solutions.com.)

All that plus Andrew's notes on the restaurants and bars he's visited this week.

Andrew Talks to Chefs is sponsored in part by meez; please check out this revolutionary new interactive recipe database and tool for professional chefs and cooks.

Please consider supporting Andrew Talks to Chefs via our Patreon page–we have eliminated tiered contributor levels and invite one and all to support us at a minimum of just $2 per month. 

Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. 

Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.

For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.

Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Bay Area native David Nayfeld is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of the award-winning restaurants Che Fico and Che Fico Alimentari in San Francisco. Nayfeld boasts a venerable restaurant pedigree having worked alongside some of the most esteemed names in the industry. In 2018, Nayfeld opened his first restaurant, Che Fico, which features Italian cuisine through the lens of California. In 2019, he opened Che Fico Alimentari, a Roman-inspired, wine- centric restaurant and Italian market featuring traditional Italian fare.  Che Fico was named one of Bon Appetit's Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America as well as one of Esquire Magazine's Best New Restaurants. Additionally, Nayfeld was named Star Chefs 2019 Rising Star Chef and in 2020, received CBS San Francisco’s Jefferson Award for Public Service for his pioneering program called “Family Meal” which helped feed people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tulsa, OK trio Wilderado recently released their new single “Head Right” and will be announcing the band’s self-titled debut album out later this year. The band’s dedicated fan-base has been built on the road, touring with the likes of Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, Pete Yorn, Judah & the Lion, Mt. Joy, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise and main stage festival performances at Lollapalooza, BottleRock, Austin City Limits and more.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features 77 of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member!

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On today's episode of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Bay Area native David Nayfeld, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of the award-winning restaurants Che Fico and Che Fico Alimentari in San Francisco, CA. David, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, boasts a venerable restaurant pedigree having worked alongside some of the most esteemed names in the industry. In 2018, he opened his first restaurant, Che Fico, which features Italian cuisine through the lens of California. In 2019, he opened Che Fico Alimentari, a Roman-inspired, wine- centric restaurant and Italian market featuring traditional Italian fare. Che Fico was named one of Bon Appetit's Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America, as well as one of Esquire Magazine's Best New Restaurants. David recently began co-hosting a new podcast called The Main Ingredient, which takes a deep dive with some favorite artists, chefs, musicians, actors, and producers. Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to practice patience; Industry News discussion on Covid-19; and Solo Dining experience to commemorate The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, CA, which was tragically damaged earlier this week due to a glass fire in the Napa region. Our hearts go out to Christopher Kostow, Maria Kostow and the entire #TRAMily. Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. Stay safe and well. 

Image courtesy of Douglas Friedman.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support All in the Industry by becoming a member!

All in the Industry is Powered by Simplecast.

Last week, David Nayfeld chef-partner at San Francisco's Che Fico, wrote (with Larissa Zimberoff) a Business Insider piece that addressed--in uncommon, unflinching honesty--aspects of the restaurant industry that he believes need to change post pandemic. The article addressed everything from livable wages to the creation of a sanctioned apprenticeship program to the what the cost of a restaurant meal should be to support sound food production and employment practices.

David joins Andrew on today's show to expand on the ideas expressed in his article. It's a refreshingly unvarnished, unfiltered conversation that industry professionals will find cathartic and civilians will find educational.

Our great thanks to S.Pellegrino for making these special reports possible.

Please consider supporting Andrew Talks to Chefs via our Patreon page–pledge $10 or more per month and gain access to bonus, patron-only episodes, blog posts, polls, and more. 

Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.

If you enjoy this episode, you might enjoy these vintage Andrew Talks to Chefs conversations:

Episode 61: David Nayfeld & Angela Pinkerton

Episode 81: Chef's Roll Anti-Convention Super Pack

Photo of David Nayfeld by Nelson Murray.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. 

Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.

For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.

Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

The duo behind one of the hottest restaurants in the country—San Francisco’s Che Fico—join Andrew for today’s interview. Executive Chef David Nayfeld and Pastry Chef Angela Pinkerton hailed from very different backgrounds when they met working at Eleven Madison Park in New York City. But the two became friends and stayed in touch, even when David moved back to the West Coast. They’ve come together at the Italian restaurant Che Fico, which was selected for both Bon Appetit’s Hot List and Esquire magazine’s Best New Restaurants in 2018. In addition to getting the story behind this of-the-moment restaurant, this interview, recorded several weeks ago, poignantly underscores the volatility of today’s restaurant industry as the team’s follow-up dinette and bakery, Theorita is sadly scheduled to shutter in about a week. But Che Fico rolls on, and is the main focus of this episode. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. 

Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.

For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.

Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

This week, Liam brings the Foodie Chap chat to Theorita in San Francisco with Chef Angela Pinkerton and Chef David Nayfeld. | Each week, the
KCBS Radio Foodie Chap, Liam Mayclem introduces us to the culinary stars behind the food & wine loved by so many in the Bay Area.