Chef Michael Collantes on Earning and Keeping a Michelin Star in Orlando, FL
Chef Michael Collantes on Earning and Keeping a Michelin Star in Orlando, FL  
Podcast: Walk-In Talk Podcast
Published On: Fri Jan 09 2026
Description: Walk-In Talk Media kicks off 2026 in-studio with Chef Michael Collantes, chef-owner of Soseki Orlando, a one-Michelin-star restaurant that has earned and retained its star. This conversation goes past accolades and into what it takes to sustain excellence, build teams across multiple concepts, and keep your life intact while doing it. We also introduce a new recurring chapter, Chef Mike officially joins the Walk-In Talk Media family as a recurring collaborator. Later in the episode, you will hear from Frederic Casagrande with The Live Fire Report, expanding WITM coverage of international barbecue and live fire culture. In-studio cook Japanese fluke (hirame) breakdown and two mirrored dishes Kombu-jime cure, crispy potato technique, and a truffle-forward direction "Mottainai" mindset, using bones and trim instead of wasting Key topics What consistency really means when you are being judged in silence Leadership when you scale from one room to multiple restaurants Burnout, rebuilding, and the role of faith, family, and identity Art vs business in hospitality, and why community and storytelling matter Why pressure can build greatness, but cannot destroy the person Notable moments Chef Mike's path from early jobs to Wolfgang Puck to Michelin-level kitchens Soseki as "foundation", and how standards get set and protected Why storytelling and community building are now essential for restaurants Featured segment Frederic Casagrande introduces The Live Fire Report, a WITM segment focused on global live fire, competition culture, and the people shaping it. Connect with Chef Mike Website: MikeCollantes.com Instagram: @ChefMikeCollantes TikTok: @ChefFlipMike Episode takeaways Consistency is a system, not a mood. Great once is easy, great every night is leadership and process. Scaling demands trust. The bigger the operation, the less "hands-on control" matters, and the more people and standards matter. Burnout is real, and rebuilding is possible. The conversation highlights how identity, faith, and family can reframe success. Storytelling is a competitive advantage. Food can be incredible, but community and meaning are what keep people coming back. Pressure can build diamonds, but health is non-negotiable. Excellence is the goal, self-destruction is not. Walk-In Talk Media Brand Partners Metro Foodservice Solutions https://www.metro.com RAK Porcelain USA https://www.rakporcelain.com Aussie Select https://aussieselect.com Crab Island Seafood Company https://crabislandseafooddip.com Pass the Honey https://freshhoneycomb.com Citrus America https://citrusamerica.com Walk-In Talk Media Cause & Nonprofit Partners The Burnt Chef Project https://www.theburntchefproject.com Operation BBQ Relief https://operationbbqrelief.org Hogs for the Cause https://hogsforthecause.org Sustainable Supperclub https://www.sustainablesupperclub.org Walk-In Talk Media Industry & Event Partners Restaurant Events LLC https://www.restaurantevents.com U.S. Culinary Open https://www.usculinaryopen.com