Showing Up When It's Hard, Leadership, Consistency, and the Chef Who Gets the Call: Kevin Rasberry
Showing Up When It's Hard, Leadership, Consistency, and the Chef Who Gets the Call: Kevin Rasberry  
Podcast: Walk-In Talk Podcast
Published On: Fri Jan 30 2026
Description: This week on the Walk-In Talk Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Rasberry, a chef whose work often begins when things are already broken. Kevin is the Director of Culinary and Executive Chef at The Grove at Trelago, and in recent months he's been sent across Florida, Clearwater, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, stepping into kitchens after chefs quit, teams fractured, or leadership gaps appeared. He's the chef who gets the call when stability and execution matter most. Joining the conversation in studio is Michael Collantes, chef-owner of one-Michelin-star Soseki and Bib Gourmand recipient Sushi Saint, and now part of the Walk-In Talk Media team. Michael participates in the interview, adding perspective from the Michelin level on leadership, consistency, and long-term sustainability. In the kitchen, Kevin cooked two standout dishes: A beautifully executed hanger steak dish, rich, balanced, and precise A tilefish preparation, clean, restrained, and technique-driven This episode isn't about accolades or polish. It's about endurance. About forcing growth when comfort sets in. About leading teams, building something of your own, and continuing to learn when motivation runs thin. No shortcuts. Just the work. 🔑 Episode Takeaways • Leadership often means showing up after others have left • Consistency matters more than recognition • Growth requires intentional discomfort • Building a personal brand while holding a demanding chef role is possible, but not easy • The chefs who last are the ones who keep learning, even when they're tired 🤝 Sponsors & Partners Support for Walk-In Talk Media comes from: 🧰 Metro Foodservice Trusted by kitchens that need storage and workflow solutions that perform under pressure 🔗 https://www.metro.com RAK Porcelain USA Professional-grade tableware and glassware designed for chefs who demand performance and presentation 🔗 https://www.rakporcelain.com Aussie Select Premium Australian lamb products trusted by chefs for quality and consistency 🔗 https://aussieselect.com Pass the Honey Single-origin honey and honeycomb celebrating ingredient-first storytelling 🔗 https://passthehoney.com Crab Island Seafood Chef-driven seafood products built on flavor and integrity 🔗 https://crabislandseafooddip.com Citrus America Delivering fresh Florida citrus and juice solutions to foodservice professionals nationwide 🔗 https://www.citrusamerica.com ❤️ Cause-Aligned Partners The Burnt Chef Project Providing mental health support and resources for hospitality professionals 🔗 https://www.theburntchefproject.com Operation BBQ Relief Serving communities in need with hot meals prepared by volunteer pitmasters 🔗 https://operationbbqrelief.org