Chef (Andrew Evanisko)

The Dream Vocation Podcast with Tony Bellagamba

In this episode we speak with Andrew Evanisko, a chef in Vail Colorado. Ever since watching the movie Chef with John Favreau I’ve been fascinated by the culinary life. Since watching that movie I’ve devoured any type of entertainment that has to do with cooking, including the movie Burnt with Bradley Cooper, the show The Bear, and of course the late Anthony Bourdain’s television shows and books. So, I was super excited to dive into the world of a real-life chef like Andrew.

In the interview, Andrew tells us how it took him a few years to find his passion in life, as he originally took the traditional route of going to college after High School because that’s what everyone tells you to do. He dropped out after his first year and while living back home he started to work at a local restaurant just to make some money. He quickly fell in love with the fast-paced environment of the kitchen and decided he wanted cooking to be more than just a job, he wanted it to be his pursuit in life. With that Andrew enrolled in culinary school in upstate New York and after graduation, he moved out to Colorado to establish his career and immerse himself in his other passion – the outdoors.

Over the years, Andrew has worked his way through multiple restaurants in Colorado, building a reputation for great tasting and consistent dishes. He does a great job of telling us how cooking is far more than just manning the grill. Andrew tells us how the attention to detail for a chef is paramount because even the slightest bit of inconsistency can ruin a plate and thus your and the restaurant’s reputation. Hearing the painstaking detail that chefs operate with gave me a newfound respect for this profession.

Oh, and all the crazy things you read about in Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential and the show The Bear…Andrew says they’re all true and then some. Working in the kitchen is not for the faint of heart, as the hours are long and the pressure is always on.

Listen in as Andrew tells us about the intense and entertaining world of being a chef.