Walk-In Talk Podcast

Chef Sherief Shawky's journey is anything but conventional.
Raised between Virginia and Egypt, Sherief's path began in a family-owned pizzeria before taking him through some of the industry's most demanding kitchens, working alongside award-winning chefs, opening restaurants, leading culinary teams, and ultimately becoming Corporate Chef and Team Leader for North America at Unox.
In this episode, Sherief shares the experiences that shaped him—from learning to leave his ego at the door, navigating burnout, overcoming a serious back injury, and making the difficult decision to step away from restaurant operations at the height of his career.
We also discuss mentorship, leadership, mental health in hospitality, his work as an ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project, and why he believes food remains the universal language that brings people together.
Most importantly, this is a conversation about opportunity—recognizing it when it appears and having the courage to say yes.
Topics Covered:
• Growing up between Egypt and the United States
• Working with Chef Sherry Yard and Chef Jamie Lynch
• Lessons learned from high-pressure kitchens
• Burnout, injury, and career transitions
• Leadership and mentoring the next generation
• Mental health and The Burnt Chef Project
• Life at Unox
• Why food is the ultimate connector
Plus, Chef Sherief prepares two incredible dishes in the studio, showcasing the creativity, discipline, and culinary perspective that have defined his career.
This is Episode 202 of the Walk-In Talk Podcast.
BRAND PARTNERS
Metro Foodservice Solutions & Trimark USA
https://www.metro.com 
Commercial-grade storage, transport, and workflow systems trusted across professional kitchens.
TriMark USA
TriMark is the largest foodservice design, equipment, and supplies provider in North America, helping operators build, equip, and optimize hospitality kitchens through design-build expertise, sourcing, installation, and service.
RAK Porcelain USA
https://www.rakporcelain.com

Professional tableware engineered for durability and presentation.

Citrus America
https://www.citrusamerica.com

Premium citrus solutions supporting chefs, retailers, and distributors.

Crab Island Seafood
https://crabislandseafood.com

Florida-based supplier delivering responsibly sourced seafood to foodservice partners.

Testo North America
https://www.testo.com/en-US

Precision measurement and food safety solutions for professional kitchens.

CAUSE PARTNERS

The Burnt Chef Project
https://www.theburntchefproject.com

Advocating for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry.

Operation BBQ Relief
https://operationbbqrelief.org

Providing meals to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Sustainable Supperclub
https://www.sustainablesupperclub.com
Pop-up dining experiences focused on sustainability and food access.

TRADE SHOW & INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Florida Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/florida/

New York Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/new-york/

California Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/california/

Pizza Tomorrow Summit
https://www.pizzatomorrow.com/

U.S. Culinary Open
https://www.usculinaryopen.com/About

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
https://www.cltampa.com

ABOUT WALK-IN TALK MEDIA
Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized B2B food and hospitality media company focused on chef-driven storytelling and real conversations inside the business of food.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6951710a-0184-832c-9d32-bda2c450a8ea-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-6951710a-0184-832c-9d32-bda2c450a8ea-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-1204" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 201 picks up just days after Walk-In Talk Media celebrated its 200th episode at Tampa Club.
What started as a milestone celebration became something much bigger: more than 120 hospitality professionals, chefs, operators, distributors, manufacturers, brand partners, creators, and friends gathered in one room to celebrate the community that has formed around Walk-In Talk Media.
Chef Thomas Mandzik joins the show to reflect on the night, the energy in the room, the food, the sponsors, the Tasty Cam moments, and what it meant to see so many industry people show up for one another.
From the Walk-In Talk Podcast ice carving and Crab Island Seafood dip display to the nonstop hospitality from Thomas and the Tampa Club team, the evening became a reminder that this industry is built on relationships.
As Thomas put it:
"Yes, we're competitors… but we're still all fans of each other."
The conversation also looks ahead to Thomas's next chapter. This fall, he'll be leaving Tampa Club and heading to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he plans to open an intimate 20-seat restaurant built around his own vision, artistry, faith, and pursuit of a deeply personal dining experience.
In studio, Thomas prepares two foie gras-driven dishes:
Foie gras with squab, blue corn grits cake, Three Sisters composition, and jus.
Bluefin tuna "ravioli" with foie gras mousse, mascarpone, Parmesan, basil emulsion, blood orange gastrique, yuzu aioli, and tomato ginger water.
This episode is about celebration, community, gratitude, faith, risk, and the next chapter for one of Walk-In Talk Media's closest chef voices.
Episode Takeaways
Walk-In Talk Media's Episode 200 celebration became a true hospitality community moment.
More than 120 industry professionals gathered at Tampa Club to celebrate the milestone.
Chef Thomas Mandzik and the Tampa Club team helped create the culinary energy of the night.
The event highlighted the power of relationships across chefs, operators, distributors, manufacturers, and brand partners.
Thomas sees the Central Florida hospitality scene as competitive, but also deeply supportive.
His move to Corpus Christi is rooted in family, faith, timing, and opportunity.
Thomas plans to open an intimate 20-seat restaurant focused on artistry, memory, and elevated dining.
The episode features two highly technical foie gras dishes built around squab and bluefin tuna.
Hospitality at its best is about creating moments people remember.
Episode 201 serves as both a recap of a major milestone and a preview of Thomas's next chapter.




BRAND PARTNERS
Metro Foodservice Solutions & Trimark USA
https://www.metro.com 
Commercial-grade storage, transport, and workflow systems trusted across professional kitchens.
TriMark USA
TriMark is the largest foodservice design, equipment, and supplies provider in North America, helping operators build, equip, and optimize hospitality kitchens through design-build expertise, sourcing, installation, and service.
RAK Porcelain USA
https://www.rakporcelain.com

Professional tableware engineered for durability and presentation.

Citrus America
https://www.citrusamerica.com

Premium citrus solutions supporting chefs, retailers, and distributors.

Crab Island Seafood
https://crabislandseafood.com

Florida-based supplier delivering responsibly sourced seafood to foodservice partners.

Testo North America
https://www.testo.com/en-US

Precision measurement and food safety solutions for professional kitchens.

CAUSE PARTNERS

The Burnt Chef Project
https://www.theburntchefproject.com

Advocating for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry.

Operation BBQ Relief
https://operationbbqrelief.org

Providing meals to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Sustainable Supperclub
https://www.sustainablesupperclub.com
Pop-up dining experiences focused on sustainability and food access.

TRADE SHOW & INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Florida Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/florida/

New York Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/new-york/

California Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/california/

Pizza Tomorrow Summit
https://www.pizzatomorrow.com/

U.S. Culinary Open
https://www.usculinaryopen.com/About

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
https://www.cltampa.com

ABOUT WALK-IN TALK MEDIA
Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized B2B food and hospitality media company focused on chef-driven storytelling and real conversations inside the business of food.

Almost exactly one year ago, Chef Elijah Rock joined Walk-In Talk Media to discuss the early stages of building Bricks and navigating life as a new restaurant owner.
A lot can change in a year.
In Episode 200, Elijah returns to reflect on what the last twelve months have taught him about leadership, delegation, fatherhood, burnout, trust, and the reality of restaurant ownership beyond what guests see from the dining room.
The conversation explores the pressure that comes with building something meaningful, learning to let go of control, empowering a team, and finding balance in an industry that rarely slows down.
Along the way, Elijah shares how becoming a father has changed his perspective, why success often looks different than people imagine, and what it means to build something his daughter can one day be proud of.
In the studio, Chef Elijah presents two dishes that reflect both comfort and restraint:
🍽️ Pork Chop 🍽️ Branzino with Green Bean Amandine, Radish & Herb Salad
As Walk-In Talk Media reaches Episode 200, it felt fitting to spend the milestone with a chef whose story reminds us that hospitality is built one day, one service, and one decision at a time.
Episode Takeaways
Leadership begins when you learn to trust others.
Delegation is not weakness, it's necessary for growth.
Restaurant ownership often looks very different than it appears online.
Burnout remains one of hospitality's biggest challenges.
Fatherhood can reshape priorities and perspective.
Success is rarely glamorous in the day-to-day.
Great teams are built through empowerment, not control.
The moments you miss are often the ones you can never get back.
Simplicity and restraint matter in both food and life.
Building something meaningful takes time, patience, and consistency.
BRAND PARTNERS
Metro Foodservice Solutions & Trimark USA
https://www.metro.com 
TriMark USA

Commercial-grade storage, transport, and workflow systems trusted across professional kitchens.

RAK Porcelain USA
https://www.rakporcelain.com

Professional tableware engineered for durability and presentation.

Citrus America
https://www.citrusamerica.com

Premium citrus solutions supporting chefs, retailers, and distributors.

Crab Island Seafood
https://crabislandseafood.com

Florida-based supplier delivering responsibly sourced seafood to foodservice partners.

Testo North America
https://www.testo.com/en-US

Precision measurement and food safety solutions for professional kitchens.

Franki
https://www.getfranki.com

A platform connecting restaurants with high-intent diners through real experiences and user-generated content.

CAUSE PARTNERS

The Burnt Chef Project
https://www.theburntchefproject.com

Advocating for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry.

Operation BBQ Relief
https://operationbbqrelief.org

Providing meals to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Sustainable Supperclub
https://www.sustainablesupperclub.com
Pop-up dining experiences focused on sustainability and food access.

TRADE SHOW & INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Florida Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/florida/

New York Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/new-york/

California Restaurant Show
https://www.therestaurantshows.com/california/

Pizza Tomorrow Summit
https://www.pizzatomorrow.com/

U.S. Culinary Open
https://www.usculinaryopen.com/About

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
https://www.cltampa.com

ABOUT WALK-IN TALK MEDIA
Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized B2B food and hospitality media company focused on chef-driven storytelling and real conversations inside the business of food.

In Episode 2 of Inside Food Safety, Eric Moore of Testo North America returns to discuss one of the biggest threats facing restaurants today, not a single catastrophic mistake, but the slow erosion of standards through complacency.
From leadership and food safety culture to burnout, staffing challenges, and operational blind spots, Eric and Carl explore how small shortcuts can become dangerous habits when accountability begins to slip.
The conversation also examines why the phrase "We've always done it this way" may be one of the most harmful mindsets in hospitality, and how strong leadership, employee empowerment, and consistent operating procedures help protect guests, staff, and a restaurant's reputation.
The episode concludes with practical solutions operators can implement today, including automated temperature monitoring, proper thermometer usage, and leveraging technology to strengthen food safety systems while reducing operational risk.
Inside Food Safety is a recurring Walk-In Talk Media series designed to bring practical food safety conversations directly to chefs, operators, managers, and hospitality professionals.
Guest:
Eric Moore, Food Safety Expert, Testo North America
Follow Testo North America:
Instagram: @testoamerica
Connect with Eric Moore:
LinkedIn: Eric Moore
Takeaways
Leadership sets the tone for food safety culture.
Complacency is often more dangerous than isolated mistakes.
"We've always done it this way" creates operational blind spots.
Handwashing compliance remains one of the simplest indicators of kitchen discipline.
Burnout and staff fatigue directly impact food safety performance.
Proper thermometer use is still widely misunderstood throughout the industry.
Technology can reduce human error and improve operational consistency.
Automated temperature monitoring can help protect inventory, reduce risk, and improve response times.
Continuous improvement is critical to maintaining safe, successful operations.
Food safety is not separate from hospitality. It is hospitality.
Segment Partner Testo Instruments - North America
About Walk-In Talk Media
Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized food media company focused on the real stories behind hospitality. Through cinematic video, photography, and podcasting, the platform highlights chefs, operators, and partners shaping the future of the restaurant industry.

Episode 198 – NRA Show Chicago Recap
The National Restaurant Association Show always brings the food industry together at the highest level, and this year in Chicago was no exception.
From nonstop movement on the show floor, to conversations with operators, chefs, manufacturers, and hospitality leaders from across the country, Episode 198 captures the energy, relationships, and momentum that continue to shape the future of foodservice.
A huge thank you to Royal Cup Coffee & Tea for partnering with Walk-In Talk Media throughout the week and helping fuel the production from start to finish. What began as Pooch searching for "the package" across Chicago ultimately led right back to the Royal Cup booth and the cold brew powering the entire experience.
Follow Royal Cup Coffee & Tea on Instagram: @royalcupcoffee ☕️
Special thanks as well to Connor Stewart and the National Restaurant Association Show team for the continued support, hospitality, and opportunity to help tell the story of one of the industry's most important events.
This episode is about more than recap footage. It's about community, innovation, partnership, and the people continuing to move hospitality forward.
🎙️ Produced by Walk-In Talk Media
#NRAShow #RoyalCupCoffee #WalkInTalkMedia #Chicago #Hospitality #FoodIndustry