14. Award Winning Chef, Culinary Entrepreneur and Reality TV star, Mike Pigot.

Chef Mike Pigot was awarded best chef in the city of Calgary in 2020. We had a great conversation about food trends, the challenges of opening a new restaurant during the last year and how he goes about designing a menu.  There's some tips and tricks for cooking at home, for all the chef enthusiasts out there.  Mike also takes us through some behind the scenes stories from reality TV and the unique experience of winning Guy Fieri's Grocery Games.

Timestamps

0:50 - The  humble beginning in the restaurant industry to opening multiple restaurants
8:09 - Dealing with the effects of the pandemic and considerations for moving up in the industry
10:49 - Food trends, responding to feedback, and designing a menu
16:42 - Mike's experience on a reality cooking show, Guy's Grocery Games
19:46 - Winning best chef of Calgary in 2020
21:15 - Mike's guidance for home cooks
26:03 - Mike's thoughts on appraising the restaurants we visit
27:56 - Understanding and managing the input costs of a restaurant
31:36 - Musing on the stereotype of the extreme chef
35:23 - Balancing the demand of being a business owner, and your own needs
36:49 - Getting inspired and not putting up with the bullshit
39:16 - Thoughts on celebrity chefs, having dinner with your idols, and restaurants Mike would like to visit
42:55 - What's next, how do you rest, and cookbooks that Mike recommends
45:11 - Socials & Outro

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffee

Website: https://www.rossocoffeeroasters.com

Follow Mike Pigot on social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefpigot/
Website: https://www.chefpigot.com/