From Brooklyn to Dunedin: A Chef's Leap to Owning The Flyin' Bulldog

Palm Harbor Local

Chapters
0:00
Meet A New Dunedin Chef
4:45
Local Banking Sponsor Break
5:25
Why They Chose Florida’s Gulf Coast
7:55
The Reality Of Being Owner
12:10
Building The Flying Bulldog Concept
15:42
Breakfast Plans And Future Dinners
18:40
Testing Specials Without Losing Quality
20:23
Favorite Local Spots And Community Support
22:56
Advice For Young Cooks
25:46
Where To Eat And How To Follow
Palm Harbor Local
From Brooklyn to Dunedin: A Chef's Leap to Owning The Flyin' Bulldog
Aug 03, 2026 Episode 221
Donnie Hathaway

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Jason Vasilakos spent nearly 28 years cooking in other people's kitchens before he and his wife Monique left the Northeast to open their first restaurant of their own. The Flyin' Bulldog — a chef-owned spot in downtown Dunedin — is the result. In this episode, Jason shares the leap, the food philosophy, and why Dunedin won out over everywhere else on the Gulf Coast.

What You'll Learn:

  • Why a trained chef with 28 years of experience finally bet on himself
  • How Jason and Monique chose Dunedin (and the deal they walked away from a day before signing)
  • What actually makes a chef-owned restaurant different from a chain
  • The "sandwiches by day, dinners by night" plan — plus weekend breakfast and a Yappy Meal for the dogs
  • Jason's advice for anyone dreaming of opening their own place

About the Guest:
Jason Vasilakos is a chef with close to 28 years in the culinary world and the co-owner, with his wife Monique, of The Flyin' Bulldog in downtown Dunedin — their first restaurant. Trained in fine dining, butchery, and culinary school, Jason built the concept around quality, consistency, and a whole lot of dog-friendliness.

Find The Flyin' Bulldog:

  • Website: theflyinbulldog.com
  • Instagram: @theflyinbulldog
  • Facebook: facebook.com/flyinbulldog

More Palm Harbor Local:

  • Newsletter: palmharborlocal.com
  • Instagram: @palmharborlocal

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Show sponsored by Valley Bank — valley.com

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