Behind the Counter with the Food Czar
Behind the Counter with the Food Czar
Latest Episodes
Episode 76 - All Gas, No Brakes: Gustavo Gutierrez and the Rise of Cubita
In this episode, we sit down with Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez — the high-energy entrepreneur behind Cubita Cafe and the growing fleet of Cubita Food Trucks.Gus grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey knowing he needed to...
Episode 75 - The Viral Chicken Caesar That Changed Everything at Staci’s Sandwich Joint
This week we sit down with Staci Puleo — the heart and hands behind Staci’s Sandwich Joint — whose journey into the food world is proof that it’s never too late to start something completely new.Just over a year ago, Staci was...
Episode 74 - Mother’s Day Edition: Deborah & Sam Stymest of Sam’s Table
In this special Mother’s Day episode, I sit down with Deborah and Sam Stymest, the mother-and-son duo behind Sam’s Table in Montclair, New Jersey.What started during COVID as a backyard, socially distanced dining experience fo...
Episode 73 - From Grandma Sheila’s Recipe to a National Brand: The Rise of Allie’s Banana Bread
This week we sit down with Allie Chernick, the founder of Allie’s Banana Bread, whose signature banana bread — made from her Grandma Sheila’s cherished recipe — turned into one of NYC’s most buzzed-about baked goods.From growi...
Episode 72 - Building Perla Oyster Bar: Matt Chappina on Reinvention and Resilience
This week’s episode explores reinvention, resilience, and listening to the pull you can’t ignore. We sit down with Matthew Chappina, the creative force behind Perla Oyster Bar in Maplewood, NJ.After starting out in theater, Matt found hi...
