Episode 116: Chef Fiore Tedesco of L'Oca d'Oro and Bambino in Austin

In this heartfelt episode, Chef Fiore Tedesco shares his remarkable personal and professional journey. Born deaf, Fiore faced significant challenges growing up in a large Italian family. The episode touches on his experiences with anxiety and trauma, his reflections on leadership and empathy, and the constant pursuit of balance in the demanding restaurant industry.   (00:00 Intro: The Awakening of Sound (02:41) Chef Fiore Tedesco's Story: Overcoming Adversity with Empathy (05:24) A Culinary Legacy: Growing Up in a Hardcore Italian Family (10:52) The Power of Music and Overcoming Deafness (24:05) Finding Balance: The Struggle and Joy of a Chef's Life (28:59) Redefining Success Beyond the Kitchen (30:16) A New Perspective on Cooking and Humility (35:36) The Transformative Moment: Gaining the Gift of Hearing (38:13) The Power of Medicine in Overcoming Disability (38:52) Finding Value in Dreams Amidst Life's Challenges (42:16) The Journey to Humility and Healing (42:42) Confronting Trauma and Embracing Vulnerability (44:16) The Transformative Impact of Parenthood (45:30) The Role of Therapy in Personal Growth (46:40) Discovering Anxiety and the Path to Healing (49:56) The Evolution of a Chef: From Dreams to Reality (52:57) Creating an Ethical Restaurant Model (01:02:11) Launching Bambino: A New Culinary Adventure (01:10:58) Leadership, Vulnerability, and the Path Forward A huge shout out to our sponsor, Singer Equipment for their unwavering support, which allows us to be able to bring these conversations to you. Check out their website for all the amazing equipment they can supply your restaurant with to make your team more efficient and successful. If you are looking for the best in class pizza oven for your next concept, make sure you check out the incredible ovens built by Moretti Forni and reach out to Greg Listino at their exclusive Northeast dealer, Rosito Bisani. Meez, is one of the most powerful tools you can have as a cook and chef because it allows you to have a free repository for all of your recipes, techniques and methods so that you never lose them. Meez does way more than just recipe development though; it's an incredibly powerful tool that any chef or restaurant would benefit from. My favorite new beer on the market, Kenwood Original, might be the most drinkable and most flavorful craft lager I've ever tried. Nothing goes better with a five star meal than a five star beer so head to their website and check out the Kenny Finder for location nearest you. So before we get started, go ahead and grab yourself a Kenny and enjoy this week’s guest.