Episode 208: Shannon Smith (culinary world traveler, educator, & philanthropist)

How many of us can even name 50 countries? Well, Shannon Smith has traveled to more than 50 of them in her ongoing and very passionate quest to learn about the cuisines of the world, teach people living in poverty how to cook, fundraise for myriad causes, and pick up new techniques that she employs in the culinary experiences she produces at her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this episode of the pod, Shannon and Andrew discuss her life and work, and explore the modern definition of what it means to be a chef.And in this week's Tech and Restaurants segment, brought to you by BentoBox and Clover, social media consultant and author of the (free) Link in Bio Substack, Rachel Karten, shares valuable advice for making sense of the current social media landscape and maximizing your presence there. (Follow Rachel on Instagram here.)  Please visit the website for BentoBox and Clover to learn how they provide restaurants with the technology they need for even more success, and book a demo today.Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news.  
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!