Food Fire + Knives: Where Business Meets the Dinner Table

Michael shares his journey from a 14-year-old working at a produce stand to a CIA-trained chef who hit burnout and reinvented his career. That pivot led to the creation of Food, Fire, and Knives — a private chef platform that now serves clients across the country, bringing restaurant-quality dining into homes. What began as side gigs turned into a full-scale business that empowers chefs to regain control of their careers.This episode dives deep into:His unconventional founder storyBuilding a nationwide team of chefsHR systems and culture buildingLeadership lessonsAnd of course, what it really takes to run a business🧠 Key Takeaways & Notes🚀 Origin Story: From Burnout to BreakthroughMichael fell in love with food early, working at a produce stand, then in fast-casual kitchens.Dropped out of law enforcement school to pursue culinary school.Moved to Charleston to “live on vacation” before marriage — but after a personal breakup, he doubled down on building something new.Started picking up private chef gigs and built a simple website.After getting double-booked, he brought in another chef — and a business model was born.“I just thought… what if I go on the other side of this — hire chefs and help them leave the grind too?”👨‍🍳 The Business Model: Platform for Chef EmpowermentFood, Fire, and Knives provides autonomy, income, and exposure for chefs.It offers clients custom, in-home dining experiences with vetted chefs in 48 states.Michael intentionally built a platform that helps chefs exit the restaurant rat race, especially as many face burnout and physical wear.📋 HR Deep Dive: Hiring, Training, and TrustHiring strangers to represent your brand is scary — but essential.Trust was built slowly through personal referrals and clear expectations.Created unique interview questions like:“Tell me your favorite kitchen story” to assess both skills and personality.Focused on soft skills: can chefs cook and engage with customers?Developed automated HR systems, background checks, and orientation workflows.Relies heavily on Slack for daily communication with contractors to build a sense of team.“You’re trusting people you don’t know to handle your baby.”“If they can talk to me, they can talk to a client.”🌍 Culture & Connection — Even Without a Physical OfficeMichael hosts bi-weekly "Coffee Chats” with chefs to keep the team motivated.Maintains culture through constant communication and peer support in Slack.Intentionally keeps a flat, responsive culture where contractors feel heard and valued.“They’re not employees, but they feel like they’re part of the team.”⏳ Time Management = CEO Skill #1Learned to protect his time