I am Consciously Curious

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I am Consciously Curious

Victor Chan

172 episodes

1 week ago

Our next guests are Ryan Catolico and Enrique Huizar of Novel Pizza. I’ve been following their journey since the very beginning. I believe this was the second entry into the Almedaverse. Ryan reflects on how he and Francis tried to replicate some of their favorite pizzas and eventually called for help from Enrique aka Gremski who has grown up in the pizza industry. They’ve had many iterations throughout the years and have found their footing in PIlsen, Chicago. Please enjoy my conversation wi...

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Society & Culture

All content for I am Consciously Curious is the property of Victor Chan and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Our next guests are Ryan Catolico and Enrique Huizar of Novel Pizza. I’ve been following their journey since the very beginning. I believe this was the second entry into the Almedaverse. Ryan reflects on how he and Francis tried to replicate some of their favorite pizzas and eventually called for help from Enrique aka Gremski who has grown up in the pizza industry. They’ve had many iterations throughout the years and have found their footing in PIlsen, Chicago. Please enjoy my conversation wi...

Show more...

Society & Culture

Episodes (20/172)

I am Consciously Curious

171. Uncut with Novel Pizza Cafe ft. Ryan Catolico and Enrique "Gremski" Huizar

Our next guests are Ryan Catolico and Enrique Huizar of Novel Pizza. I’ve been following their journey since the very beginning. I believe this was the second entry into the Almedaverse. Ryan reflects on how he and Francis tried to replicate some of their favorite pizzas and eventually called for help from Enrique aka Gremski who has grown up in the pizza industry. They’ve had many iterations throughout the years and have found their footing in PIlsen, Chicago. Please enjoy my conversation wi...

1 week ago

1 hour 36 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

170. Carmilla Kupritz Returns

Carmilla K is back on the pod. She recently completed a half marathon in Iceland, another Hyrox event, and moved over to Studio Three from Corepower. We yap about themes of discipline, being present, and reframing why we do what we do. She’s entered her fifth decade of life and she continues to be unapologetically herself. I honestly did not think we would catch up for 3 hours but the time flew by. Please enjoy my conversation with Carmilla Kupritz. https://www.instagram.com/carmilla_k

3 weeks ago

2 hours 54 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

169. No BS Wine Education with Slik Wines' Founder ft. Marie Cheslik

Our next guest provides a down to earth approach to wine education and she’s coming out with a book on how to read a wine label. She has channeled her love of hospitality as a nurse and a sommelier at a 1 Star Michelin restaurant. We reflect on her non linear journey through healthcare and hospitality with themes of pragmatism, authenticity, and finding balance. Please enjoy my conversation with Marie Cheslik of Slik Wines. Preorder her book on her website at slikwines.com https://slikwines.c...

1 month ago

2 hours 6 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

168. Melding Various Interests As A Multidisciplinary Artist ft. Alyssa Low

Our next guest is a designer and multidisciplinary artist. She’s worked with brands like Good Things Vending [Shoutout Steph Krim], The Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and Fire, The Chicago Marathon, and most recently Babe’s Sports Bar. We reflect on how she has found herself at the intersection of multiple interests and how she has found joy in soccer again. She leads a well-balanced, thoughtful life and strives to be present at the task at hand. Please enjoy my conversation with Alyssa Low. ...

1 month ago

1 hour 35 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

167. ER Vet Nurse Cooks Vegan Food For Gordon Ramsay ft. Courtney Fraley

Our next guest is passionate on all things animals. She is an ER Vet Nurse as well as the author for her blog, Faraway Kitchen, where she shares vegan recipes from around the world. She was recently a contestant on Season 15 of MasterChef. We dive into her adventurous beginnings where she leaves no stone unturned in her travels across the country as well as to Southeast Asia. We reflect on what it was like to manifest and finally fulfill her dream of cooking vegan food for Gordon Ramsay along...

1 month ago

1 hour 51 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

166. Holey Dough & Co. ft. Jake Rubin

Our next guest is riding the high of Eeeeeatscon this last weekend. He’s been consistently selling out of his weekly preorders despite increasing available quantities. The bagels have a nice “knock knock” crust to them and upon ripping them apart, were dense enough to dip through schmear but not excessively chewy. The everything bagel hit all the right notes. We go into how it all started only a year and a half ago, how he’s maintaining a high quality bagel as he scales the operation, and his...

2 months ago

1 hour 36 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

165. Coming Out in More Ways Than One ft. Alvis Huynh

Our next guest is the Chef and Founder of Về lại which is currently a Vietnamese and Lao pop-up filled with themes of nostalgia and homestyle cooking. Coming from hard-working blue collar immigrants, Alvis had a strong work ethic, and despite falling in love with food and cooking at an early age, he didn’t immediately venture into the culinary arts. Microbiology, food science, and time spent at the soon to be closed Heritage Restaurant became formative stops along the way to forming Về lại. P...

2 months ago

2 hours 6 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

164. Exploring the Filipino Renaissance ft. Joe Fontelera

Our next guest is the co-owner and Chef behind Boonie’s. Joe reflects on his Filipino-American upbringing, finding the culinary path, and eventually leaning into the Filipino culinary world. We chat about working on yourself, following your intuition, and making time to just live. If you haven’t been to Boonie’s, put it on your list. Joe’s partner, Joyce, sets a wonderful vibe that reminds you of Lola’s home and the sizzling sisig amongst other menu items will have you drooling. Please enjoy ...

3 months ago

1 hour 41 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

163. Tilly Bagel Shop ft. Hannah Tillett-Banaszak

Our next guest is one half of Tilly Bagel Shop in the South Loop and now in the West Loop. Hannah comes on to share how the bagel shop came to be. From a love of blueberry bagels her dad would bring on Sundays to staying busy during the pandemic by sharing bagels with friends and family. What started as a passion project at farmer’s markets has now emerged as a go-to for many Chicagoans. Her culinary lineage spans the Grand Cypress Hyatt hotel in Orlando to the Girl and the Goat, Boka, and Ma...

3 months ago

1 hour 30 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

162. Maintaining the Lost Art of Hand Painted Signs ft. Ches Perry [Right Way Signs]

Our next guest has been hand painting signs since 1970. I can’t help but think about him every time I drive west on the Kennedy expressway and peer over to the roof of the Salt Shed. He did that! Join us as we reflect on how he took a leap of faith on art school and immigrated to Chicago from Newfoundland, Canada. A lot of us are striving for peace from mind and he reminds us that it’s simpler than we think. Please enjoy my conversation with Ches Perry. https://www.rightwaysigns.com/ ht...

3 months ago

1 hour 20 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

161. Full Circle Moments with Andrew Lim of Perilla Fare and Steakhouse

Our next guest is the Executive Chef and Partner of Perilla Fare and Steakhouse. Andy opens up about not being Korean enough or American enough and how he ultimately found his voice as a person and as a Chef. He was initially tapped as a consultant for the space that is now known as Perilla Fare. That relationship evolved into becoming the Executive Chef and Partner. Recognizing the importance of complementary strengths, Andy brought on Thomas Oh as Partner and General Manager to handle the F...

4 months ago

2 hours 8 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

160. Playing The Long Game Beyond Chef Life ft. Brian Jupiter

Our next guest is the Executive Chef and Owner of Frontier, Ina Mae Tavern and Packaged Goods, as well as Migos Fine Foods. He has successfully embedded southern comfort food into Chicago. We reflect on his journey from New Orleans to Miami and eventually landing in Chicago. We discuss the current state of the hospitality industry in Chicago as well as his long term goals that expand beyond being a chef. Brian is down to earth and generous. Please enjoy my conversation with Brian Jupiter.&nbs...

4 months ago

1 hour 55 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

159. More Than Michelin Stars ft. Simon Davies

Our next guest traded eleven years at three Michelin-starred Alinea for something money can't buy: balance, agency, and intimacy. Simon Davies discovered this new path immediately after leaving Chicago's temple of molecular gastronomy as Executive Chef in January 2020, when he traveled to Jaipur, India for a project with Champagne house Krug. What started as a consulting venture, Ilixr Creative evolved into an exclusive private dining experience driven by organic demand from clients seeking s...

4 months ago

1 hour 47 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

158. Balanced Hospitality ft. Stevan Miller

Our next guest is the Beverage Director at Esmé. He’s inquisitive, playful, and balanced. We reflect on his journey through hospitality from the earlier days at Burger King and Starbucks to earning his stripes at the now closed Claudia and eventually Esmé. In addition to directing the wine, cocktail, and nonalcoholic programs, he hosts a show called Balanced Hospitality and has managed to curate live recordings and host happy hours through it. Please enjoy my conversation with Stevan Miller. ...

5 months ago

1 hour 40 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

157. Increasing Access to High Quality Oysters ft. Motorshucker

Our next guests are the partners of Motorshucker. A mobile oyster bar that currently pops up at places like Queen Mary Tavern, Easy Does It, and Bisous. You’ve seen photos and maybe even tried some of their seafood towers, crab rolls, or motormix fried peanuts. We reflect on their individual journeys and how they all came together. The trio perfectly complements each other while sharing the same passion and mission for access to high quality experiences for things like oysters. Please enjoy m...

5 months ago

2 hours 10 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

156. Modern Korean Supper Club, Haru Haru ft. Junho Lee

Our next guest is intuitive and ambitious. He hosts a modern Korean supper club experience called Haru Haru which means “day by day." The intimate nature of pop ups and private dinners allow him to hold space and tell stories that complement his food. We reflect on the support he’s received from his family and instructors in high school and Kendall College. Despite being a young leader, his curiosity and humility encourages his team to place trust in his vision. Please enjoy my conversation w...

6 months ago

1 hour 24 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

155. Effortlessly Intentional Menswear ft. Jabari Sandifer

Our next guest is introspective and level-headed. He’s had an interest in men’s fashion and styling from an early age. He was on a successful path in collegiate basketball, but an ACL tear led him to reevaluate other interests. These days, he creates content to share his style and the lessons he’s learned. This community he’s built has led to personal styling consultations, brand deals, and collaborations on unique pieces. Please enjoy my conversation with Jabari Sandifer. https://www.tikto...

6 months ago

1 hour 12 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

154. Living Your Truth and Radical Traceability ft. Annie Xiang [Volition Tea]

Our next guest is tenacious and thoughtful. She’s a mother of two boys and the Founder/Owner of Volition Tea. A specialty tea company that highlights single origin organic teas primarily from China. She’s double downed on the importance of traceability so the consumer can appreciate exactly where and when the tea they’re consuming was harvested. She yearned for peace at an early age as she entered boarding school and she’s maintained that balance as she navigates entrepreneurship, sustainabil...

6 months ago

1 hour 43 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

153. From Flunking 6th Grade to Cultivating a Thriving Coffee Community ft. Raoul Adwan [Thrd. Coffee Co.]

Our next guest is gentle, thoughtful, and courageous. He’s the owner of Thrd. Coffee Co. which is a coffee concierge service as well as a cafe in Bucktown. Despite a rough upbringing with school and family, he had a wake up call in his second attempt at 6th grade and eventually a coming of age in Bolivia after reconnecting with family and stumbling into the world of coffee. Upon returning to Holland, MI he started as a barista at Ferris Coffee and Nut Co. He honed his barista skills with Big ...

6 months ago

2 hours 27 minutes

I am Consciously Curious

152. Unifying Indian Culture With Beer ft. Bhavik Modi of Azadi Brewing

Our next guest is insatiably curious, hyper-focused, and charismatic. I got the sense that he’s always all in on the task at hand. That being said, he’s balancing a family, a full-time job as Chief Innovation Officer/Senior Partner at Cultivate, and slowly growing a Chicago-based brewery with Indian heritage. The first half of the episode was a reflection on his coming of age and how we can affect culture. The second half was a reflection on what beer means to us and how Azadi Brewing got the...

6 months ago

1 hour 18 minutes