Podcasts about culinary agents

Finding and keeping great restaurant staff is harder than ever in 2025. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we talk with Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, about how smart restaurants are winning the hiring game. After 13 years of connecting restaurants with talent, Alice breaks down what works. She explains the "missing middle" skills gap hurting restaurants today and shares practical ways to make your job listings stand out. Whether you're struggling to hire line cooks or looking to build a reputation as a great workplace, Alice offers real solutions you can implement immediately to attract better candidates.ResourcesConnect with Alice Cheng on LinkedIn

​Alice Cheng is the Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, an online professional networking and job matching platform dedicated to the hospitality industry. Her career began in the hospitality sector, working as a hostess and server at La Maisonette in the Pearl River Hilton and as a catering server for Munno's Deli in Pearl River, NY.Cheng pursued a Bachelor of Science in Advertising, Marketing & Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY.  She then embarked on a 13-year tenure at IBM, starting in the mailroom and advancing to roles such as Digital Media Specialist, Economic Stimulus Strategy & Sales Leader, and Global Innovation Executive in Strategy & Transformation.In 2012, Cheng founded Culinary Agents to address the challenges hospitality professionals faced in job searching and recruitment. The platform has since connected over 2 million users with more than 50,000 businesses, offering job listings, industry insights, and educational content to inspire the next generation of restaurant talent.Beyond her role at Culinary Agents, Cheng serves as a Strategic Advisor for Hot Bread Kitchen's Kitchen Cabinet in New York, NY, and is a member of the Society of Fellows for the Culinary Institute of America. She also hosts the podcast "Hospitality on the Rise," highlighting stories and insights from hospitality professionals. Cheng's dedication to the hospitality industry is evident in her efforts to provide resources and tools that support professionals in their career development. Her work continues to influence and shape the future of hospitality recruitment and networking.​

Today's guest is Alice Cheng, the founder and CEO of Culinary Agents—the hiring platform for the hospitality industry. Think LinkedIn, but for back of house and front of house folks. Alice joins host Kerry Diamond to share insights on today's hottest restaurant jobs, what cities are booming, and why communication skills often outweigh kitchen chops when it comes to hiring. Plus, they dive into her unconventional career journey—from studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology to working as a temp at IBM to becoming a respected entrepreneur and founder in the hospitality world. For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Alice: Instagram, Culinary Agents, websiteMore on Kerry: Instagram

Alice Cheng is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a job marketplace, applicant tracking system, and career resource for the hospitality industry. In this episode, we'll chat about its latest site for career insights and salary data, how technology can help with career development, and what the industry can do to attract higher talent. Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter

Alice Cheng is the Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, the hospitality industry's go-to professional community and trusted hiring platform. Her journey began in hospitality, where early jobs sparked a passion for helping others overcome both job-seeking and hiring challenges. From mailroom temp to global marketing executive, Alice then honed her business skills during a 13-year tenure at IBM, where she facilitated innovation and advised leading Silicon Valley firms like Netflix on tech-driven growth strategies. This love for the hospitality industry combined with carving out her own career path in technology, led her to found Culinary Agents, providing tech solutions that have revolutionized how talent and hiring businesses connect in the hospitality world.  Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Alice is dedicated to mentoring professionals across diverse fields and is a distinguished member of The Society of Fellows for the Culinary Institute of America. She also serves as a strategic advisor for Hot Bread Kitchen, empowering individuals through food-based careers.  Recognized as a thought leader, Alice's expertise is often sought out by major networks like Bloomberg and in publications such as Eater, Grub Street and LA Magazine. Her monthly newsletter, Pre-Shift Career Lineup, continues to inform and inspire professionals worldwide.   Listen in as we discuss why the restaurant industry is behind when it comes to career growth, and ways to build a long term career in hospitality.   Learn more about Culinary Agents and Hospitality Career Paths.

Alice Cheng launched Culinary Agents, a hiring platform for hospitality companies, 12 years ago. Since then, it's served 2 million users, including more than 50,000 businesses, offering job listings, industry data, and educational content meant to inform and inspire the next generation of restaurant talent.  On this episode, Alice debuts Culinary Agents' newest endeavor: HospitalityCareerPaths.com, a platform highlighting the professional trajectories of leaders in the industry. (And others, like Kristen.) 

#76. On this episode of The meez Podcast, we sit down with Alice Cheng, founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, a groundbreaking platform connecting talent and businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Alice shares her incredible journey from a role in IBM's mailroom to executive ranks on a global scale at the company. After a decade-plus career climbing the corporate ladder at lightning speed, Alice made the bold decision to leave and launch her own start-up. Inspired by helping her friends in the restaurant world with resume writing and contract negotiations, she realized the industry lacked the online tools needed for finding jobs and hiring the right people for their restaurants. In 2012, Culinary Agents was born, a place for workers to easily discover and apply to great opportunities and an all in one hiring and recruiting solution for restaurants. Tune in to hear how Alice turned a personal problem into a pioneering solution that's reshaping the future of hospitality.Where to find Alice Cheng:InstagramLinkedInWhere to find Culinary Agents:InstagramLinkedInTwitterTikTokWhere to find host Josh Sharkey:InstagramLinkedInTikTokTwitterIn this episode, we cover:(01:07): Alice's background(08:46): What influenced Alice's determination and hard work(14:21): Finding mentors and asking questions(19:36): Culinary Agents 101(24:14): How Culinary Agents has changed over the years(29:33): The future of Culinary Agents(31:56): What keeps Alice up at night(33:30): Thoughts on hiring(43:49): What makes Alice blood boiling mad

Anu Duggal, the founding partner of Female Founders Fund, is all about helping female-led companies get the funding they need and deserve, despite all the obstacles around raising money. Last month, she hosted the 2024 Female Founders Fund CEO Summit, a day of talks, panel discussions, and networking at the New York Stock Exchange that brought together more than 100 women, including the founders of Food52, Culinary Agents, and Mimi Cheng's. Anu joins host Kerry Diamond to discuss the origin story of Female Founders Fund, and the work she and her team have done over the past decade. They also talk about the current “funding freeze” businesses are experiencing in their search for capital, and why the wealth gap is as important as the wage gap. Earlier in her career, Anu was drawn to the food world, so she shares her journey from Tabla restaurant in New York to La Varenne culinary school in Burgundy to Bombay, where she opened India's very first wine bar. Thank you to Pernod Richard, OpenTable, and Walmart for supporting today's episode. Hosted by Kerry DiamondProduced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth VogtEdited by Jenna SadhuEditorial Assistant Londyn CrenshawRecorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller CenterRadio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. More on Anu: Instagram, Female Founders FundMore on Kerry: Instagram

After making pay per resumes live last week CareerBuilder says they are now offering pay for performance job ads… It appears to be an option as regular duration based job ads are still available to buy. https://hrtechfeed.com/careerbuilder-to-add-pay-for-performance-job-ads/ Culinary Agents has enhanced its hospitality industry-leading hiring platform with existing partner Indeed, for more seamless job application submissions.  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/culinary-agents-provides-more-seamless-job-application-process-through-key-partner-integration-with-indeed-301918764.html PowerToFly, a diversity talent acquisition platform connecting underrepresented talent to great careers, today announced a new feature available within the PowerPro product, Candidate Search. The new feature is set to transform talent acquisition by providing companies with a powerful tool to identify and recruit candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, bringing a new level of inclusivity and effectiveness to the hiring process. https://hrtechfeed.com/hrtech-bytes-seatmatch-powertofly/ Save your spot now to join me at #HRTechConf 2023 in Las Vegas. Register now for  the October 10-13 event using code HT23MA57 and get an extra $300 off!   http://ow.ly/TGXy50JGGC0 #HRTech

On today's episode, I'm joined by Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, a fantastic resource for hospitality workers seeking new professional development opportunities. Like many in the industry, Alice began in hospitality at a young age, working in food service as one of her first jobs. While she eventually moved on from the industry to pursue a career at IBM, she continued to work alongside friends who were growing in their hospitality professions. What started as a side hustle, helping these friends perfect their resumes or connect with potential employers, allowed Alice to merge her knowledge of hospitality with her experience in tech startups in the form of Culinary Agents. Alice now works to bridge the gap between passion and work, helping hospitality workers find roles that they can be excited about. That energy and commitment are among the reasons Alice cares so much about the hospitality industry. As she sees it, this business has something for everyone. - Culinary Agents - https://culinaryagents.com/ - Chris Cano - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ - Upshift - https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ #hospitality #Foodservice If you enjoyed today's show, please leave a 5-Star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today's episode, visit HospitalityLeaderspodcast.com.

CEO Mom. Chef Mom. Do these titles sound impossible or attainable? Now that we're in the great resignation, and family life has shifted into the home, employers are being forced to offer better work-life balance to attract staff. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with returning guest Alice Cheng, CEO and Founder of Culinary Agents, about being a CEO Mom and how the hospitality industry is changing to accommodate parents and family in order to stay competitive and retain top talent. Tech Bites Episode 262 is made possible by the generosity of 818 Tequila and BentoBox.Photo Courtesy of Alice Cheng.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Tech Bites by becoming a member!Tech Bites is Powered by Simplecast.

April 6, 2022 - Do you wonder what it takes and how to build success as an entrepreneur? Although interested, do you find running a startup company quite intimidating? If your answer is yes, join us for our upcoming Young Professionals' Network program and take your passion to the next level. The Korea Society is delighted to host a panel discussion featuring three successful Korean American entrepreneurs and startup expert – Ryan Kim (Founder and CEO, Kim'C Market), Sol Park (Managing Director, Korea International Trade Association) and Jun Yoon (Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Culinary Agents and Vice President, Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE). The discussion will be led by moderator Sang Lee, President of KSE and CEO of VegaX and Konstellation. In this event, the panelists will spark thought-provoking conversations and inspire a new generation of leaders. They will delve into the realities, challenges, and success they experienced building their entrepreneurial ventures. The discussion will also provide the most important, transformative advice reflecting current K-startup business trends and success stories and share tactical strategies for new Korean businesses in building a solid ground in the US. Come open-minded, find your potential, and kick start your entrepreneurial journey. The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals' Network in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE). This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1568-k-startups-empowering-the-future-of-young-entrepreneurs

One Fair Wage president Saru Jayaraman explains how the minimum wage laws are affecting hiring. Alice Cheng of Culinary Agents gives us the hiring data across major US markets. Jenn Saesue of Fish Cheeks NYC has an on-the-ground look at hiring staff right now. Get in touch with the hosts: Amanda Kludt (@kludt), Editor in Chief, Eater Daniel Geneen (@danielgeneen), Producer, Eater digest@eater.com More to explore: Check out more great reporting from the Eater newsroom. Subscribe to Amanda’s weekly newsletter here. Follow Us: Eater.com Facebok.com/Eater YouTube.com/Eater @eater on Twitter and Instagram About Eater: Eater obsessively covers the world through the lens of food, telling stories via audio, television, digital video, and publications in 24 cities across the US and UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you know, then you know. And, anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant industry knows that it’s hard work that takes knowledge and skill. My next guest is a leader who helps those in the hospitality industry improve their skills and leverage them for the better. This episode is sponsored by BreweryDB.com, the most complete database for the beer industry. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-storton/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-storton/support

Today we’re here with Alice Cheng. She is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a professional networking and job matching website for professionals in the food, beverage and hospitality industry. Their growing community includes over 900,000 members and 28,000 businesses nationwide. The platform is dedicated to helping talent succeed in their careers within the hospitality industry. In this episode, we chat with Alice about the challenges and rewards of building Culinary agents, her 12 year career at IBM, and what she sees for the future of the industry. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com). This episode was edited by Delali Bruce.

The start of the year is always a good time to make a plan for your career and look at what’s viable right now in the industry. If you’re looking to make a move or pivot your career, this episode of Tech Bites is for you. Host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Alice Cheng, CEO and Founder of Culinary Agents, about current open positions, their new Marketplace, and how to build new skills for your new job. Tech Bites Episode 225 is made possible by the generosity of the Tabard Inn, a charming hotel and restaurant, located in the historic Washington DC area only five blocks from the White House.Photo Courtesy of RRE.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Tech Bites by becoming a member!Tech Bites is Powered by  Simplecast .

Alice Cheng of Culinary Agents joins us to talk about the mind of employees, tips for employers and re-staffing strategies.

Is this the year you get your dream job with the chef you’ve idolized? Or maybe it’s the year you finally dust off that business plan and open that coffee shop. If making a move in the hospitality business is in your 2020 plan, this episode of Tech Bites is for you. Host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Alice Cheng, CEO and Founder of Culinary Agents, the job website for the hospitality industry. Tech Bites Episode 197 is made possible by the generosity of Fair kitchens, a global movement of chefs supporting chefs to improve kitchen culture.Photo Courtesy of Culinary Agents 2020Tech Bites is powered by Simplecast.

Alice Cheng is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a company that connects food industry professionals to hiring companies and restaurants. Alice's path to entrepreneurship was anything but linear -- in our conversation she discusses how thirteen years at corporate giant, IBM, gave her the opportunity to learn the skills she needed for the next phase of her career. Music edited from 'Something Elated' by Broke For Free. freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_Fo…mething_Elated From the Free Music Archive. CC Attribution 3.0 Produced by Rachel James. Positively Gotham Gal is proud to be made in NYC.

Getting that dream restaurant job used to mean trolling through craigslist, or waiting outside chef’s office every day for a week, hoping he’d notice your dedication and give you a shot. The tech age and Culinary Agents has changed all that. In-studio guest Alice Cheng, founder of Culinary Agents talks about her website that combines professional networking and profile matching, much like online dating. In this interview, Tech Bites has the breaking news on a brand new feature launching on Culinary Agents now. “We have a new feature called ‘I Want To Work Here.’ It allows the talent to be proactive… It’s kind of the digital version of waiting outside.” –Alice Cheng, Culinary Agents Founder/CEO on Tech Bites

Alice Cheng is the Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, a professional networking and job matching website designed for current and aspiring professionals in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry. Having spent years working in a restaurant and then working for IBM for 13 years in cross-­industry innovation, Cheng brings her knowledge of technology into the food and beverage industry to solve inefficiencies and gaps around talent sourcing and career development. Cheng is passionate about helping people build careers and has taken leadership roles in mentoring all levels of talent in the technology, business, and hospitality spaces. Marisa Acocella Marchetto is a cartoonist for The New Yorker whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, and O, and The Oprah Magazine, among other publications. She is also the author of the graphic memoir Cancer Vixen, named one of Time’s top 10 graphic memoirs, and a finalist for the National Cartoonists Society Graphic Novel of the Year. A founder and chair of the Marisa Acocella Marchetto Foundation at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai, she lives in New York City. Her newest book, the graphic novel Ann Tenna, is all about karma. This program was brought to you by American Express OPEN. “Being vocal and going to events and sharing with people what you want to do really keeps you top of mind, especially because this community is so big.” [9:00] –Alice Cheng on Radio Cherry Bombe  

This week’s guest on All in the Industry is Alice Cheng, the founder and president of Culinary Agents, an online professional network for matching qualified talent with job opportunities in the food & beverage industry. Prior to founding the company, she’d spent 13 years at IBM, in positions focused on strategy, sales, business development and transformation. Culinary Agents is a professional networking and job matching website designed for current and aspiring professionals in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry. Our website enables talent to represent themselves professionally, match to and seek out job opportunities, get inspired by virtual mentorships, and connect with resources to help them fuel their careers. This program was brought to you by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. “This is about talent having a professional tool to represent themselves.” [08:00] “Your job is just a stepping stone to your career.” [25:00] –Alice Cheng on All in the Industry