Top Chef Joe Flamm Discusses His First Taste of the Spotlight

Chef Joe Flamm is the culinary director of Day Off Group, which runs popular Chicago restaurants Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse. He is also the winner of Top Chef.

Early on, he learned the importance of telling stories whether on TV or social media. “I’m not perfect, that’s what makes it fun.”

Watch now to learn about becoming a celebrity chef, promoting Balkan cuisine, and keeping it real on social media.

#entrepreneur #restaurantinfluencers #topchef #joeflamm

Chapters:

[00:51] - The Rose Mary Story

[03:33] - Cooking Balkan Food

[08:40] - Opening a New Italian Restaurant

[13:00] - The Art of Hospitality

[19:18] - Appearing on Top Chef

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Episode Links:

Joe Flamm Instagram

Rose Mary Chicago Instagram

BLVD Steakhouse Chicago Instagram

Day Off Restaurant Group

Joe Flamm Tours National Restaurant Show with Toast (VIDEO)

Takeaways:

Mastering Croatian Cuisine - Chef Joe Flamm leaned into Croatian cuisine after marrying into the culture. He knew he would have to explain to some customers why he chose Balkan food for his Rose Mary restaurant, but it has all paid off.

Becoming a TV Chef - Years before winning Top Chef, Joe Flamm knew he wanted to be on television when he was a sous chef for Stephanie Izard on Food Network’s Iron Chef. When the opportunity to be on TV again came up, he jumped at it — propelling his career forward even more.

Truth Vibrates the Fastest - On his @insta.flamm Instagram account Joe Flamm gives his audience a well-rounded view of his life and business. He learned that his true story has resonated with people more than a carefully curated feed.

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ABOUT JOE FLAMM –

Flamm is the Culinary Director of Day Off Group, overseeing Chicago restaurant stalwarts Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse. Born and raised on Chicago’s Southside, Joe is a veteran of some of the city’s most prominent and Michelin-starred kitchens, and winner of Bravo’s Top Chef season 15.

After helming the Spiaggia kitchen for 6 years, Joe opened his debut restaurant, Rose Mary, with Day Off Group in Chicago’s Fulton Market District in April 2021. Named for Joe’s grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, the restaurant is inspired by his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine, offering a seasonal menu of what Joe has coined “Adriatic drinking food”.

In 2022, Joe became Culinary Director of Day Off Group, taking over the food program at the group’s first restaurant, BLVD Steakhouse, while continuing to oversee all aspects of the Rose Mary kitchen. In the coming year, Joe looks forward to the debut of a third restaurant concept with Day Off Group in the bustling Fulton Market neighborhood.

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS —

Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Aman Narang, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media

Produced by Cali BBQ Media