11. ART OF THE RESTAURANT: James Beard Award-Winning Chef Stuart Brioza on the craft of cooking

In this episode of The Trades Show, host Briana Ottoboni sits down with Stuart Brioza, James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of State Bird Provisions, The Progress, and The Anchovy Bar, inside The Progress restaurant in San Francisco. Their conversation traces Stuart's path from dishwasher at fifteen to leading three of the city's most celebrated restaurants — and explores what it means to define California cuisine in a time when every ingredient imaginable shows up at the farmers market. Stuart shares the origin story of State Bird's small plates revolution, the handmade design philosophy that built The Progress (down to every chair, table, and piece of pottery), and why he opened The Anchovy Bar to celebrate a two-hour-out-of-water local fish that nobody else pays attention to. They talk about discovery versus innovation, the good-better-best mindset that drives his cooking, and why restaurants are one of the last places that require active human participation. Whether you're a cook, a craft-curious diner, or someone trying to figure out how to stay creative without burning out, this episode is a masterclass in leading with patience, building for longevity, and cooking with all five senses.The Trades Show is an interview series on location with modern artisans exploring what it means to be human: the ability to create with our hands.🔥 Where to find Stuart Brioza:Atomic Restaurant Group: https://atomic-workshop.com/Stuart Brioza IG: https://www.instagram.com/atomicstew/State Bird Provisions: https://www.statebirdsf.com/The Progress: https://theprogress-sf.com/home/The Anchovy Bar: https://www.theanchovybar.com/⚒️ Where to find The Trades Show:Instagram: @tradesshow (https://www.instagram.com/tradesshow/)TikTok: @tradesshow (https://www.tiktok.com/@tradesshow)YouTube: ‪@tradesshow‬ (https://www.youtube.com/@tradesshow)Substack: Trade Secrets (https://revivethetrades.substack.com/)Website: https://www.thetradesshowpod.com/✨ Where to find your host, Briana:Instagram: @brianaaugustina ( / brianaaugustina )Substack: https://brianaaugustina.substack.com/Website: https://www.brianaaugustina.com/🎬 In this episode:00:00 Welcome to The Trades Show00:36 Meet Chef Stuart Brioza01:45 Cooking as a Sensory Craft02:38 Leading Three Restaurants04:19 State Bird Small Plates06:38 The Progress Handmade Design09:30 Good Better Best Mindset12:20 Defining California Cuisine15:11 Anchovy Bar Local Mission20:14 From Dishwasher to Chef26:32 Landing First Kitchen Job28:14 Learning Through Mistakes29:53 How Cooking Culture Changed30:20 Social Media and Dish Lineage34:04 Discovery Becomes Innovation38:10 Boredom as Creative Fuel41:55 Restaurants as Human Refuge44:32 Innovating Without Burnout48:53 Tech Wins and Losses50:16 Simplicity and Career Advice51:40 Craftspeople for Life53:57 Closing Thanks and Outro