BJ Lieberman on Wood-Fired Flavor, Hospitality Culture & Launching Metzi’s

Chef BJ Lieberman is back on Chefs in the City with a brand new restaurant—and a fresh perspective on hospitality. The James Beard semifinalist and owner of Chapman’s Eat Market and Ginger Rabbit Cocktail Lounge shares the story behind Metzi’s, his new Italian wood-fired concept in Italian Village. We talk about the power of approachable food, creating emotionally intelligent kitchens, the myth of house-made pasta, and why he refuses to put TVs in his restaurants. It’s a conversation about building a better food scene—one ember-charred Caesar salad at a time.