Episode 78: Chef Eli Collins of a.kitchen + a.bar

All too often, it's the loud, brash, and cocky chefs that snatch the headlines while the truly dedicated, food-obsessed chefs toil away in their kitchens cooking their asses off and calculating every move. In a restaurant world dominated by big egos, Chef Eli Collins of a.kitchen quietly lets his food speak for itself.  Eli is what you might call a chef's chef, which means that the admiration and respect he garners from his peers within the industry sometimes outweighs the attention he receives from high-profile food publications. As you'll discover in today's episode, Eli's humble, soft-spoken demeanor is matched only by his fiercely loyal dedication to the craft of cooking. Under his leadership, a.kitchen in the bustling heart of Philadelphia, has become a must-visit culinary destination in the city and is considered one of the country's top restaurants (if their laundry list of awards is anything to go by!) Tuning in, you'll gain some deeper insight into how Chef Eli thinks, how he goes about balancing his family life with his passion, and how he stays relevant—whether that relevance is among his peers or according to Philadelphia Magazine, which named him a Best of Philly Chef in August of 2022. For all this and more, including Chef Eli's advice for young chefs taking the next step in their careers, you won't want to miss this episode of The Chef Radio Podcast! Topics discussed in this episode: What Chef Eli is focused on right now Reflecting on being named Best Chef by Philadelphia Magazine A look at Eli's trajectory and his early days in Philly The rise and fall of the Plaza Hotel's famed Oak Room The impact that Chef Daniel Boulud had on Eli's career Funny stories and pivotal moments involving food critic Frank Bruni Why haute cuisine isn't necessarily about the food What Eli learned from his time at DBGB in NYC The incredible value of learning by teaching Eli's introduction to French charcuterie and pâtés Insight into Eli's phenomenal red curry chicken liver toast Balancing great ideas and techniques with reliable service The relationship between work, ambition, and family for chef parents The kind of culture that Eli strives to create at a.kitchen What Eli means when he advises young chefs to take their time You can connect with Eli on Instagram. Learn more about a.kitchen and a.bar by visiting their website here, or stay up to date with their ever-evolving menu by following them on Instagram. Head to our website for more episodes of The Chef Radio Podcast and connect with us on Instagram!