Michael Chernow: Food Entrepreneur Who Turned Comfort Foods Into Restaurant Obsessions

The Chat

Think about your last delicious meal at a restaurant. How did it make you feel?

Restaurants are the lifeblood of creativity, community, and storytelling - and these days, they’re an art form whose importance we’re all too aware of. This week, we’ll hear from Michael Chernow, a restaurant entrepreneur and storyteller extraordinaire. Michael is the co-founder of the famous NYC restaurant, The Meatball Shop, and his latest spot, Seamores, a sustainable seafood restaurant - among other food and wellness ventures.

In today’s chat, we’ll dive into the why and how behind creating a restaurant in one of the most competitive cities in the world - New York - and Michael’s exact process from idea to rocket-growth of launching not one, but two, successful restaurants that have been featured everywhere from Jimmy Fallon to Chelsea Handler, have tens of thousands of fans, cookbooks and more.

This episode is quite nostalgic for any foodies, restaurant lovers, or even NYC dwellers (past or present!) who are currently craving the coziness, comfort, and community that bubble up inside of your favorite restaurant. Whether you’re curious about becoming a serial entrepreneur, or simply enjoy whipping up a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs - our chat with Michael reminds us all that we can create, even in the most difficult (simple) of moments.

Some stuff we also cover:

Michael’s career path in the restaurant industry - from delivery boy to bartender to founder - and how he navigated each step

Why storytelling and having empathy are extremely important skills in the hospitality world - and how you can cultivate them

How the process of opening a restaurant has changed over the past decade

The importance of culture in creating connected and long-lasting organizations - and why any entrepreneur should tap into it

Resources you might want to check out:

Restaurants mentioned: The Meatball Shop, Seamores (others: Candle Cafe, Frank)

Social media: @michaelchernow


Website: michaelchernow.com

As always, this podcast is sponsored by:

Daydreamers. At Daydreamers, we’re redefining how we all spend our free time and making space for adults to build creative hobbies. Get on the waitlist to meet us IRL at: daydreamerspace.com.