Today on our episode #440 of All in the Industry, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, which took place on May 28, 2026 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. This was the second edition of the North America ranking, following its inaugural event in Las Vegas in September 2025, which was launched to shine a spotlight on the best dining experiences and culinary talent across the USA, Canada and parts of the Caribbean.

Congratulations to John Shields, Karen Urie Shields and their team at Smyth in Chicago for being named the #1 Restaurant in North America 2026! And congratulations to all of the chefs & restaurants recognized on this year's list, as well as special awards. So happy for all of you. Loved being a part of the celebration!

Today's show features interviews with the following guests who Shari spoke with during the Awards & ancillary events:

Fidel Caballero, Corima, NYC (#36) - Meet the Chefs
Paul Carmichael, Kabawa, NYC (#14) - #50BestTalks; #chefwisechef
Alon and Emily Shaya, Saba & Safta’s Table, New Orleans (EP 181)
Fredrik Berselius, Aska, NYC (#23)
Matt Conroy, Isabel Coss & The Popal Group, Pascual, Washington DC (#42)
Ana Castro, Acamaya, New Orleans (#30)
Ti Martin, Commander’s Palace, New Orleans
Chris Hannah, Jewel of the South (NA’s 50 Best Bars #6; The World’s 50 Best Bars #44)
Marc-Olivier Frappier, Mon Lapin, Montreal (#5)
Ramsey Diba & Daeik Kim, Jungsik, NYC (#18)
John Shields, Smyth, Chicago (#1)

For the full list & more information, go to theworlds50best.com/northamerica & follow @theworlds50best #northamericas50best & #50bestrestaurants.

Today's show also includes Shari's PR tip to work hard; & Solo Dining experience at Emeril's (#20), a 2 Michelin star restaurant helmed by E.J. Lagasse & founded by Emeril Lagasse (2026 Icon Award), located in the heart of the Warehouse District of New Orleans, offering an elegant tasting menu dining experience. (1:06:04)

Thanks to 50 Best, Becca PR and New Orleans & Company.

Find all of our new & archived shows at AllintheIndustry.com. Listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe & leave us a rating/review.

Follow us @allindustry & @sharibayer on Instagram, & "All in the Industry" on Facebook & our YouTube Channel.

Interested in collaborating with us? Please reach out via our contact page at AllintheIndustry.com, or on social. We'd love to hear from you!

Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon), available wherever books are sold. #chefwisebook

Thanks, as always, for being a part of All in the Industry®!

Today on our episode #439 of All in the Industry, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show on South Beach Wine & Food Festival® (SOBEWFF), celebrating its 25th Anniversary!

The festival took from February 19-22, 2026, in South Beach, Miami, FL, and Shari was thrilled to return for its big milestone year. Congratulations and thanks to Lee Schrager, the founder and executive director of SOBEWFF, and everyone involved in the amazing production. Loved being a part of the celebration!

Shari's guests, who she spoke with at the Tribute Dinner honoring Michelle Bernstein and Sacha Lichine hosted by Master of Ceremonies Bobby Flay, on February 21st at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, include Bobby, Michael Symon, Scott Conant, Lee, Timon Balloo, and Michelle; plus, Shari sat down with Zac Young of PieCaken Bakeshop, to talk about his career and role at the festival. Many thanks to everyone who joined Shari on this special episode, and congratulations on all of your impressive careers! To learn more, visit sobewff.org and follow @SOBEWFF/#SOBEWFF. (11:56)

Today's show also includes Shari's PR tip to stay curious; & #SoloDining experience at Boia De, an intimate, chef-driven restaurant in Miami that specializes in modern American cooking with a strong Italian influence. (58:21)

Thanks to Bilt for supporting this episode. Learn more at biltdining.com/shari

Find all of our new & archived shows at AllintheIndustry.com. Listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe & leave us a rating/review.

Follow us @allindustry & @sharibayer on Instagram, & "All in the Industry" on Facebook & our YouTube Channel.

Interested in collaborating with us? Please reach out via our contact page at AllintheIndustry.com, or on social. We'd love to hear from you!

Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon), available wherever books are sold. #chefwisebook

Thanks, as always, for being a part of All in the Industry®!

Today on our episode #438 of All in the Industry, Shari Bayer's guest is Matt Orlando, chef and owner of ESSE in Copenhagen, Denmark, his latest restaurant focusing on Regenerative Organic practices in farming as its starting point. Shari was thrilled to be on location at ESSE in early February to chat with Matt about his career and new restaurant, and get to experience dining there as well. (4:28)

A California native, Matt worked at some of the world’s most decorated kitchens, including Aureole and Per Se in NYC, and Noma in Copenhagen, where he was the restaurant’s first chef de cuisine before opening his sustainably-focused, fine dining restaurant, Amass, in Copenhagen in 2013 along with wife Julie.

After an impressive 10-year run, Amass closed in 2022; and that same year, Matt embarked on a new project, opening AIR (Awareness, Impact, Responsibility) in Singapore, where he applied his conscious cooking to a tropical palate of ingredients. He returned to Copenhagen to open his dream restaurant, ESSE, which name means “to be" or "to exist" or "to self-reflect,” expressing the circular cuisine that has been at the core ethos that he has been championing throughout his career.

Matt is also the co-founder of Endless Food Co., focusing on food system sustainability and its alternative chocolate, THIC. In addition, he is a contributor to Shari's book, Chefwise, and a past guest of our show – episode #213 (April 2019).

Many thanks to Matt for the wonderful conversation and hospitality at ESSE. Shari can't wait to return!

Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to self-reflect; and Solo Dining experience at Kadeau, head chef and co-owner Nicolai Nørregaard's New Nordic tasting menu restaurant in Copenhagen rooted in Bornholm, which has two Michelin stars & one green star, & is currently #41 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025. Shari loved returning to Kadeau and grateful for the warm welcome back. (48:04)

Thanks to Bilt for supporting this episode. Learn more at biltdining.com/shari

Find all of our new & archived shows at AllintheIndustry.com. Listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe & leave us a rating/review.

Follow us @allindustry & @sharibayer on Instagram, & "All in the Industry" on Facebook & our YouTube Channel.

Interested in collaborating with us? Please reach out via our contact page at AllintheIndustry.com, or on social. We'd love to hear from you!

Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon), available wherever books are sold. #chefwisebook

Thanks, as always, for being a part of All in the Industry®!