Restaurant Ready

Celebrity chef Damaris Phillips shares how she’s built a thriving food media career that lasts while staying deeply connected to her culinary roots.

From winning Food Network Star to launching a cookbook, a picnic club, and a production company, Phillips opens up about evolving her career on her own terms. She gets candid about building confidence on social media, creating authentic content, and the reality of entrepreneurship in hospitality today. With humor, honesty, and practical wisdom, Phillips offers a blueprint for how chefs and creatives can build meaningful, sustainable businesses while staying true to who they are.

Takeaways
  • Building a food career often means redefining what “success” looks like.
  • Consistency and clear intention matter more than flash when growing online.
  • Social media requires thoughtful content repurposing.
  • Community-focused business models can drive both profit and purpose.
  • Teaching and production work can coexist with creative cooking careers.
  • Content creation is now a key part of hospitality, not just a nice-to-have.
  • Business partnerships rooted in aligned values lead to long-term success.
  • Boundaries and focus are essential for building a sustainable business.

Want to connect directly with industry thought leaders like today’s guest?

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What is Restaurant Ready?

RESTAURANT READY: THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Restaurant Ready is your backstage pass to the inner workings of the hospitality industry’s brightest stars. This podcast promises authentic discussions with the most influential chefs, restaurateurs, and food media experts. Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Matt Jennings, along with the MAJC team, helm this weekly podcast.

In each episode, industry veterans sit down for candid conversations revealing the honest stories behind their achievements, exploring the strategies, philosophies, and lessons learned along the way that shaped their path to success. Learn from the guests’ unique formula for creating consistent positive results in their business and personal lives.
Restaurant Ready delivers unparalleled value for restaurant owners, chefs, and managers looking to elevate their careers and businesses.

Listen in for a unique, no-holds-barred exploration of what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of hospitality. With each episode, we will discuss the state of the industry, the challenges we face and how to approach them, and ideas from the experts on how to best prepare yourself for success. You'll walk away with new ideas, and inspiration, as well as a greater sense of community and support as you drive your own success story.