Kitchen Trenches

About Kitchen Trenches

Kitchen Trenches is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity, relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources.

Publisher

Amber Chase

Category

arts · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Apr 2026

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Episode 7 - Kevin Hernandez of South of Brooklyn

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Kevin Hernandez who is the Owner and Operator of South of Brooklyn, a food truck in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with 15 years of experience in the industry. This month's episode is different. In American kitchens, language is a major factor that affects both individual and group experiences, and shapes the overall culture of a workplace. According to the Association and the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance's 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion report, about one in four members of the restaurant workforce is Hispanic, serving in many roles, from entry-level through ownership. This, naturally means, a fully English-speaking kitchen is a rare occurrence in the food industry. Spanish-speaking coworkers have shaped my personal experience in such a beautiful way and what is often considered a language-barrier has served as a personal reminder for me to listen to my coworkers carefully and with sincerity and to never shy away from the discomfort of trying to speak a language I am not fluent in. So, in this episode I quite awkwardly stumble my way through this interview, mixing in both English and Spanish to give a real-time, real-life example of how these conversations often go and prove that they are worth the while. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:18 Guest Check: 13:33 Camaraderie: 18:30 Family Meal: 20:50 Why: 24:52 Episode Shout Outs: South of Brooklyn 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report Ethan Hawke, Morgan Freeman, U2 Bill Murray Hal's Seltzer Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly. If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Episode 6- Lynnette Marrero, Mixologist Representing Justice for Migrant Women

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Lynnette Marrero, the co-founder of Speed Rack (https://www.speed-rack.com/), a partner at Milly's Neighborhood Bar, and author of A Quick Drink: Winning Cocktails for Every Mood. She also helped launch Delola (https://delolalife.com/), is partner and liquid creative director for the non-alcoholic spirits company Aplós (https://www.aplos.world/), worked as national brand mixologist for Perrier Sparkling Water and San Pellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages, and is here representing the organization, Justice for Migrant Women (https://justice4women.org/). Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:06 Guest Check: 14:11 Camaraderie: 19:36 Family Meal: 23:02 Why: 25:42 On Justice for Migrant Women Justice for Migrant Women (https://justice4women.org/) champions migrant and rural women's right to live and work with dignity, and without fear of sexual violence. Our vision is a world with equity, dignity, and safety for all migrant and rural women. Donate to Justice for Migrant Women Follow Justice for Migrant Women on Instagram The Humans Who Feed Us Campaign Raizado Festival Healthy and Safe Workplace Guide Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly. If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

3. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Episode 5 - Faith Morely of counter-

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Faith Morley who is the Executive Pastry Chef at counter- in Charlotte, North Carolina with 10 years of experience in the industry. We discuss pre-shift hot dogs, the intangible zen that comes with EDM music, and Auguste Escoffier. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:20 Guest Check: 11:24 Camaraderie: 16:58 Family Meal: 18:34 Why: 24:30 Episode Shout Outs: counter- Michael Myers John Gamble Dozo in Charlotte Copain Bakery Peppervine Culinary Institute of America Alenia Sam Hart Jay-Z OutKast Prince David Bowie ABBA My Bloody Valentine Green Day Anthony Bourdain Rondeau pot Legion Hot Dogs Ella Cleary Tall Boy of Cherry Coke Hannah Montana Gucci Mane EDM Zen Auguste Escoffier The Bulb Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly. If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

4. 

   3 Jul 2026

   Episode 4 - Dominique of The Hope Farm

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Dominique who is the Farm Manager at The Hope Farm (https://thehopefarm.com/) in Fairhope Alabama with 16 years of experience in the industry. We discuss the ups and downs of working with unpredictable systems, finding a partner in the industry, customers throwing ice cubes, and shrimp who listen to Enya. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:38 Guest Check: 11:29 Camaraderie: 20:03 Family Meal: 24:18 Why: 29:28 Episode Shout Outs: The Hope Farm (https://thehopefarm.com/) Dylan and Kaitlyn (kind friends!) Hope Community: Nurturing Unity and Relationships through Food, Healing, and Education Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly. If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

5. 

   5 Jun 2026

   Episode 3 - Jesse Legg and Taylor Harris of Bayonet

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guests are Jesse Legg and Taylor Harris who both serve as Chef de Cuisine at Bayonet in Birmingham, Alabama. We discuss tackling whole fish butchery, the burger rush that lasted over a decade, hanging up the apron on post-shift bar hopping, mentorship, and the essential flavor palates of sour candy. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:52 Guest Check: 12:55 Camaraderie: 19:13 Family Meal: 23:06 Why: 29:54 Episode Shout Outs: Bayonet Helen Rob McDaniel (Owner and Executive Chef of Bayonet and Helen) Odette Josh Quick from Odette Spring House Sour Skittles Swedish Fish Sloppy Joes Team Shout Outs Rob McDaniel, Owner and Executive Chef Candace Foster, Pastry Chef Daniel Goslin, General Manager and Director of Operations Coleman Self, Sous Chef Jason Davis, Chef de Cuisine Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly.If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

6. 

   30 Apr 2026

   Episode 2 - Madeline Lee of Noko and Kase x Noko

   Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Madeline Lee, the Assistant Manager at Noko (https://www.nokonashville.com/) and Kase x Noko (https://www.kasexnoko.com/) in Nashville, Tennessee with over 11 years of experience in the industry. We discuss Chick-fil-A culture, the best options for a Dole Whip float, and how mentors within the industry shaped her personal character. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:46 Guest Check: 10:37 Camaraderie: 18:22 Family Meal: 21:42 Why: 26:02 Episode Shout Outs: Noko and Kase x Noko in Nashville Dole Whip Nashville Roots Gardening, LLC Cosecha Community Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly. If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

7. 

   30 Apr 2026

   Episode 1 - Aly Skiko, Sommelier

   *Please note that for our first episode we experienced some minor audio difficulties that affected overall audio quality. Stay tuned as we get better about this each time we record! Kitchen Trenches (https://www.kitchentrenches.com/) is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity,  relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. This episode's guest is Aly Skiko, a sommelier in Charleston, South Carolina with over 12 years of experience in the industry. We discuss everything from AI's infiltration of the somm scene, to Aly's journey of becoming a "cellar rat", to her buttery, tableside voice. Time Stamps: Introduction: 0:50 Guest Check: 5:16 Camaraderie: 12:00 Family Meal: 16:31 Why: 21:40 Episode Shout Outs: Vern's in Charleston – watch that Resy. Southern Smoke Foundation (https://southernsmoke.org/) If you're a listener in need of support, we encourage you to explore the aid opportunities available from Southern Smoke Foundation. Southern Smoke provides access to no-cost mental health services and emergency relief funding for food and beverage workers nationwide. If you're a listener who wants to continually support the backbone of our food systems and the people behind the stories we share here, consider donating to Southern Smoke via the link in our show notes. We'll catch you in the trenches next time with new episodes airing monthly.If you like the show, share with friends, visit our website, tip your servers 30%, and tune in monthly for new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

8. 

   3 Apr 2026

   Kitchen Trenches Trailer

   Do you remember the first time you cried in a walk in? Are your heels permanently indented from slip-resistant rubber mats? Have you now converted all of your drinking glassware to plastic quart containers? The food industry is a community based in tenacity and driven by passion. And it's not for the faint of heart. While most food podcasts will have you hooked on celebrity appearances and buzzy brands, we're deliberately taking a step out of the limelight. Kitchen Trenches is a podcast sharing the untold stories of the food industry to promote authenticity, relatability, and direct listeners to supportive resources. Join me, Amber Chase, and get to know the people behind your food: Line cooks, bartenders, sommeliers, bakers, servers, and dishwashers. Learn more at kitchentrenches.com and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Kitchen Trenches

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.