King of the Misfit Toys: A Chef’s Playbook for Chaos | Chef Eric LeVine - 315 Main Street

Welcome back to Staying Hungry, the podcast where restaurant life gets real.

In this episode - “King of the Misfit Toys: A Chef’s Playbook for Chaos” - hosts Michael D’Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo sit down with award-winning chef, author, and entrepreneur Eric LeVine of 317 Main Street. Known for his no-BS honesty, Chef Eric pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to thrive in hospitality.

From the dish that sparked his culinary passion at age six, to mastering social media as a tool for inspiration, to embracing AI in restaurants, Chef Eric delivers raw insight, big laughs, and hard-earned wisdom. He also opens up about resilience through personal struggles, why leadership is about building foundations, and his vision to empower chefs by creating opportunities for them to own their future.

If you’re a restaurant owner, chef, or anyone who’s ever lived the grind of hospitality, this one’s packed with lessons you won’t forget.

01:00 Eric Levine's Early Inspirations

01:57 Mentorship and Learning

02:35 Creating a Home-like Experience

05:19 Challenges and Successes

07:06 Partnerships and Collaborations

15:38 Life Coaching and Helping Others

21:12 Personal Reflections and Writing a Book

24:22 Diverse Experiences in the Restaurant Industry

26:20 Customer Service and Consistency

33:51 Mentors and Inspirations

37:56 Battling Cancer and Winning 'Chopped'

41:54 Running the New York Marathon

50:43 Balancing Work and Personal Life

55:50 Guiding the Next Generation

01:00:41 Understanding Ego Death

01:04:14 Creating and Publishing Cookbooks

01:07:01 The Journey of Forking Good

01:14:59 The Farmingdale Story

01:22:47 Future Plans and Family Involvement

01:24:52 Passion for the Culinary Industry