Episode 22

Chef Chris Shepherd: how he helped change the landscape of the Houston culinary scene (S8/Ep.22)

Published on: 1st March, 2023

Chris Shepherd is the former Chef/Owner of award-winning Underbelly Restaurant (and Underbelly Hospitality), which he opened in 2012. He’s been awarded “10 Best New Chefs in America” by Food & Wine in 2013, a James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Southwest” in 2014, Robb Report's “Chef of the Year” in 2019, and Underbelly was named one of the best new restaurants in the country by both Bon Appetit and Esquire. In this episode, Shepherd shares why he has so much love for the Houston food community, why he recently decided to step away from Underbelly Hospitality, and his goal in focusing attention on the well-being of fellow industry workers. His Southern Smoke Foundation has distributed more than $10.4 million to food and beverage industry workers in need, via their Emergency Relief Fund. Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the Plate… with Chef Chris Shepherd.


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About the Podcast

Beyond the Plate
Social Impact in the Culinary World
Join Andrew “Kappy” Kaplan as he sits down in-person with the world’s culinary elite to explore their journey into the food industry and the social impact they have made in their community. Every episode will share inspiring stories of what it means to be in today’s hospitality industry.

About your host

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Andrew Kaplan