Episode 19

Chef Evan Funke: How Discipline - and a Plane Ticket - Changed His Life (S12/Ep.19)

Published on: 4th February, 2026

Evan Funke is a chef, restaurateur, author, and torchbearer of Italian culinary tradition. Known for his obsessive dedication to pasta, he’s behind some of the most celebrated restaurants in LA and beyond. In this episode, we talk about the power of mentorship, the tension between preserving heritage and forging new paths, and why Evan chose a harder, more disciplined road in his craft. He shares how years of focused practice and repetition- not ego- continue to define his approach in the kitchen. He also shares the importance of building community within the restaurant, and how that belief drives both his team culture and his support for organizations like World Central Kitchen, Baby2Baby, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and No Kid Hungry. Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the Plate… with Chef Evan Funke.


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About the Podcast

Beyond the Plate
Culinary Legends, Giving Back
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