What really keeps people in the restaurant industry after walk-in breakdowns, 16-hour shifts, and late-night chaos?
In this raw and unfiltered roundtable talk, six real restaurant industry pros from Brasero, a West Town eatery in Chicago, get brutally honest about the passion, pressure, and purpose behind staying in one of the most demanding and rewarding industries.
You’ve seen The Bear. The breakdowns, blowups, and beautifully plated dishes under impossible pressure, but you don’t always see what happens when the cameras are off: the unspoken loyalty, the team rituals, and the true grind of restaurant life.
At the heart of it all is family meal, a sacred, daily ritual that brings everyone together. By the end of this conversation, you’ll understand why true hospitality feels like a lost art and how Brasero’s team is fighting to bring it back through mutual respect and incredible dedication.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW.
Filming Location: Brasero in Chicago, Illinois (https://www.braserochicago.com)
Featuring: Host Ari Bendersky, Executive Chef & Owner John Manion, General Manager Anna Broughton, Chef de Cuisine Adam Meyer, Wine Director Alex Cuper, and Sous Chef Brandon Bonilla
Produced By: @BottleRocketMediaChicago (bottlerocketmedia.net)
About Family Meal
Family Meal is a first-of-its-kind roundtable series featuring real restaurant professionals. You’ll hear chefs, GMs, sommeliers, waiters, BOH, FOH, and industry insiders have raw, unfiltered conversations about the business, culture, and passion that fuel the restaurant world.
More than just another food show, Family Meal is a love letter to the restaurant industry. It celebrates its triumphs, unpacks challenges, and pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes realities that few see. Hosted on location inside real restaurants, each episode captures the pulse of the kitchen and gives voice to the people who make unforgettable dining experiences possible.
