This episode is brought to you by FultonFishMarket.Com, the most trusted name in seafood.  Visit the official website, www.fultonfishmarket.com and explore their incredible selection of seafood and let your clients experience quality that has captivated palates for generations. Use code PRIVATECHEF at checkout to get 15% off your first order. In this week's episode, we are joined by Chef Christopher "Tony" Dodson. With a notable career spanning roles as a Food Network Chopped champion, chef consultant, private chef, and military veteran, Chef Tony has embarked on a remarkable professional trajectory. His culinary journey, inspired by figures like Bobby Flay, led him from attending culinary school to working in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant and ultimately triumphing on Chopped. Now an accomplished private chef, Chef Tony continues to exude his passion for food. Reflecting on his experiences in Okinawa, Japan, he fondly recalls being introduced to a diverse array of cuisines and the bounty of fresh seafood. Tune in to hear Chef Tony's inspiring story and his aspirations to be a role model for young chefs. Listen to this brand new episode of The Private Chef Podcast on: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-military-to-culinary-an-interview-with/id1648363134?i=1000636797326 Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/episode/77LQHqIzHK9UGEUifsNl90 Youtube - https://youtu.be/2POCGU9-VM8 Connect with Chef Tony Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-dodson-88506810b/ Website - https://chefchrisd.com/ Time Stamp 00:01:37 Exposure to new ingredients and culinary experiences 00:05:35 Passion and hard work pay off 00:15:25 Intention and focus are key 00:17:26 Passion and dedication lead to success 00:27:31 Pressure and feedback can humble 00:40:28 Matching chef's skills with client's preferences 00:46:12 Developing relationships through food 00:50:45 Importance of attitude in work 00:59:41 Relationships are key in finding opportunities 01:01:38 Finding value in your skills 01:07:19 Opportunities in private chef positions 01:20:16 Personalizing culinary portfolio Quotes "The reality is how we feel within ourselves translates into what ends up on the plate too." "It's nothing like just walking into that kitchen. Like my mind blown was every every single day, my mind was blown. Every day, pushing that I've never worked so hard in my life." "To understand, if I apply the same skill set, maybe on a single night for a client at their house, and it's their birthday party, they're almost willing to give me maybe two weeks of my salary in a single night." "If you can get to the three to five year mark, it will solidify your resume like nothing else." "Get to a point where you're so comfortable in your skin, from your resume, to kind of the cover letter, to the photos you show, that expresses who you want to be every minute of the day the most." "You're doing something that a mentor loves because there's somebody who is going well beyond what they are supposed to do and they're hungry and you clearly showed interest in growing and growing fast with a lot of energy behind it." #privatechefpodcast #privatechefs #chefs #cheflife #culinary #culinaryjourney