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Season 11 continues with a story that brings together food, family, and fearless creativity.
When her mom once suggested turning her newsletters into a book, Joan Tuaño Rumsey brushed it off. Years later, that tiny spark became Steak Simplified, a thoughtful and beautifully written guide that makes people fall in love with meat, education, and culture all over again.
From growing up in the Philippines to helping her parents build La Carne in Abu Dhabi, Joan’s story is rooted in heritage, grit, and purpose. She talks about the early days of her family business, the lessons from failure, and how she turned her passion for learning into a legacy project that now sits on shelves across the world.
This episode dives into what it really takes to write, publish, and share your story when no one’s handing you a blueprint. It’s a masterclass in self-belief, storytelling, and staying true to your craft.
Proudly brought to you by our Season 11 sponsor
👉 Potatoes USA
Potatoes USA represents America’s potato growers and is dedicated to inspiring chefs, home cooks, and food lovers around the world. From nutrition to creativity, they show why the humble potato is one of the most powerful ingredients in every kitchen.
Follow them here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potatogoodnessgcc/
Website: https://www.potatogoodnessgcc.com
What you will hear in this episode
• Childhood food memories from the Philippines
• How Abu Dhabi’s food scene shaped her early years
• The story behind her family’s butchery, La Carne
• What it takes to write and publish a cookbook from scratch
• Lessons from visiting cattle farms in Australia and New Zealand
• Why she wanted to make steak approachable for everyone
• The reality of rejection in publishing and what it taught her
• Planning a book launch while eight months pregnant
• Building a business rooted in education, not just sales
• Advice for aspiring authors who want to share their story
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:00 Growing up between the Philippines and Abu Dhabi
10:00 Food memories and early influences
15:00 How her father started the family business
25:00 Learning from failure and rebuilding
30:00 How the idea for Steak Simplified began
36:00 Research trips and learning from the source
44:00 The publishing process and facing rejection
49:00 Finding the right publisher and self-publishing model
55:00 The book launch and the power of community
1:01:00 Why education is the future of butchery
1:09:00 Quick fire: garlic, shawarma, and steak talk
1:12:00 Final reflections and advice for aspiring writers
Follow Joan Tuaño Rumsey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjoanrumsey/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joantuano/
Buy your guide for steak connoisseurs - https://www.steaksimplified.com/order
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpaccheco
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If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who believes that food, like life, is best served with heart. ✨
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