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Chef Opal Poullard’s journey from the military to the culinary world is an inspiring tale of resilience and dedication. She shares her experiences, from competing on Food Network's Chopped to her upcoming goals of fostering the next generation of chefs through mentorship.

• Chef Opal's military background and its influence on her culinary career

• Transitioning from the military to competing in culinary competitions

• The importance of mentorship and training in the culinary industry

• Global culinary influences and how they shape Chef Opal's cooking style

• Future plans for a cooking school and community engagement

Look for Chef Opal at the U.S. Culinary Open at the NAFEM Show in Atlanta February 26th-28th.

Follow her IG @chef_opal_

Hot off the press! Metro is thrilled to introduce a brand-new way to nominate your favorite eatery for the 2025 Kitchen Storage Makeover, now with a whopping $100,000 value! Learn more on their IG @metrofoodservice

Introducing the SupraCut System - the automated solution that enhances safety, quality, and efficiency, cutting up to 120 perfect citrus wedges per minute, 6 times faster than manual. Patented tech delivers uniform slices, reducing waste and eliminating plastic, while the hygienic, contactless design lowers contamination and injuries, integrating seamlessly to transform your operations and improve profitability - get started at SupraCut.com and ask about risk-free trials.

The following brands and companies help us continue supporting the food industry - have a look below!

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Walk-In Talk Podcast

Where kitchen culture meets raw storytelling.

Hosted by Carl Fiadini, founder of Walk-In Talk Media, this #1 Apple-ranked food podcast dives deep with chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, and frontline pros. From trade shows to short films, we bring the food world to life—one honest conversation at a time.

We’re the Official Podcast Partner for the NY, CA & FL Restaurant Shows, Pizza Tomorrow Summit, and U.S. Culinary Open.

Brand Partners:

RAK Porcelain USA

Metro Foodservice

SupraCut Systems

Aussie Select

Crab Island Seafood

Pass the Honey

The Burnt Chef Project

Citrus America

Walk-In Talk Media proudly serves as the North American media partner for The Burnt Chef Project, supporting mental health in hospitality.

📩 Partner or pitch a story: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Auto Citrus Slicer Streamlines Prep

Boost efficiency and cut waste with SupraCut's automated citrus slicer for streamlined prep.

Aussie Select - Fully cooked, premium Australian lamb

Fully cooked, premium Australian lamb—ready to serve and packed with clean flavor.

RAK Porcelain USA -Tableware

We use RAK for all in-studio tableware—clean, durable, and designed for chefs.

Citrus America

Citrus America – Commercial-grade juicing systems built for speed and yield.

Metro Foodservice Solutions

Kitchen and back-of-house systems for better flow and function.