An Emmy- award winning chef on our right to rest and recover
I must admit that I love to interview celebrity chefs. You see, of all my talents I have been told by others that I possess, my prowess in the kitchen is not one of of them. In fact, if I ever would dare ask my kids what they remember most about their childhood meals, I fear they might say, “those little white boxes of Chinese food on the counter.” Furthermore, when I first got married, I decided to surprise my husband by broiling a steak. I must have slammed the oven door so hard that it fell behind a pipe, and was never to be found, ever again.
That said, and not to totally undersell myself, I do make a mean hard boiled egg. But I wisely leave cuisine creativity to the pros. And one such expert, whom I just had the honor to interview, is renowned chef Justin Sutherland, an “Iron Chef” champion, restaurateur, food personality, and 2023 Emmy winner for “Outstanding Culinary Host.” Even more impressive was that he triumphed over an outstanding field of nominees, the likes of Kardea Brown, Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, Emeril Lagasse, and Andrew Zimmern!
Most recently, Justin is using his renown to help his colleagues, having currently partnered with Theraflu on their Right to Rest & Recover campaign which champions the right for all workers to, well, rest and recover when sick. This campaign also has personal meaning for Justin since, early in his career, he was without access to a single paid sick day. Fast forward to more recently when, due to a serious boating accident, he had to spend three weeks in the ICU, followed by a three month stay in the hospital. He therefore experienced, firsthand, the impact of missing work due to an illness or injury and wanted to help his colleagues in the food service industry get the paid sick time they need and deserve.
Below is my inspirational interview with Chef Sutherland:
JWM: When you started on your career path, who encouraged you along the way?
JS: Actually, my initial path was not to be a chef; I was studying at a university but pivoted to culinary school. My father was the one who persuaded me to pursue my dreams of graduating from culinary school and becoming a chef. My family was always very encouraging.
JWM: What advice did you get early on that you still motivates you today?
JS: You’re never done learning. In my industry, there are so many different cuisines to learn, and the culinary world is constantly evolving. Kitchen dynamics have changed since I started out with less of the stereotypical angry chef throwing pans. Now you can taste in the food how chefs treat their workers. If you treat people with respect your food is going to turn out better.
JWM: How did you eventually get into reality shows?
JS: The first year I opened my restaurant, a producer from The Food Network reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in competing on Iron Chef. I actually hung up on him because I thought it was a friend playing a practical joke on me. I ended up winning and then I received a call from Bravo to do Top Chef, and the rest is history.
JWM: History indeed! What enabled you to become a Top Chef, an Iron Chef and, course, everything else you have done?
JS: If you make it onto a show like Top Chef or Iron Chef, you know that you have the talent. But on these shows you endure psychological and mental stresses. It takes tenacity, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to take criticisms and apply it to your next dish to succeed.
JWM: How have those shows changed your life?
JS: In so many aspects. I own my own restaurants and have been able to expand. I also have a national platform, which has enabled me to use my voice to advocate for issues that are important to me, like those highlighted by Theraflu’s Right to Rest & Recover Campaign.
JWM: We’ll talk about that in a minute. But you know, chef, most of us can only dream of winning an Emmy. And I’m not sure they give Emmy’s for making hard boiled eggs. So what is it like to actually win one?
JS: It’s been wild to win an Emmy. Due to the writer’s strike, I was nominated eight months ago, so it’s been a long process. I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition.
JWM: Considering the source of this question – and, therefore, the need for simplicity – what are a few easy-to-follow recipes or foods that people like myself, the hard boiled egg queen, included, can incorporate into their daily lives that are healthy and easy to create?
JS: It can be difficult or boring to munch on a carrot, or eat kale or a whole avocado. So take foods that aren’t the most fun to eat and incorporate them with something sweet to make delicious smoothies and juices. Those are my favorite simple recipes. I also encourage daily supplement use depending on personal health needs. It’s important to make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals.
JWM: Not that you would ever experience stress or anything doing a live TV show, of course, but if, hypothetically, you were to be in a stressful situation, how would you manage it?
JS: You know, my body absorbs stress, and it comes out as happiness. I’ve learned what my limits are and when it causes me to be ineffective. To manage stress I work out, meditate and turn off my phone for 24 hours at a time to disconnect and check in with myself.
JWM: I love that your body absorbs stress and it comes out as happiness. I have to remember that. Mine comes out as yelling and screaming like a lunatic. But I also will now try to meditate. I’ve always had trouble with it, though, because every time I try to relax and clear my mind, I think that maybe I’ve forgotten something, like to pick up a child at school. Or a roast in the oven. Although my husband would love it if there were actually a roast. Anywhere in the house, actually. Can you share your go-to mantras?
JS: Sure. Here are my most important ones: Don’t put too much weight on other people’s opinions, surround yourself with people who are better than you and try to partner with them instead of competing with them.
JWM: Great advice! Now let’s talk a little bit about the Right to Rest and Recover campaign. What does it involve?
JS: It’s a multi-year commitment to fight for workers’ rights to be paid sick time and advocate for policy change to help make paid sick time a right for all.
JWM: Amazing! When did it all begin?
JS: Since 2021 Theraflu has been championing the right to be paid sick time. Now in its third year, the Right to Rest & Recover campaign is continuing its support of workers in America by advocating for policy change to help make paid sick time a right for all.
JWM: Theraflu is also partnering with A Better Balance, a national legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing work-family justice and helping workers in America understand their rights related to paid sick time. What is that all about?
JS: A Better Balance urges people across the U.S. to sign a Federal petition to encourage legislators to support the Healthy Families Act, an important piece of legislation that would guarantee employees the right to earn paid sick time off. Finally, supporting the Right to Rest & Recover Fund has an additional $300,000 in microgrants so that eligible individuals and their families can apply online for the chance to receive a stipend that covers the expenses of one day of unpaid sick time.
JWM. As I mentioned earlier, you had a horrific injury which caused you to be in the ICU for three weeks, hospitalized for months and out of work for a year. Is that why you got involved in this campaign to begin with?
JS: Yes! I personally experienced the pressure of living paycheck to paycheck and being afraid to get sick because I couldn’t afford to miss work. This caused an added level of stress in an already high stress environment as it brought back vivid fears of my past. I now have the platform to help advocate for my colleagues in the food service industry to get the paid sick time they deserve.
JWM: This is fantastic, Chef ! Once again, what would you like everyone to know about the campaign?
JS: That too many workers in the U.S. must make the tough decision to stay home and take care of themselves or go to work sick. The fight to make rest a right is one that needs support from all sides – workers, business, advocacy experts and government. By joining forces with Theraflu, I can use my voice to spread awareness of this issue.
JWM: Where can we go to get more information?
JS: You can visit Theraflu.com/RightToRecover to sign the petition and support national paid sick time rights in the U.S., learn your specific rights as a worker in your state, and apply for a chance to receive a microgrant through the Rest & Recover Fund to cover the expenses of one unpaid sick day.
JWM: Finally, please leave us with some tips and tools for making us all look and feel Better Than Before.
JS: I truly believe health, both mentally and physically, should be a top priority for all. From a cold to a massive injury, it’s extremely important for our bodies to rest. One of the ways I feel better is through food and recipes with healthy ingredients rich in minerals and vitamins. And implementing meditation, exercise and staying in the present moment by disconnecting from my phone has also been a game changer for me and helped me to live a better life.
JWM: Thank you so much Chef Sutherland. This will help us all on our quest to feel Better Than Before, physically, emotionally and spiritually. And forget the hard boiled eggs. I will become a pro at making smoothies and juices. I promise!
