We Feed Them

a food industry podcast

EP 3: The Holiday Release: A Conversation with Jamie Amador, a Mentor & Michiana Native

Merry Christmas from the “We Feed Them” kitchen! In our first ever holiday special, Sean and Steve are joined by Seans longtime mentor: Executive Chef Jamie Amador (aka Don Jaime). This isn’t your average “silent night” weโ€™re diving deep into 40 years of kitchen grit, from the legendary Bonnie Dune to the “Verbal Fire” of high-volume steakhouses.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The Finger Flap Incident: Jamie recounts a gruesome meat-slicer injury on the final day of a cross-country move to Tucson.

  • Donโ€™t Bite the Cook: The “Red Flag” story of a KFC coworker who took “drumstick” too literally.

  • Lightning in a Bottle: Why “handfuls and pinches” are the enemy of notoriety, and why Jamie preaches keeping a meticulous kitchen journal.

  • Factory Floor Horrors: Steve and Jamie compare notes on food manufacturing, from 55 gallon drums of mayo to the mindless soul sucking of professional donut flipping.

  • The Christmas Prototype: We taste-test Jamieโ€™s latest creation a Beet & Chili Crisp Deviled Egg, and discuss the science of the “endorphin rush.”

Whether youโ€™re in your Christmas pajamas or grinding out a double on the line, this episode is a masterclass in staying consistent when the weeds get high.

ย 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and keep feeding them.