Imagine a job with no vacation days or benefits. Envision standing on your feet for 14 hours a day with few breaks. Add to that the myriad responsibilities of small business ownership: finances, social media, marketing, customer service, supply and demand … these daily demands are just the tip of the iceberg for chefs, a group of individuals fueled by their love of food, their passion for service and their incessant desire to continue learning.
In fact, for female chefs – some of whom do all of the above while raising families – the commitment to a lifestyle in hospitality is challenging, to say the least.
On this week’s podcast, we talk with AJ Dixon, chef and owner of Bay View’s Lazy Susan, about her day-to-day life as a female chef, mother and business owner. Along the way, we explore the challenges and rewards of the industry, including balancing daily responsibilities, relationships and business ownership. We delve into the very human struggle of balancing career and family and Dixon shares candid stories about her journey from a young, single chef to a married mother and full-time business owner.
Listen in!
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Got an idea for a topic we should consider for FoodCrush? Want to offer feedback on our latest episode? Email me at lori@staff.onmilwaukee.com. You can also give @FoodCrushMKE a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
