Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Bob Aungst.
Hi Chef Bob, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The “Chef Bob Story” really started at an early age, as I grew up cooking with, and learning from, my mother and grandmother. I learned that cooking for friends, family and loved ones was a way to show your love and appreciation for them. It was a creative outlet, a place to try new things and experiment with flavors and techniques. My passion for cooking grew as I saw the way people responded to the way I cooked and, more importantly, to what I would coin “The Art of Entertaining” 45 years later. “The Art of Entertaining” is a philosophy that centers on the importance of details. In every handcrafted event I create, the smallest of details have an impact on the overall experience. The handwritten invitations, the guest list, the style of service, the menu – everything – has an impact on the overall experience and they are the reason for my incredible success. My entire career I have been an entrepreneur. I have been blessed to work with countless incredibly gifted, talented and passionate people and it has always been my philosophy to do all I can to lift people up and help them succeed. Nothing is more rewarding to me than to see a person’s personal or professional success and know that I had a hand in helping them achieve that success. To me, that is the definition of a day well spent.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If you can, visualize in your mind a road that starts out wide, clear and beautifully paved. That’s the first mile of the road to entrepreneurship. That’s how my road started. As I traveled down that road, it got more narrow, way foggier and was suddenly full of unseen potholes and unexpected turns. My road was not smooth or predictable and it was, at times, pure terror and absolutely treacherous. However, if I were to find myself standing in front of that very same road today, knowing what would happen along the way, I’d still gladly go down it. Because along the way I’ve created some wonderful memories, helped many people get closer to their own dreams and goals and I’ve also grown into a person I’m very honored and blessed to be today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I was interviewed many years ago and I was asked “What’s your specialty, Chef?” Every Chef has a specialty. I thought long and hard about the answer and concluded that my specialty is “Creating unique and memorable experiences that are centered on food and beverage”. The specific cuisine, the style of cooking and the venue aren’t what make me different and unique. What sets me apart is my dedication to creating an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression with the guest long after the event is over. I’m extremely proud of my many achievements over my career. I have had the honor of serving four US Presidents, royalty and countless dignitaries, celebrities and athletes around the world over my nearly 30 year career. I am a corporate Chef for over a dozen premium brands and I’m even a certified mega yacht Chef. But what I’m proudest of in all my years of being an entrepreneur is that I have also built an incredible coffee company that supports small, family owned businesses around the world, and right here in Central Florida.
When you buy a bag of Chef Bob’s Coffee, you help the smallest family coffee farmers around the globe survive. You help a small, family importer ship it to Florida so that yet another small, local family can roast the coffee right here in Orlando. The Bourbon Barrels we rest the beans in come from another small, family business in a little town in Texas. That cup of coffee you enjoy each morning helps more than five small family businesses, including myself, live the American dream and, frankly, I couldn’t be more proud of anything than I am of that achievement.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important thing I’ve learned along this journey is that are many people who are smarter, more talented, have less challenges and greater resources than I and that there always will be. I’ve learned to embrace those people, to help them along their journey any way I can and to join forces with them for the greater good. I’ve also learned what my personal strengths are and to embrace them, while at the same time recognizing what challenges me and seeking out opportunities to be a better version of myself each day.
Contact Info:
- Email: CB@ChefBobAungst.com
- Website: www.ChefBobAungst.com / www.ChefBobsCoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefbobaungst/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefBobAungst
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCekTD8zHU9_J3MG9N1T3zkA
- Other: Clubhouse: @chefbob linktr.ee/chefbob
Suggest a Story: OrlandoVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
