How a Spot on the Montel Williams Show Sparked a Restaurant Power Brand for Chef Adrianne Calvo

Adrianne Calvo is a restaurateur and content creator who turned a cookbook win and a Montel Williams guest spot into a thriving hospitality brand. From dark dining experiences to heartfelt “love letters” from guests, she’s built a career rooted in bold flavor, real storytelling, and digital connection.

Watch now to learn about building confidence on national TV, turning guests into loyal customers, and the power of storytelling in the kitchen.

Sponsored by:
• TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc

Chapters:
[05:06] - First Cookbook at Age 18
[07:23] - Montel Williams and Scallops
[15:01] - Chef Love Letters
[16:15] - A Million IG Followers
[26:07] - What is Dark Dining

SPONSORS:

RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST —
Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

• Toast All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc

Episode Links:

Chef Adrianne Calvo Website: https://chefadriannes.com/pages/about

Chef Adrianne Vineyard Restaurant and Bar: https://chefadriannes.com/

Cracked By Chef Adrianne: https://igotcracked.com/

Chef Adrianne Calvo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefadrianne/

Chef Adrianne Calvo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SearchingforMaximumFlavor

Chef Adrianne Calvo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefadrianne/

Chef Adrianne Calvo Cookbooks: https://adriannecalvo.com/collections/products

Chef Adrianne Calvo Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/searching-for-maximum-flavor/id1724786307

Key Takeaways:

Put Yourself Out There: A national TV appearance on The Montel Williams Show at just 19 changed everything for Chef Adrianne. That moment helped her believe in herself and gain confidence for future challenges.

Turn Guests Into Your Fuel: Early social media posts led to handwritten notes from diners, which she saved and called “Love Letters to a Chef.” That feedback became a powerful reminder of why the work mattered.

Work Ethic Over Everything: To try and build funds to attend culinary school, Chef Adrianne entered cooking competitions to earn scholarships. She then wrote a cookbook at 18 to stand out and raise funds.

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ABOUT ADRIANNE CALVO —
Chef Adrianne Calvo (who has more than 1.2 million followers on social media) is an award-winning Miami based restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author, Emmy-nominated YouTube show host and podcaster known for her signature “Maximum Flavor” style. Her restaurant, Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar, is a staple of must-eat-destination lists, and her popularity on Goldbelly spurred the upcoming launch of her online shop Baked by Chef Adrianne. Adrianne’s high-energy, joyful approach to cooking and travel has garnered her over a million followers on Instagram, and when not creating in the kitchen or in front of the cameras, she pours her heart and soul into the Make It Count Foundation, a non-profit that she started in honor of her late sister Jennifer. Adrianne is as dynamic in front of a camera as she is in front of a stove. Her memorable broadcast appearances include spots on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, The Talk, CNN and Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.


ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS —
Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Toast co-founder Aman Narang, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media - https://entreprenuer.com
Produced by Cali BBQ Media - https://betheshow.media