Before Hot Drop Sauce landed on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, founder Andrew Whiting was working full-time, hand-bottling sauce at night, and getting creative about getting it into people’s hands—literally. We're talking trunk-of-the-car sales, expensing his own product to pitch clients, and turning every casual interaction into a chance to get feedback (and spark demand).

In this episode of Chef x Founder, host Tony Piombo sits down with Andrew to talk about the real behind-the-scenes journey—from sauce experiments during the pandemic to walking onto a national TV set and a three-minute pitch for Gordon himself.

This one’s packed with lessons for any entrepreneur, including:

• The unexpected start of Hot Drop Sauce during the pandemic
• How to grow a brand without quitting your day job (at first)
• How to get creative with product distribution (even while working 9-5)
• The psychology of packaging and selling—and how to make people grab your product
• What it really took to land on Food Stars and pitch to Gordon Ramsay
• How a gift-turned-side-hustle became a brand
• Why Hot Drop is designed for flavor, not pain—and how that changed everything

Whether you’re building a food brand or still dreaming one up, this convo is loaded with insights you’ll want to replay.


CONNECT WIH ANDREW WHITING:
Website: https://www.hotdropsauce.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotdropsauce/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotdropsauces/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotdropsauce

FOLLOW US BEHIND THE SCENES:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef.x.founder
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefxfounder
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chef.x.founder
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChefxFounder


CHECK OUT TONY'S WOOD-FIRED OVEN BUSINESS:
https://fornopiombo.com/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to the Chef Founder Podcast
00:02 Meet Andrew Whiting: Founder of Hot Drop Sauce
00:53 The Hot Drop Community and Fanbase
01:35 The Art and Business of Hot Sauce
08:46 Andrew's Journey into the Culinary World
13:11 From Holiday Gifts to a Hot Sauce Brand
19:56 Andrew's Background in Sales and Entrepreneurship
23:12 Working for a Distributor
23:52 Sales Strategies and Challenges
25:47 Creating and Branding Hot Sauce
26:25 Feedback and Iteration
27:23 First Sales and Realizations
28:37 Scaling Production
31:18 Balancing Full-Time Work and Entrepreneurship
36:39 Collaborations and Marketing
45:15 Corporate Gifting and Wholesale
49:43 Gordon Ramsey's Food Stars
52:00 The Lengthy Application Process
52:34 The Vetting and Interview Phases
54:25 The Big Reveal: Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars
55:01 Preparing for the Audition in London
56:21 The Audition and Selection Process
1:02 Life on the Show and Meeting Fellow Contestants
1:03 Reflecting on the Reality TV Experience
1:04 The Competition and Elimination
1:06 Impact on Business and Sales
1:07 Pitching and Entrepreneurial Insights
1:10 Networking and Collaborations
1:12 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

What’s it like to cook for one of the most iconic wineries in Napa Valley—for over 15 years? In this episode, host Tony Piombo sits down with Chef Jeff Mosher, former executive chef at Robert Mondavi Winery, to talk about life behind the line at a wine country institution and why he made the leap into launching his own private chef business.

Jeff shares:

• What it was like crafting food experiences for guests at a world-renowned winery

• How he managed large-scale dinners, garden-to-table programs, and global events (with a cooler of secret ingredients)

• His favorite wood-fired dishes and how R&D in the kitchen keeps things fresh

• Why personal chef work offers the freedom and creative spark he craved

If you geek out over food, wine, travel, or the business of it all, you’ll love this one.

🎙️ Like stories from chefs turned entrepreneurs? Hit follow and subscribe for more behind-the-line conversations.

⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a quick review—it helps more food founders discover the show.

📲 Know someone building a food biz? Share this episode with them!

Connect with Jeff Mosher:
Website: https://jeffmosher.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffmosher

Follow us behind the scenes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef.x.founder
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefxfounder
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chef.x.founder
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChefxFounder

Learn more about Tony's business:
https://fornopiombo.com/

​​Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the Chef Founder Podcast
00:04 Jeff Mosher's Culinary Journey
00:17 Tasting Jeff's Delicious Creations
01:48 Life as Head Chef at Mondavi Winery
06:32 Challenges and Unique Experiences at Mondavi
08:49 Traveling the World as a Chef
24:54 Transition to Private Chef Business
28:22 Navigating Corporate Culture
29:03 Renovation and Relocation
30:46 Transition to Personal Chef
32:25 Defining the Personal Chef Business
35:02 Client Acquisition Strategies
38:44 Wood-Fired Oven Experiences
44:45 Future Cooking Classes
50:52 Conclusion and Farewell

Join us for an engaging conversation with Clive, the wood-fired oven chef, on his YouTube channel. Discover his initial motivation for starting the channel and how it has evolved. Clive shares insights into the techniques, methods, and recipes that make his videos a hit among wood-fired oven enthusiasts. Learn about the importance of knowledge and control when cooking with a wood-fired oven, and how Clive's videos help viewers understand the concept and master the art. Don't miss this episode packed with valuable tips and inspiration for wood fired oven cooking!

Chef Tim joins us to talk about his background with wood fired cooking, along with information for his upcoming live stream cooking class.

Robert Sulatycky joins us to talk about the Corona Virus and how it is affecting the food industry, along with how you can be safe when it comes to food. Robert has a long history with the Bocuse d'Or. Representing Canada in 1999, he placed fourth and was awarded the "Prix Viande" or best meat prize. He was instrumental as coach for Team USA in 2015 taking silver and 2017 taking the gold. He has been appointed head coach for Team USA for the 2019 Bocuse d’Or.

Dario is a winemaker and certified VPN and APN pizzaiolo. Originally from Italy, Dario is one of the owners of Ca' Momi Osteria, a wood fired pizza restaurant located in Napa, California.

Itamar Abramovitch is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and part-owner of Blossom Catering company located in Napa and has been cooking in our oven for over 5 years.

Robert Sulatycky has a long history with the Bocuse d'Or. Representing Canada in 1999, he placed fourth and was awarded the "Prix Viande" or best meat prize. He was instrumental as coach for Team USA in 2015 taking silver and 2017 taking the gold. He has been appointed head coach for Team USA for the 2019 Bocuse d’Or.