Blog
Guides from Sean J Lyons
Straight answers to the questions we hear most, written for our own customers.
September 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Contract-to-Hire for Kitchen Leadership
Some hires are better proven on the job than judged in an interview, and some gaps only need coverage for a season.
September 30, 2026 · 4 min read
What a Retained Executive Chef Search Involves
A practical look at how a retained search for an executive chef or culinary director runs, from the first conversation to the offer.
September 30, 2026 · 3 min read
Why Culinary Searches Are Taking Longer, and What to Do About It
It is not a shortage of candidates, it is a mismatch between where operators look and where the strongest chefs are.
September 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Why Top Culinary Talent Isn't Applying, and How to Reach Them
The strongest chefs and F&B leaders are rarely active job seekers, so the search has to go to them.
September 30, 2026 · 4 min read
2026 Hiring Trends in Culinary & Food & Beverage Leadership
The brief for a culinary or F&B leader has widened, and operators who still write it as a cook's job are filling it slower and less well.