Send us Fan Mail
Chef JKP sits down with Rick Gonzalez, Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, and Florian van Dillen, Head Chef at Farmhouse by Syrco, for two conversations about the experiences, kitchens, risks, and people that shape a chef’s career.
Rick shares how growing up around his father’s Spanish restaurant in New York shaped his relationship with food and hospitality. From discovering professional kitchens and training in Switzerland to working in Michelin-starred environments and building an international career, he reflects on the standards, mentors, and decisions that shaped the chef he became.
Then, Chef JKP sits down with Florian, whose journey began in professional kitchens in the Netherlands before becoming a sous chef, opening his own restaurant, and eventually making the difficult decision to sell it. He shares what ownership taught him about the business behind restaurants, why great food alone isn’t enough, and what brought him to the Middle East and Farmhouse by Syrco.
Together, the conversations explore two very different paths through hospitality and what it really takes to build a lasting career in food.
WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE
• How Rick’s father and Spanish heritage shaped his relationship with food
• The kitchen experience that made Rick want to become a chef
• Training in Switzerland and working in a two Michelin-starred kitchen
• Building an international career across different countries and cultures
• How Florian entered professional kitchens at just 16
• Becoming a young sous chef and learning how to lead a team
• The reality of opening, running, and eventually selling his own restaurant
• Moving to Ras Al Khaimah and joining Farmhouse by Syrco
CHAPTERS
07:48 The Kitchen That Made Rick Want to Become a Chef
13:09 Moving to Switzerland & Working in a Two Michelin-Star Kitchen
21:15 Building a Global Career Through Four Seasons
48:32 Moving to the Middle East & Entering a New Chapter
01:20:10 The Lessons Rick Took From a Lifetime in Hospitality
01:40:50 Florian: Starting in Professional Kitchens at 16
01:49:32 Becoming a Sous Chef & Learning to Lead Young
01:57:41 Opening His Own Restaurant
02:11:30 Why He Decided to Sell the Restaurant
02:23:07 Moving to Ras Al Khaimah & Farmhouse by Syrco
02:36:03 How the Middle East Dining Scene Compares to Europe
FEATURED GUESTS
Rick Gonzalez
Executive Chef
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
https://www.instagram.com/chefrickg_/
Florian van Dillen
Head Chef, Farmhouse by Syrco
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
https://www.instagram.com/byflipp_uae/
SEASON 13 PARTNER
This season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.
Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle East
https://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/
AUDIO PARTNER
RØDE
https://rode.com/
SUPPORT THE SHOW
Chef JKP Thermos Flask
https://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/
FOLLOW CHEF JKP
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkp
Website:
https://chefjkp.com/
Food is Memories™️ 🍸
#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #rickgonzalez #florianvandillen #farmhousebysyrco #cheflife #hospitality #culinarycareer #finedining #rasalkhaimah
Support the show
Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
