Made in House: Houston is presented by The Speke Originals Network (https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals)

Chef Michelle Wallace discusses her path from St. Louis and Houston restaurant kitchens to Top Chef, pop-ups, and independent entrepreneurship. She shares lessons from Houston mentors, Gatlin’s BBQ, culinary school, and the city’s expansive food culture that helped shape her distinctive voice.

Learn more about Michelle Wallace: https://www.chefmichellewallace.com/

Key takeaways

1. Michelle Wallace moved from St. Louis to Houston for college, seeking individuality as a twin.

2. Houston’s diverse food culture helped ignite her interest in cooking.

3. She worked in healthcare administration, bartending, and serving before choosing food as a full-time career.

4. Cooking for her cousin’s NFL teammates helped establish an early private-chef opportunity.

5. Culinary school gave Michelle key exposure to technique, ingredients, flavor development, and experimentation.

6. Her experiences with Mark Holley, Houston’s Restaurant Group, Greg Gatlin, and Gatlin’s BBQ shaped her approach to hospitality.

7. Michelle emphasizes the importance of mentors who allow emerging chefs to develop their own voice.

Made in House: Houston is presented by The Speke Originals Network (<a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals">https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals</a>)
Chef Michelle Wallace discusses her path from St. Louis and Houston restaurant kitchens to Top Chef, pop-ups, and independent entrepreneurship. She shares lessons from Houston mentors, Gatlin&rsquo;s BBQ, culinary school, and the city&rsquo;s expansive food culture that helped shape her distinctive voice.
Learn more about Michelle Wallace: https://www.chefmichellewallace.com/
Key takeaways
1. Michelle Wallace moved from St. Louis to Houston for college, seeking individuality as a twin.
2. Houston&rsquo;s diverse food culture helped ignite her interest in cooking.
3. She worked in healthcare administration, bartending, and serving before choosing food as a full-time career.
4. Cooking for her cousin&rsquo;s NFL teammates helped establish an early private-chef opportunity.
5. Culinary school gave Michelle key exposure to technique, ingredients, flavor development, and experimentation.
6. Her experiences with Mark Holley, Houston&rsquo;s Restaurant Group, Greg Gatlin, and Gatlin&rsquo;s BBQ shaped her approach to hospitality.
7. Michelle emphasizes the importance of mentors who allow emerging chefs to develop their own voice.

Food writer Megha McSwain goes beyond Houston’s headlines and hot lists to meet the chefs, owners, and neighborhood kitchens shaping the city’s food culture.

Made in House: Houston explores the stories, sacrifice, and pride behind every plate.

Food writer Megha McSwain goes beyond Houston&rsquo;s headlines and hot lists to meet the chefs, owners, and neighborhood kitchens shaping the city&rsquo;s food culture.
Made in House: Houston explores the stories, sacrifice, and pride behind every plate.

Made in House: Houston

Houston is made in its kitchens, dining rooms, bakeries, markets, and the people bold enough to build something of their own.

Hosted by food journalist and storyteller Megha McSwain, Made in House: Houston takes you inside the city’s most compelling food stories, from beloved neighborhood institutions and rising chefs to restaurateurs, makers, and the communities that shape how Houston eats.

This is a show about flavor, culture, creativity, and the business of bringing people together around a table. Whether you are a lifelong Houstonian, a devoted diner, or simply curious about the people behind the plate, pull up a chair.

Houston is made in its kitchens, dining rooms, bakeries, markets, and the people bold enough to build something of their own.
Hosted by food journalist and storyteller Megha McSwain, Made in House: Houston takes you inside the city&rsquo;s most compelling food stories, from beloved neighborhood institutions and rising chefs to restaurateurs, makers, and the communities that shape how Houston eats.
This is a show about flavor, culture, creativity, and the business of bringing people together around a table. Whether you are a lifelong Houstonian, a devoted diner, or simply curious about the people behind the plate, pull up a chair.