Revisiting Viral meez Episodes — we're bringing back one of the most-listened-to conversations in meez Podcast history. This episode originally aired October 31, 2023.

Have you ever wondered who is behind all of the new and exciting flavors at Shake Shack? Meet John Karangis, Executive Chef and VP of Culinary Innovation, leading R&D, menu development, and chef collaborations for the brand. 

John's culinary journey kicked off in the nineties at Union Square Cafe, winding through Paris and San Francisco, before settling back in New York City at Gramercy Tavern. A detour into the corporate kitchen of Goldman Sachs honed his skills in delivering top-notch restaurant-style food in unconventional settings. Prior to Shake Shack, John spent seven years at the helm of Danny Meyer's Union Square Events, fine-tuning his ability to execute high-quality food on a large scale.

In this episode, join CEO Josh Sharkey and John as they discuss the intricacies of R&D and innovation at Shake Shack. Discover the secrets behind producing restaurant-quality fare on a grand scale, and get a glimpse into John's passion for endurance training.

Links and resources 📌

Visit meez: https://www.getmeez.com

Follow meez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmeez

Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshlsharkey/?hl=en

Follow Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-sharkey-406965b/

Follow John Karangis on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-karangis-470379a3/

Follow John on Instagram: @john_Karangis

Timestamps

02:11 John's culinary background

06:48 Endurance training

13:12 How endurance training relates to working as a chef

17:41 R&D for Shake Shack

25:07 R&D Customer feedback 

29:36 Shake Shake chef collaborations

33:50 When dishes don't make it past testing

42:36 Union Square Events and producing food at a large scale

46:31 How to create high quality food at a large scale

54:36 Working with Delta and seasoning food at high elevation

57:18)Advice on how to start on a fitness journey