Inside the Restaurant Underbelly with Cellar Rat Hannah Selinger

Step inside the restaurant underbelly with "Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly" author Hannah Selinger. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Hannah shares food confessions, personal memories, and the emotional toll of working in a male-dominated industry. From spoon collections and guilty pleasures to misogyny in fine dining and the chaos of motherhood, this episode explores the beauty and brutality of life in and beyond the kitchen.

Topics include: 

• Vegas memories and spoon collecting as emotional anchors
• Tattoos, tongue piercings, and food identity
• Guilty pleasures, pantry staples, and cooking dynamics
• Wine preferences and restaurant survival stories
• Misogyny, trauma, and the decline of fine dining
• Writing through brutality and beauty
• Pandemic fallout and tipping culture
• Motherhood, gender dynamics, and personal growth
• Literary projects and community-driven book tours

If you’ve ever worked in a kitchen, loved a chef, or questioned the cost of a meal—this one’s for you.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Vegas Reflections and Family Adventures

04:12 The Impact of Tongue Piercings

09:22 Pantry Staples and Seasonal Eating

12:37 Wine Preferences and Surprising Choices

17:20 Trauma and Survival in the Restaurant Industry

18:39 Food Preferences: Punk Rock or Precision?

19:22 Food Memories and Their Impact

20:59 Exposing the Underbelly of Fine Dining

24:54 Misogyny and Accountability in Restaurants

26:39 The Balance of Brutality and Beauty in Writing

28:34 Exploring Emotions in Writing

31:35 The Allure and Chaos of the Restaurant Industry

33:59 The Impact of the Pandemic on Restaurants

36:29 Tipping Culture and Its Challenges

39:49 Reflections on Rebellion and Personal Growth

42:34 Navigating Motherhood and Career

46:38 Upcoming Literary Projects and Inspirations

49:01 Book Tours and Community Engagement

50:23 Understanding Gender Dynamics and Progress

54:54 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

 

Hannah's Socials:

Hannah Selinger Website

Instagram: @druishamericanprincess

 

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