For most of my life, the kitchen has been my second home. It’s where I’ve built my career, my identity, and my passion. There’s something addictive about the energy of a busy service — the sound of tickets printing, pans moving, cooks calling back orders, and the pressure of pulling everything together in real time. As stressful as it can be, there’s also something beautiful about it. But what most people don’t see is what this industry can do to you mentally over time. Being

A note from Canada's Restaurant Guy I am back after a week I would not wish on my worst enemy, and I am writing this in May, which happens to be Mental Health Month. The timing could not be more fitting for our family. It has been one week since we had to admit the mom of our kids into the hospital. One week since the night that cracked our world wide open. And one week since I watched my daughter do something most people will never have to do in their lifetime, and I want to

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, led by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK, marks “A Decade of Voices.” Ten years of women speaking up. Ten years of experiences being shared. And yet, in hospitality, too many voices are still going unheard. Let’s be clear on one thing. Perinatal mental health issues affect 1 in 5 women. Now layer that onto an industry built on long hours, physical demand, late finishes, unpredictable schedules, and a culture that still too