Meet Jack Mancino Bryon Freeze: Former Chefs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jack Mancino Bryon Freeze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jack Mancino, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Culinary Love was born as a collective of current and former industry professionals, who decided that a conversation must be had, and an action plan created to address the long ignored mental health concerns within the industry. We have created a space for hospitality professionals to be seen, be heard and connect with meaningful resources in order to get the help they need. When Anthony Bourdain committed suicide in 2018 it rocked the industry and we felt it was time to do something. Focusing on mental healthy and taking care of ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Our goal is to provide resources for the Hospitality Industry. Most individuals, in the kitchen especially, work extremely long hours to provide an experience to others. What the public does not realize is the sacrifices we make; long hours, long weeks, work on holidays, and limited personal time for family and friends.

Combine these factors and it can wear down the average human being. We experience bouts with depression, and a lot of use alcohol and other substances to cope. These issues exist in many industries, and they are particularly rampant in food and hospitality. Anthony Bourdain taking his own life was the first time someone highly regarded outside of our industry made a choice to end their life. For years it’s been common to hear that a line cook or chef has committed suicide. We all have stories of losing someone close to us.

We’ve lost too many beautiful people to depression, substance abuse, and suicide in the Hospitality Industry. People in the industry have become more comfortable with having conversations about these issues. Conversation does not change the issues, the pain, and the suffering.

Now is a time to take action. Culinary Love is here to create awareness about these issues in the Hospitality Industry. We are focused on raising money to support individuals seeking help with depression, mental health, and substance abuse.

Through the clothing line we have created, we will use proceeds to provide resources, mentors, therapy and rehab sessions for Chefs and Hospitality Professionals. Most diners don’t realize that Chefs sometimes struggle to pay their bills, let alone take care of themselves. For every item purchased, we will be able to provide the financial assistance Chefs need to take action to heal themselves. Too many Chefs will put others first and sacrifice their own well being. It’s time we change that and take care of them. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Chef Marc Zimmerman from Gozu Restaurant and A5 Meats. Over the holidays, 10% of sales from A5 meats was donated to Culinary Love. We were beyond thankful of Chef Marc for including us. 2020 was a tough year for a lot of us and Chef Marc & A5 meats helped us, help out people in the industry. We extremely thankful for Chef Marc, the team at Gozu SF and A5 Meats.

Website: https://www.culinarylove.org/

Instagram: culinaryloveorg

Linkedin: Culinary Love

Image Credits
Jack Mancino and Bryon Freeze, Photo of Marc Zimmer from Livestock Japan