On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, host Lauren Healey sits down with Brandon Oker, the executive chef at Pastaria and one of Sauce Magazine’s Ones to Watch in the February issue.
Brandon shares his path from growing up in a town of 300 people near Lake of the Ozarks to working his way from dishwasher to leading one of St. Louis’s most beloved pasta institutions. He talks about work ethic, mentorship, and why hospitality is something he feels is simply “in his bones.”
In this episode:
- Brandon’s early kitchen days at Porta Chima and learning hospitality from the ground up
- How his upbringing shaped his leadership style and approach to food
- Stepping into Pastaria as executive chef, what stays sacred, and where seasonality comes into play
- Why Pastaria continues to thrive as an accessible, family-friendly, truly democratic restaurant
- Dream future concepts, testing recipes at home, and cooking alongside his 5-year-old son, Winston
Pastaria is open 7 days a week, 4–9 PM
Follow Brandon: @brandonoker
Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
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