Interview
This interview is with Chris Czarnecki, head chef and owner of the Joel Palmer House Restaurant. In this interview, Chris dives into all things truffles, wine, and Nicolas Cage.
Chris talks about growing up in the restaurant industry and shares some of his core memories. He goes on to talk about backpacking around Europe in his twenties and how he then found himself part of the Army. He then shares how he landed in Oregon after being a cook in the Army.
Later in the interview, Chris talks about taking over his parents’ restaurant. He shares about the Joel Palmer house history and dives into all the changes he has made. He then goes on to share about his experience with Nicolas Cage and the Pig movie. Finally, before he leaves, Chris shares his hopes and plans for his restaurant in the future.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Joel Palmer House Restaurant in Dayton on May 30, 2024.
Interview
This interview is with Levi Seed of the Joel Palmer House Restaurant. In this interview, Levi discusses how childhood experiences shaped his professional development. After surviving leukemia as a teenager, Levi discovered a passion for fine dining, and then, for wine. He passed the Certified Master Sommelier exam at 21.
Stints as a sous chef, and later on as an executive chef, left him burnt out, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity in 2020 to join the Joel Palmer House as a sommelier. For the past two years, Levi has thoughtfully crafted a curated list of Oregon wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Levi also speaks about his approach to hospitality and wine selection, and his hopes for the future of the Oregon wine industry.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Joel Palmer House Restaurant in Dayton on November 9, 2022.