763: The $100 Million Restaurant Man with Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group

In this compelling episode of *This Is TASTE*, host Matt Rodbard sits down with Kevin Boehm, co-founder of the Boka Restaurant Group and author of the memoir *The Bottomless Cup*, to explore the highs and lows of building one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurant empires. Boehm shares candidly about his journey from sleeping in his car and battling depression and alcoholism to becoming a James Beard Award-winning restaurateur who now oversees seven of the top 100 highest-grossing restaurants in the U.S. He discusses the strategic model behind Boka’s success—partnering with visionary chefs as co-owners to foster innovation and long-term engagement—while also revealing the emotional core of his memoir: a story of trauma, identity, and redemption. The conversation dives into the art of restaurant timing, the importance of staff development, and the power of small gestures like the Black Card program to build loyalty. Later, Rodbard speaks with Washington, D.C. chef Fabio Trabocchi, who recounts his global culinary journey from Moscow to London and his deep roots in Italy’s lesser-known Marche region. Trabocchi reflects on the unique challenges and privileges of running a high-profile restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, where politics, privacy, and power dynamics shape every dining experience. Both guests offer profound insights into leadership, resilience, and the soul of hospitality in a volatile industry.