On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, WCU Hillel hosted celebrity chef, restaurateur and Netflix star Nick Liberato as part of its 2021 virtual speaker series. A Philly-born chef, Liberato took a leap of faith after graduating from high school. He moved across the country to California in order to follow his culinary dreams. Liberato decided to explore the possibilities of the restaurant business and seek out chefs he could learn from in the Los Angeles area. He worked alongside Michelin star chefs to learn and perfect the craft of serving up the perfect dishes.
Liberato’s ultimate dream was to pitch his own culinary-based television show. In 2004, he started pitching numerous cooking show ideas to networks. Eventually, in 2009, he was asked to take part in the “Top Chef Masters,” which helped him network and familiarize himself with the industry. Liberato worked on the show Bar Rescue from 2012–2016 where he gained inspiration from his travels while shooting the show. In 2014, he took over a restaurant called The Venice Whaler, which he flipped into a neighborhood institution and a popular place to dine. The Whaler would become Liberato’s inspiration to pitch “Restaurants on the Edge.” Liberato’s ultimate dream would come true when the show aired in 2019 on Netflix. In the show, Liberato and two other food and design experts travel the world to revive restaurants by connecting them to the local culture beyond their gorgeous views. Liberato’s story carried a common theme of dedication and extraordinary effort to reach his culinary goals.
Liberato shared lessons of leadership and determination for students to follow. In particular, he mentioned “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz. He outlined the four agreements, which included “be impeccable with your word,” “don’t take anything personally,” “don’t make assumptions,” and “always do your best.” Liberato emphasized the importance of these four agreements for individuals looking to further themselves and create their ultimate future. Liberato also owns 618 Hospitality, a consulting agency to help restaurants thrive — not just survive. He models humble leadership in his daily restaurant management experiences by encouraging other upcoming chefs to reach their own goals and become their best.
Liberato has since moved back to his hometown in Bucks County, PA, to raise his three young daughters with his wife Jennifer. Due to the pandemic, countless restaurants and businesses have been hit hard, so Liberato wanted his next project to be something that never goes out of style like chinese food, pizza shops and delis. Therefore, Liberato’s newest restaurant, The Borscht Belt Delicatessen in Stockton, New Jersey, is set to open by the end of April 2021. He carefully selected the items to be included on the menu.The delicatessen will feature Jewish-inspired cuisine including fresh New York City bagels, classic white fish, high-stacked pastrami sandwiches, chopped liver, matzo ball soup and fresh-baked goods. Liberato reached back into his hometown Jewish roots growing up with Jewish friends and his Jewish wife. WCU Hillel was inspired by Liberato’s journey to fulfill his passionate purpose in life.
***
As the President of WCU Hillel, we invite you to join the organization and its members on a journey of spiritual awakening through the Speaker Series. All members of the WCU community are welcome and invited to attend any and all of the presentations within the series.
In addition to our speaker series, WCU Hillel is co-sponsoring a host of other events with the Office of Wellness Promotion in their Game of Well-Being. Participation in tagged events on RamConnect will earn students credit towards a Game of Well-Being badge. For more information, check out the following links or contact the email listed below.
Contact: EG938538@wcupa.edu
WCU Hillel RamConnect: https://ramconnect.wcupa.edu/student_community?club_id=19821
WCU Hillel Website: https://wcuhillel.org/
Wellness Promotion RamConnect: https://ramconnect.wcupa.edu/student_community?club_id=20016 Wellness Promotion Website- https://www.wcupa.edu/_services/wellness/default.aspx
Elizabeth Gittleson is a second-year Microbiology major with minors in Psychology and Civic & Professional Leadership. EG938538@wcupa.edu