Walk-In Talk Podcast · 2026-07-03 · 60 min
Chef Ferrell Alvarez has helped shape modern Tampa dining through Proper House Group, the team behind Rooster & the Till, Ash, Alter Ego, Gallito Taqueria, and Dang Dude. But Episode 204 is not just about restaurants. It is about the life that built the chef. Ferrell sits down with Carl Fiadini for one of the most personal conversations in Walk-In Talk history, tracing his path from a fifteen-year-old dishwasher to one of Florida's most respected chef-owners. The conversation moves through mentorship, fatherhood, grief, survival, rebuilding, and the responsibility that comes when people believe in your dream before there is proof it will work. From the early influence of Marty Blitz and Maryann Ferenc at Mise en Place, to building Rooster & the Till with reclaimed wood, used furniture, and $60,000 raised through relationships, Ferrell's story is a reminder that restaurants are never just built with money. They are built with belief. Featured dishes from Ash include boquerones with herb oil, chili oil, fresh lime, and house-made focaccia, along with a look at the creative culture behind Proper House Group.
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