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Sean “Pooch” Rivera
Chef, Restaurateur, and Culinary Media Personality
Professional Achievements
- Honored twice by Louisiana Cookin’ magazine—as a “Chef to Watch” and “Best Chefs of Louisiana”
- Built and operated successful restaurants, sold culinary ventures, and now works extensively as a consultant for CPG food brands, restaurants, and culinary innovators
- Co-founded GastreauxNomica, an underground dining collective that pioneered pop-up restaurant culture in Louisiana
- Has amassed more than 100,000 followers across multiple social media platforms, sharing behind-the-scenes content, original recipes, pop-up experiences, and his personal journey through food
- Creole Culinary Ambassador of Louisiana, through his restaurants, consulting, media projects, and international collaborations—including work with prestigious competitions like Bocuse d’Or
- Featured in national and regional outlets, including New Orleans Magazine, 225 Baton Rouge, and Spiceology
- Will debut his new food series Love to Eat in 2026
Certifications & Organizations
- Culinary Fight Club – Pit Master Champion
- Certified Industry Expert – Food & Beverage Consulting
- National Geographic – World of Flavor Featured Chef (Season 1, “Gumbo, Gator, and Grillin”)
- Official Culinary Partner – Bocuse d’Or Mexican Team (product development & flavor consulting)
- Host & Culinary Ambassador – Walk-In Talk Podcast (4.5M+ downloads, #1 Global Food Podcast on Apple Charts)
- Member – Love NOLA TV Network (Culinary Host & Media Personality)
- Certified Restaurateur – Created, operated, and sold multiple restaurant concepts
- Consultant – CPG Food Brands, Restaurants, and Culinary Innovators
- Brand Ambassador & Media Partner – California Restaurant Show, New York Restaurant Show, Florida Restaurant Show, Pizza Tomorrow Summit, U.S. Culinary Open at NAFEM
- Culinary Media Recognition – Positioned for James Beard consideration in podcasting, food photography, and documentary media
Favorite Piece of Advice
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Forum Comments (1)
I was cooking burgers the other day, and I started them on the charcoal grill to give them that flavor, but then I finished cooking them in the air fryer. We can put them in the air fryer or the oven, or even in a cast iron pan, and finish them to give them the nuances that you want from being grilled and all the flavor profiles that you want. For example, in a cast iron, you can sear it and give it a crunch or caramelization. So what I did was I took the burger where it was par-cooked, still medium rare, then put it in the air fryer. I put a piece of foil under it and cheese over it, and when it melted, it made that crunchy cheese around the side that you would get from a flat grill. So it was just so texturally good, plus it had the good saltiness of the cheese with the char-grilled meat, it was just this balance of deliciousness. You can control those different variables by utilizing different cooking methods.
Co-authored Articles (25)
50+ Polite & Creative Ways to Compliment Good Food
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Use Cayenne Pepper to Lower Your Blood Pressure
Cayenne pepper is a pungent hot pepper grown in tropical climates. It offers not only a spicy kick to many dishes, but a number of health benefits, too. People use cayenne peppers for pain relief, weight loss, ear infe...
11 Easy Ways to Keep Bananas Fresh & Prevent Browning
Follow these storage tips to enjoy fresh bananas even longerDid you just buy a bunch of ripe bananas that are already starting to turn brown? Bananas continue to ripen even after they’re harvested, but there are so man...
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Set Up a Buffet
A buffet is a great idea if you’re having a lot of guests over for a meal. This type of meal allows the guests to line up and choose which foods they would like to eat, as they move from one end of the serving station ...
Has Your Hummus Gone Bad? Spoilage Signs to Look Out For
Plus, the best way to store your hummus and keep it freshHummus. It’s the perfect dip, spread, and sauce—plus, it’s absolutely delicious! But what about when it’s not? Hummus has a quick shelf-life once it’s op...
A Beef Cut Chart With Explanations & Cooking Tips
A home cook's guide to the prime cuts of beefWondering what the best cuts of beef are? Whether you’re looking for something tender, lean, or inexpensive, you’re in the right place. We’re here to help you make sense...
How to
Use a Chafing Dish
Chafing dishes are often known in the catering world as "a host's best friend" because they can keep your food warm for hours on end. If you're hosting a dinner party or special event, setting up and serving with a chafi...
Does Soy Sauce Expire? Plus, Signs of Spoilage To Watch For
Find it out if your soy sauce needs to be refrigeratedSoy sauce is a delicious condiment often used to season stir-fries, rice, and savory sauces. If you’ve got an old bottle of soy sauce sitting at the back of a cupbo...
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Sauté
To sauté a dish means to cook it in a small amount of fat over high heat, making sure that the food doesn't stick to the pan by making it "jump" in and out of the heat. The term comes originally from the French word for...
How to Raise Your Spice Tolerance
Increase your spice tolerance and learn how to cool down your mouth when eating spicy food with this guideSpicy food is admired all over the world, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is used to it. Luckily, you can le...
The Best Way to Peel and Eat a Crawfish
Plus, tips from pro chefs on how to prepare your very own crawfish boilAre you ready to dive into some classic Cajun crawfish (also called crayfish, crawdads, or mudbugs), but aren’t sure how to reach the delicious mea...
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Calculate Food Cost
Running a restaurant, catering service, or culinary school can be an expensive and complex undertaking. To make sure your business stays afloat, you must make regular and accurate calculations of your food costs. There a...
The Best Ways to Cook & Use Canned Chickpeas (With Recipe Ideas)
Whip up a tasty side dish or topping with just a few simple ingredientsChickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) are a yummy and versatile legume. You can eat them on their own as a delicious side dish, or add them to salad...
How Much Meat Do You Need Per Guest?
Figure out how much meat per person to serve at a dinner or gatheringFood really does bring people together! But when it comes to feeding a small or large crowd, how do you know how much meat to serve? Ordering or prepar...
The Best Ways to Cook Catfish
Delicious fried, grilled, and baked catfish recipes Catfish is a tasty fish that is most commonly enjoyed by people living in the southern United States. The most common cooking method is deep-frying, but catfish can be ...
3 Delicious Ways to Cook Redfish
Quick & simple ways to cook redfish filletsRedfish, also known as red drum, is a tasty white fish that you can cook in a variety of ways. For a quick meal, try sautéing it in a skillet or cooking it on the grill. For a ...
How to
Smoke Meat
Nothing says “summer” like the rich flavor of wood-smoked meat. If you’re longing to add a whole new dimension to your next barbecue masterpiece, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll talk you through a wide r...
How to
Start a Catering Business
If you host dinner parties for your family and friends every chance you get, you're up on food trends and you have an entrepreneurial spirit, consider starting a catering business. You have the advantage of starting smal...
4 Ways to Cook Mixed Vegetables (Sauté, Roast, Grill, & Steam)
Learn how to season & cook mixed veggies to tasty perfectionIf you're tired of bland mixed vegetables, try cooking them a different way. You can sauté frozen mixed vegetables and season them with dill or tarragon. Or yo...
How to
Purge Crawfish
Plus, how to keep your crawfish alive and fresh for cookingCrawfish, sometimes called crayfish, are similar to lobsters but much smaller. As they make their home in the mud of freshwater bayous, they are often referred t...
