Meet J Stephen Sadler: Author, Speaker, Chef, Restauranteur and Travel Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with J Stephen Sadler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J Stephen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in a family business, so I already had the bones to do my own thing. My Dad had a painting on the wall of a turtle with an outstretched neck. The saying underneath the painting said “Behold the turtle, in order to move forward, he must first stick out his neck.” That saying was how he operated and it was also what he instilled in all his children. My starting my own business was actually the convergence of two things. My family had a 400-year old artisan crafted cake recipe that was passed down to me. At the time I had always felt cooking/baking had the same appeal as washing floors. That was until I met Rene Verdon (The Chef for the Kennedy’s at the White House). It was Rene who taught me that creating dishes was more art than work. Falling in love with the craft led me to open my first cafe in New York where one of the most popular offerings were my family’s artisan crumb cakes.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I never wanted to have a place that offered the best burger. Instead, my heart was in providing not simply a meal but an experience. Everyone takes care of the big things but it’s the little things that make the difference. To provide a memory for your guests that will last a lifetime, you must take care of the little things. Crafting the dish is only a part of it. All of the dishes I offer come from countries that I’ve visited across the world. However, this is only the beginning of the process. My classically trained chef’s are well versed in crafting a dish presentation that is worthy of the actual dish. In addition, I’ve designed my bistros to replicate the great European bistro’s that provide their guests with not only a special dish but also a beautiful atmosphere. The uniquely European bistro feel, where art, music & our culinary creations coexist in harmonious symphony. It even comes down to the music where the sounds of Bocelli & Brightman fill the dining area. I invested heavily in the design which includes Italian marble counters, blue slate floors, Carrera leather seating and sculpted aluminum tables which all add to the chic feel. The point is, to be successful, you must set yourself apart from the competition. You can’t only provide a great dish you must also provide a unique dining experience. This is a lot harder and more expensive than it sounds but, it’s imperative to your success. I had battles with city planners, health departments, contractors, suppliers, etc. and that’s where most beginners give in to the pressure and produce something “like everyone else” because it’s easy and fast but to be successful, you need to be persistent in attaining your dream otherwise you will never know if what you wanted to create would have been a success. I didn’t want a job, or hate coming in every day just to make a living, no matter how much money I could make. My guiding principle was, if I can’t do it my way, based on my principle, I’m not interested in doing it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Dallas area has some of the finest dining establishments in the country. I’ve always felt that it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. If I had a friend that came to the DFW area to visit I would start west and work my way east. First. I would take them to the art museums in Fort Worth. From there we would visit the Fort Worth Zoo, the Stockyards and enjoy a night at the rodeo and Billie Bob’s with dinner at Joe T Garcia’s. Now we’d move into mid cities. A visit to a Cowboys game would be a must and a trip to Six Flags would wrap up the mid-cities area. Heading east, on to Dallas, a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum, The Dallas Arboretum, The Dallas Aquarium and the Perot Museum would all be on the list. We would enjoy the best burger in Dallas at Angry Dog, and the best lobster roll at Twenty Feet. Wonderful dining experiences at the French Room, The Mansion, Fearings, Lucia, Bullion and Rise and of course breakfast and brunch at Crumbzz. We’d also hop on our bikes and ride around White Rock Lake and Katy Trail and take a stroll through Warren Park and the Trinity River Audubon Center. Finally, we end our days enjoying the great view of downtown Dallas with a few drinks in hand at Canvas Hotel Dallas and the Quarter Bar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Chef Rene Verdon who taught me that crafting a great dish was truly a form of art that will be remembered for years My father who taught me to follow my heart instead of my wallet and my mother who taught me the love of family.

Website: www.crumbzz.com jstephensgarden.com jstephensadler.com https://techmarusa.com/
Instagram: crumbzz_cakes
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/j-stephen-sadler-517991177
Twitter: crumbzz
Facebook: crumbzzcakes
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSiDK3xF-YH7S38du1QqBA