From Michelin-Starred Kitchens to One of California’s Fastest-Growing Restaurant Brands

Chef Bert Bonnarens, a Belgian-trained chef who cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens, now leads culinary development for Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. At Shorebird, Wild Thyme’s flagship brand, he blends global technique with fresh, market-driven cooking. Watch now to learn about his Michelin-trained beginnings, the lessons he carried across continents, and why guests follow him to the dock for fresh-caught seafood. Sponsored by: • TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc Chapters: [02:05] – Falling in Love with Food [02:41] – Belgium’s Six-Year Culinary School [04:53] – Training in Michelin-Starred Kitchens [12:20] – The Saturday Fish Market Experience [22:55] – Leadership, Balance, and Family SPONSORS: RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST — Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience. • Toast All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc Episode Links: Wild Thyme Restaurant Group: https://wildthymegroup.com/restaurants Wild Thyme Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildthymegroup/?hl=en Shorebird Restaurants: https://shorebirdrestaurant.com/san-diego Shorebird Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorebirdrestaurant Shorebird Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShorebirdRestaurant/ Chef Bert Bonnarens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bert-bonnarens-48a816272/ Kickfin: https://kickfin.com/ Key Takeaways: The Power of Early Mentorship: Training under Michelin-starred chefs in Belgium taught Chef Bert the value of discipline, composure, and mastering the basics, lessons that continue to guide how he leads kitchens today. A Market-to-Table Experience: Chef Bert’s Saturday trips to the nearby fish market invite guests to choose and cook fresh seafood with him, creating a hands-on moment that reflects Shorebird’s coastal setting. Leadership Built on Trust: Years of global kitchen experience, combined with becoming a father, shaped Chef Bert’s belief in trusting his team, giving them responsibility, and helping cooks grow through real ownership. *** ABOUT CHEF BERT BONNARENS — Chef Bert Bonnarens is the corporate chef for Wild Thyme Restaurant Group, overseeing menu development, training, and new Shorebird openings across the country. Trained in Belgium’s demanding six-year culinary program and shaped by kitchens in the Netherlands and Mexico, he brings global technique, local sourcing, and memorable guest experiences to every concept he leads. ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS — Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Toast co-founder Aman Narang, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online. Published by Entrepreneur Media - https://entreprenuer.com Produced by Cali BBQ Media - https://betheshow.media