Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story that brings together food, family, and fearless creativity. When her mom once suggested turning her newsletters into a book, Joan Tuaño Rumsey brushed it off. Years later, that tiny spark became Steak Simplified, a thoughtful and beautifully written guide that makes people fall in love with meat, education, and culture all over again. From growing up in the Philippines to helping her parents build La Carne in Abu Dhabi, Joan’s story is rooted in heritage, grit, and purpose. She talks about the early days of her family business, the lessons from failure, and how she turned her passion for learning into a legacy project that now sits on shelves across the world. This episode dives into what it really takes to write, publish, and share your story when no one’s handing you a blueprint. It’s a masterclass in self-belief, storytelling, and staying true to your craft. Proudly brought to you by our Season 11 sponsor 👉 Potatoes USA Potatoes USA represents America’s potato growers and is dedicated to inspiring chefs, home cooks, and food lovers around the world. From nutrition to creativity, they show why the humble potato is one of the most powerful ingredients in every kitchen. Follow them here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potatogoodnessgcc/ Website: https://www.potatogoodnessgcc.com What you will hear in this episode • Childhood food memories from the Philippines • How Abu Dhabi’s food scene shaped her early years • The story behind her family’s butchery, La Carne • What it takes to write and publish a cookbook from scratch • Lessons from visiting cattle farms in Australia and New Zealand • Why she wanted to make steak approachable for everyone • The reality of rejection in publishing and what it taught her • Planning a book launch while eight months pregnant • Building a business rooted in education, not just sales • Advice for aspiring authors who want to share their story Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Growing up between the Philippines and Abu Dhabi 10:00 Food memories and early influences 15:00 How her father started the family business 25:00 Learning from failure and rebuilding 30:00 How the idea for Steak Simplified began 36:00 Research trips and learning from the source 44:00 The publishing process and facing rejection 49:00 Finding the right publisher and self-publishing model 55:00 The book launch and the power of community 1:01:00 Why education is the future of butchery 1:09:00 Quick fire: garlic, shawarma, and steak talk 1:12:00 Final reflections and advice for aspiring writers Follow Joan Tuaño Rumsey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjoanrumsey/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joantuano/ Buy your guide for steak connoisseurs - https://www.steaksimplified.com/order Follow Chef JKP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpaccheco Support us by ordering your JKP Flask: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/2aSSZB8g9 If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who believes that food, like life, is best served with heart. ✨ #chefjkp #season11 #joantuanorumsey #steaksimplified #lacarne #abudhabifood #filipinoentrepreneurs #womeninfood #cookbookauthor #culinaryjourney #foodismemories Support the show Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
