Chef Spencer Horovitz on ADHD, Finding Calm in the Kitchen & California-Jewish Cuisine

This week on Not From Concentrate, Catherine sits down with chef Spencer Horovitz , a 2025 James Beard semifinalist and the founder of Hadeem, a beloved California-Jewish Cuisine concept that's been popping up in San Francisco. 

But this episode goes far beyond food.

Spencer speaks candidly about living and working with ADHD in the high-pressure world of professional kitchens: the burnout, shame, impulsivity, time blindness, and sensory overload — but also the creativity, resilience, and self-awareness that ultimately helped him build a career that actually works with his brain instead of against it.

Catherine and Spencer talk about:

•  Why fine dining kitchens can be especially difficult for ADHD brains 
•  The accommodations and systems that genuinely help in restaurant life 
•  Hyper-focus, multitasking, and “boy dinner” 
•  Why labels, handwriting, and putting things away can feel impossible 
•  ADHD-friendly cooking strategies that actually work 
•  The emotional side of feeding yourself when your brain is overwhelmed 
•  Culinary school, restaurant culture, and redefining success 
•  Spencer’s California-Jewish cuisine philosophy and the story behind Hadeem 

This is one of the most vulnerable and practical “busy brain” conversations the show has had yet — packed with insight for anyone navigating ADHD, creativity, burnout, or simply trying to make dinner without spiraling.

Find Spencer and Hadeem:

•  Instagram: @wearehadeem
•  Website: wearehadeemsf.com 

Not From Concentrate is a food podcast for busy brains from host Catherine Smart — a cook, writer, mom, and creative entrepreneur with ADHD.

Tune in for conversations with chefs, authors, creators, and food lovers about sparking creativity, calming chaos, and finding joy in (and out) of the kitchen + subscribe to the Not From Concentrate newsletter on Substack