ADHD Almost Ended His Chef Career — Then Everything Changed

Chef Spencer Horovitz is a 2025 James Beard semifinalist, the founder of Hadeem in San Francisco, and one of the few chefs openly talking about what it’s actually like to navigate professional kitchens with ADHD. In this episode of Not From Concentrate, Spencer and Catherine get deeply honest about the realities of ADHD in restaurant culture: impulsivity, overwhelm, burnout, hyperfocus, shame, sensory overload, and the systems that finally helped Spencer build a sustainable life and career. They also dive into: Why fine dining kitchens can be brutal for ADHD brains ADHD-friendly cooking and organization strategies Hyperfocus, multitasking, and time blindness “Boy dinner” and feeding yourself when overwhelmed Culinary school and restaurant culture California-Jewish cuisine and the philosophy behind Hadeem The emotional side of creativity and self-acceptance Plus: Spencer shares practical tools that genuinely help him function in kitchens and daily life — from limiting choices and reducing stimuli to building systems that support how his brain actually works. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by cooking, work, organization, or simply existing with a busy brain, this conversation will hit home. Follow Hadeem: Instagram: @wearehadeem Website: www.wearehadeemsf.com Subscribe for more conversations about food, creativity, mental health, entrepreneurship and putting our attention where it matter most.