Commercial Kitchen Chronicles

I'm just a blue-collar guy trying to shine a light on my little corner of the HVACR industry. I've spent the last 20 years working in commercial kitchen equipment repair. Ovens, fryers, refrigeration, ice machines, dishmachines, combi ovens, steamers, and just about anything else that keeps a commercial kitchen running. I'm a technician first. Always have been. Along the way, I've been fortunate enough to become a CFESA Master Technician, an instructor, and an award-winning technician. But some of the most rewarding things I've done in this industry have nothing to do with awards or certifications. They've come from helping another technician figure something out, watching someone develop their skills, or encouraging somebody to take a chance on a career in the skilled trades. A few years ago, I started sharing my everyday work on social media. What began as simply documenting service calls turned into something much bigger. Today, I create repair content, share lessons learned in the field, and host Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, a podcast dedicated to the people, stories, and experiences that make our industry what it is. I'm constantly learning, whether that's becoming a better technician, instructor, podcaster, or content creator. I spend a ridiculous amount of time studying photography, filming, editing, storytelling, and what other creators are doing. Not because I think I've figured everything out, but because I know I haven't. If you see me following you, commenting, asking questions, or interacting with your content, it's because I'm genuinely interested in what you're doing. I'm learning from you, just like I hope someone might learn something from me. My goal is pretty simple. Share what I know. Learn what I don't. Help others along the way. And hopefully leave this industry a little better than I found it. If you're in HVACR, commercial refrigeration, foodservice equipment repair, or any of the skilled trades, I'd love to connect. And to everyone out there teaching, creating, documenting their journey, or helping the next generation find their way... Keep that shit up. 👊 #HVACR #SkilledTrades #CommercialKitchenEquipment – at Elwood, IN

Well Finnegan's photoshoot was a success, but he was not happy about it 🤣🤣🤣

When its Halloween but @DutchBros is living in the future 🤣🤣🤣🤣 – at Linwood, IN

Not me complaining about wearing gloves at work again 😆 😅 😂 – at Williams Creek, IN

🎃👻 HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM COMMERCIAL KITCHEN CHRONICLES! 🔧🔥 From all of us at Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we want to wish our listeners, viewers, supporters, and everyone keeping the skilled trades alive a safe and Happy Halloween! Whether you're turning wrenches, troubleshooting equipment, answering emergency service calls, or enjoying some well-deserved time off, we appreciate YOU! 🎙️ GOT A STORY TO TELL? DON'T BE SCARED! 👻 Just because today is Halloween doesn't mean telling your story has to be scary! We're always looking for new guests to join us on Commercial Kitchen Chronicles – The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast! You don't have to be famous, own a business, have thousands of followers, or be an industry expert. You just have to have a story worth sharing. 🔧 How did you find your way into the skilled trades? 🔥 What challenges have you overcome? 💪 How has working in the trades changed your life? 🎯 What advice would you give someone considering a career in the trades? Whether you're in commercial kitchen equipment repair, HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, or another skilled trade, WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY! Your experiences could be exactly what someone else needs to hear to take that first step into the trades. 🎙️ No scripts. No pressure. Just real conversations with real tradespeople. 📩 Send us a DM or reach out at [email protected] to join us for an upcoming episode! 👇 TAG A TRADESPERSON BELOW WHO HAS A STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD! 🎃 Happy Halloween, and remember… THE WORLD EATS BECAUSE THEY FIX! 🔧🔥 #HappyHalloween #CommercialKitchenChronicles #SkilledTrades #Tradespeople #FoodserviceEquipmentRepair #HVACR #BlueCollar #TradeCareers #PodcastGuests #SkilledTradesMatter – at Ingalls, IN

🔥 31+ YEARS OLD AND STILL COOKING! CAN TODAY'S EQUIPMENT SAY THE SAME? 🔥 Someone tightened a thermocouple so badly that part of the pilot safety came out WITH IT! 🤦‍♂️ On this service call, I'm bringing an old-school Blodgett deck oven back to life with a new Robertshaw TS11 pilot safety, thermocouple, and some Nylog White from Refrigeration Technologies! 🔧 Real-world troubleshooting. 🔥 Commercial gas oven repair. 💪 Equipment built to last DECADES! 💥 Are manufacturers building better commercial kitchen equipment today, or just adding more expensive problems? 🎥 WATCH THE FULL REPAIR ON YOUTUBE! 👇 youtu.be/HMCM5LUOgvc 💬 TECHS: What's the oldest piece of equipment you're still servicing? #Blodgett #CommercialKitchenRepair #FoodserviceEquipment #HVACR #SkilledTrades #NylogWhite #RefrigerationTechnologies #CFESA

🔧 WHERE ARE MY FELLOW TRADESPEOPLE AT? 🔥 I'm looking to connect with more people in the skilled trades! ⚡ HVAC/R Technicians 🔧 Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair Techs ❄️ Refrigeration Technicians 🔥 Electricians & Plumbers 🍳 Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers 🛠️ Tool & Equipment Manufacturers 🏭 Technical Trainers & Industry Leaders I've spent nearly 20 years repairing commercial foodservice equipment, and my mission is simple: Connect people. Share knowledge. Elevate the trades. Through Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, I'm working to give technicians a voice, share real-world experiences, and bridge the gap between manufacturers and the people turning the wrenches. 👇 LET'S BUILD OUR NETWORK! ✅ Drop your trade or company in the comments! ✅ Tell me what you work on! ✅ Tag someone in the industry worth following! ✅ Repost to help connect more tradespeople! Let's grow this community together! 🤝 #SkilledTrades #HVACR #CommercialKitchen #FoodserviceEquipment – at Elwood, IN

The best in the business! – at Elwood, IN

Second stop of the day was a cool pizzeria – at West Lafayette, IN

YOU SCREWED UP. NOW WHAT? OWN IT OR COVER IT UP? Let's be real. If you've been turning wrenches long enough, you've broken something, made a costly mistake, or found yourself in a situation where you needed help. The difference between a great technician and a bad one isn't whether they make mistakes. It's how they handle them. 🏆 On the latest episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, 2026 CFESA TopTech Throwdown National Hot Side Champion and Outstanding Technician Kyle Burkholder shares a story from early in his HVAC/R career. While replacing a low-pressure switch on a walk-in cooler, he accidentally snapped a refrigerant access port. 💨 Refrigerant everywhere. 💰 An expensive mistake. 😬 A phone call nobody wants to make. But instead of hiding it, making excuses, or blaming someone else, Kyle picked up the phone and told his manager exactly what happened. He asked for help, got the equipment repaired, and learned from the experience. THAT'S HOW YOU GROW! 💯 Here's something some technicians AND managers need to hear: 🔥 Mistakes are going to happen. 🔥 Accountability matters more than excuses. 🔥 Hiding problems only makes them worse. 🔥 Great leaders use mistakes as opportunities to develop people. You can't expect technicians to take ownership of their mistakes if you've created an environment where they're afraid to admit them. And technicians, you can't expect to grow if you're unwilling to admit when you screwed up! This applies to more than HVAC/R or commercial kitchen equipment repair. It applies to leadership, your career, and life. 🎙️ HEAR THE FULL CONVERSATION! Kyle joins us on the latest episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles – The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast, where we discuss his journey from automotive repair to CFESA Master Technician, national champion, and service branch manager. 🐍 Proudly brought to you by VIPER from Refrigeration Technologies! Supporting the technicians who keep our industry running. 🎧 LISTEN NOW on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and your favorite podcast platform! open.spotify.com/episode/74a… 💬 LET'S HEAR IT! What's the most expensive mistake you've ever made on a service call, and what did you learn from it? And for the managers out there: Do you punish mistakes or use them to develop better technicians? 👇 Drop your story in the comments. No judgment here! 👍 LIKE | 💬 COMMENT | 🔁 SHARE | 🎧 FOLLOW For Techs, By Techs. #CommercialKitchenChronicles #KyleBurkholder #HVACR #CommercialRefrigeration #HVACTechnician #FoodserviceEquipmentRepair #CFESA #TopTechThrowdown #SkilledTrades #TechnicianTraining #Leadership #Accountability #ServiceTechnician #RefrigerationRepair #Viper #RefrigerationTechnologies

251a m Time to get it in – at Elwood, IN

Dude hits it on the head. Got friends that talk about my content yet never like, comment, share or anything. Support your boys.....

NGL that mouse is sick I should start streaming Arc

Allow that and more just to grill burgers. – at Noblesville, IN

First call of the day. Alto shaam combi would not turn on due to a tripped internal circuit breaker. Nope to figure out why it tripped.... – at New Whiteland, IN

From Wrenches to Championships: Kyle Burkholder’s Rise to the Top | Commercial Kitchen Chronicles teapawt.org/i/broadcasts/1rxmqpBOR…

🔥 TWO MAJOR AWARDS. ONE HELL OF A TECHNICIAN! 🏆 TONIGHT at 8 PM Eastern! We're going LIVE with Kyle Burkholder, the 2026 CFESA TopTech Throwdown National Hot Side Champion AND 2026 CFESA Outstanding Technician! From earning his CFESA Master Technician certification in just 18 months to becoming a national champion and branch manager at Clark Service Group, Kyle has one incredible story to tell! 🔧 Technical excellence 🏆 National championships 💪 Leadership, training, and developing the next generation of technicians 🎙️ Commercial Kitchen Chronicles 📅 TONIGHT | October 28 ⏰ 8 PM Eastern | LIVE on YouTube 🐍 Proudly brought to you by Viper from Refrigeration Technologies! 💬 What does it take to become one of the best technicians in the country? Join us LIVE, bring your questions, and SHARE this with a fellow technician! #CommercialKitchenChronicles #CFESA #TopTechThrowdown #HVACR #FoodserviceEquipmentRepair #SkilledTrades #Viper #RefrigerationTechnologies – at Noblesville, IN