2022

"The Drug- And Alcohol Fueled Lifestyle of Chefs:  How Does One Escape?"  I talk with writer Garin Pirnia who highlights my personal story from how I started cooking to founding Restaurant After Hours.  Article - click here.

For the second year in a row, Restaurant After Hours joined Mtv and 1600 other nonprofits, brands, and government agencies for the second annual Mental health Action Day.  This year we teamed up with Table 87 Pizzeria of Brooklyn.  Website - click here.

I went live with The Giving Kitchen to talk about substance misuse, recovery, and my path to sobriety.  Website - click here.

"Documentary Explores the Life of Legendary Chef Charlie Trotter."  So humbled and proud that Restaurant After Hours was named the beneficiary of "Love, Charlie".  Article - click here. 

I joined mental health advocate Serah Morrissey to share stories and educate HopDaddy management team about how they can best take care of their staff and one another.  Video - click here.

Restaurant After Hours' mental health counselors Erin Reifsnyder and Julie D'Amico contribute to this informative and powerful article as part of Plate Online's Restaurant Mental Health Toolkit.  Article - click here. 

I joined Hassel Aviles, Executive Director of Not 9-to-5 Organization, to do a final year-end mental health check-in for the James Beard Foundation Clubhouse.  *Note - Clubhouse link no longer available*

"22 Organizations Supporting Mental Health."  I am so humbled and proud to have Restaurant After Hours included alongside all these great and hard-working organizations supporting mental health of hospitality workers.  Article - click here.

Honoring Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, I joined RWCF to talk about the mental health challenges many hospitality workers faced this past year.  Video  - click here.

"How Hospitality Workers Identify and Manage Stress."  Julie D'Amico, our Director of Mental Health Operations at Restaurant After Hours, lends her expertise about how hospitality workers can identify and manage stress.  Article - click here. 

It's Too Much.  We're Exhausted.  Maybe This Will Help."  I am thankful Bar & Restaurant included Restaurant After Hours as a resource at the end of their very important article describing the issues hospitality workers are currently facing.  Article - click here.

We reached Japan!  Food writer Kuni Yasutake shared the work of Restaurant After Hours with Japanese readers whom shared a significantly favorable response!  We are so excited and thrilled that our organization provided them a starting point for important discussions.  For a translated transcript, please reach out.  Article - click here. 

"Mental Health Mise-En-Place - Workplaces Worth Working."  I joined chefs Jensen Cummings and Patrick Mulvaney to talk about how to improve mental health in the restaurant industry on a day-to-day level.  Youtube - click here.

"Return on Assets, Not Investment."  I shared my thoughts on why we should stop using the term ROI in relation to restaurant workers and people.  Article - click here.  

"The Silent Side Effect."  I acted as keynote speaker for CHART, who hosted a regional training forum and panel discussion on the subject of mental health in the hospitality industry.  Article - click here.

During Mental Health Awareness Month I did a seminar titled "Introduction to Mental Health First Aid", and was included on a panel titled "Substance Abuse in the Industry" with Chefs Andrew Zimmern, Steve Palmer, and Patrick Mulvaney.  Website - click here.

"A New Way to Help Restaurant Workers' Mental Health."  Writer Chris Crowley highlights the details of Restaurant After Hours' new virtual support group program.  Article - click here.

The Big Food Question - "How Can Restaurants Support Staff Mental Health?"  Producer Hannah Fordin speaks with me and others about how restaurant workers can tend to their psychological well-being.  Podcast - Listen here.

"All of This is Kind of Killing Me Right Now."  Restaurant After Hours' Board Member Erin Reifsnyder speaks with Chris Crowley at Grubstreet regarding the crushing mental and physical toll restaurant workers are facing during the pandemic.  Article - click here.

I sat down with Perri Peltz and Matt O'Neill to discuss Restaurant After Hours and how hospitality workers are currently navigating the COVID-19 crisis.  Download - click here.

"How to Take Your Own Mental Health Temperature."  I wrote a letter to fellow hospitality workers outlining how to take care of one's mental health for the RWCF October newsletter.  Article - click here.

"10 Ways Restaurant Staff Can Protect Their Mental Health Through the Pandemic."  Journalist Andrea Strong thinks it's time we talk more openly about COVID coping.  Article - click here.

"Recipes for Recovery" - I sat down with Adam Stafford to talk about my personal mental health journey and the road I took to Found Restaurant After Hours.  Podcast - click here.

"Chefs Find a Way to Create Space for Grief and Loss in Their Restaurants."  Food writer Caroline Hatchett sheds light on a topic very seldom talked about in restaurants.  Article - click here.

"Five Bright Stars for These Dark Times."  Incredibly humbled to be included with such great company.  Fellow hospitality nonprofit A Balanced Glass recognizes the efforts the team at Restaurant After Hours put into our approachable and easy-to-navigate resources page.  Article - click here.

"Resources for Restaurants and Workers Affected by the Coronavirus Crisis." - In the wake of COVID 19's tremendous effect on the US restaurant industry, the LA Times listed Restaurant After Hours as a prime mental health resource for restaurant workers.  Article - click here.

"Apps Have Turned Restaurant Work Into A Gig-Economy Hustle.  Here's How One Cook Chases A Paycheck."  Very humbled and proud to be featured in The Washington Post.  This story highlights the ins and outs of freelance work, mental health of hospitality workers, and the overall work I had been doing when I launched Restaurant After Hours.  Article - click here.   

Proud to partner with RWCF who provided Restaurant After Hours with two general operating grants for both 2019 and 2020.  Article - click here.  

"Self-Care, Mental Health, and Moving Forward."  On Monday, October 28th, 2019 I was asked by StarChefs to moderate a business panel about a very important topic relating to hospitality workers.  Article - click here.

Grateful and humbled to have my biography featured on the StarChefs website.  Bio - click here.

"Cooking Eggs in the Morning and Shucking Oysters at Night, Thanks to an App."  The New York Times writes about how the hospitality industry started to shift into the on-demand gig-economy.  Article - click here.  

"Pared Pro-File:  Zia Sheikh and Restaurant After Hours."  To help amplify my organization's message, I was working with on-demand apps such as Pared, Flex, and Instawork in and around the NYC area to meet other industry professionals and talk to managers about how to build better kitchen cultures.  Article - click here.  

"From Restaurant Kitchens to Restaurant Mental Health."  I sat down with Restaurant After Hours' Board Member Ethan Frisch about my mental health journey, kitchen culture, and the changes we all need to begin to make.  Podcast - click here.  

"Zia's Story:  Addiction and Mental Health in Hospitality."  This article holds a very special place in my heart.  In 2018 I opened up to the world about my addiction issues, starting therapy, and my ideas to Found Restaurant After Hours.  In less than a week after launch, Erin Lettera of StarChefs took notice.  Incredibly grateful to have part of my story printed.  Article - click here.

"Chef de Cuisine | What I Do and How Much I Make"  Video - click here.

"Chef de Cuisine | How I Got My Job and Where I Am Going"  Video - click here.  

"Chef de Cuisine | My Budget and Planning For The Future"  Video - click here.

Food critic Gael Greene gave a rave review of the newly opened Paowalla on her blog.  Thanks for the mention!  Article - click here. 

Incredibly proud to have this mention in my late mentor's cookbook.  Thank you for everything Chef.  Google Books - click here.

"Paowalla:  The Return of Chef Floyd Cardoz."  Jaqueline Raposo was the first to tell the world that Floyd and I were teaming up to open Paowalla.  Article - click here.

"Table Talk with Chef Zia Sheikh"  Excited to sit down with my friend 'Gastronomi' for what I felt was my first industry interview.  Article - click here. 

"The Dish You Love Best, Macaroni & Cheese."  My first published recipe!  Happy to share this recipe with authors Karen Stabiner and Michael Romano.  Google Books - click here.

"How ABC Kitchen Chef Dan Kluger Cooks Like a Boss for a 50-person Dinner Party (and How You Could Too)."  My first time in a magazine!  Article - click here.