Chef James Trees & The Hustle Behind Vegas' Best Restaurants | Ep 314

Hey BigHead: The Vegas Local Podcast · Apr 14, 2026 · 1h 33m

In this episode of Hey BigHead: A Vegas Local Podcast, we sit down with Chef James Trees, one of the most respected chefs in Las Vegas and the force behind Esther’s Kitchen and several standout restaurants across the city.

From opening in the Las Vegas Arts District to building a multi-restaurant group, Chef Trees shares what it really takes to succeed in the Vegas food scene.

We get into:

• The community behind Las Vegas food

• The truth about food influencers

• How restaurants actually make money

• Real Italian food vs American Italian

• What it takes to open and survive a restaurant

•…