Chef Philip Speer, Chef, Runner & Advocate

Losing your mind with Chris Cosentino

Philip Speer is a brilliant chef and good friend who inspired me to find a better path. Thanks to him he inspired me to address my Mental Health issues and look in the mirror more then I wanted too. Thank You Philip for helping show me the way.

At the age of 17, Philip Speer entered into the culinary world to begin his career as a chef.

Initially working in scratch bakeries, Speer solely focused on his craft of baking at first. With that said, it wasn’t long before he swiftly moved into Pastry Chef positions at Austin’s most innovative restaurants.

Fast forward two and half decades, Philip Speer has built an impressive career. The chef has been nominated for four James Beard Foundation Awards in the esteemed Outstanding Pastry Chef category. In addition, he has received abundant recognition from major publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, GQ Magazine, Texas Monthly, Bon Appetit, and many more.

Part of Speer’s story has included addiction, to which he has made a profound recovery and since gained unexpected purpose. By finding renewed motivation to change his life through sobriety, exercise, and mindful eating, he now helps other restaurant professionals do the same. You can find Philip in copies of every culinary publication throughout the years; however, he is now most excited to influence community change and invent new opportunities for the industry he loves.

Speer is a change advocate in the culinary sphere, creating resources and support for peers and employees to engage in healthier habits. Philip heads the Austin chapter of Ben’s Friends, a weekly meeting intended to form a coalition of sober Food and Beverage professionals. In these meetings, all are welcome to share experiences and their tools for recovery.

In 2019, Philip founded the Comedor Run Club with a mission to “shift the post-shift culture.” Tailored to restaurant professionals, the urban running community meets tri-weekly to provide recreation and opportunities for building meaningful relationships.

Through these active engagements, the importance of a healthy lifestyle is becoming a long-awaited part of the conversation in restaurant culture.

Chef Speer owns and operates Comedor, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Austin. Comedor has received many accolades, including recognition as one of the top new restaurants in America by both Esquire and Robb Report magazines. Additionally, Texas Monthly crowned Comedor the top of the year in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought unforeseeable changes to the restaurant industry, Speer and his business partners founded Assembly; a virtual events and culinary company which brings hospitality experiences to participant’s homes and workplace.

Chef Speer continues to follow the expansion of his varied endeavors. Including Comedor Run Club’s move into a 501(c)(3) organization, his creation of the Mental Mis En Place Journal, and other brand new projects, Speer is showing his passion for the service industry community through his exciting actions.