10 Insights from BIZ Experiences and Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger From 'Top Chef Masters' to food trucks, this restaurateur continues to reinvent herself.

By Kara Ohngren Prior

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

After reimagining Mexican cuisine with her Border Grill restaurants in Southern California and Las Vegas and competing on Bravo's Top Chef Masters, chef Susan Feniger says she's always thinking of new ways to reinvent herself -- and her food.

"Not many people I know can say they're still passionate about what they do after 30 years," she says. "For me, food connects us, and the next stop on this culinary adventure is always the one that most excites me."

Related: Take Charge of Your Kitchen

Between bites of kaya toast, Feniger shares her personal Top 10 list with SecondAct.

What Are You...
1. Working on: Susan Feniger's Street Food, my new cookbook from Clarkson Potter, Random House. I'm also working on a new website, more Border Grills, more Border Grill trucks and a STREET product line.

2. Reading: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

3. Watching: Downton Abbey, Mad Men when it comes back on, and The Rachel Maddow Show

4. Listening to: Eva Cassidy, Corinne Bailey Rae, Annie Lennox, Pink Martini, Adele

5. Making: A new menu at STREET happening in February, and a vegetable garden at home

Related: From Home Cooks to Gourmet Startups

6. Playing: Tennis (never enough time), skiing (in my dreams), paddle tennis (in my hopes)

7. Inspired by: President Obama; my friend who is recovering from a brain aneurism; our animals; my girlfriend of 16 years

8. Imagining: More time off and more restaurants and trucks! I guess those two don't work that well together.

9. Finding most challenging: Keeping it all in balance

10. Adding to your bucket list in 2012: More time to read, hang, grow our businesses, see friends...relax!

Related: Eating Locally on $40 a Week

Kara Ohngren is a freelance writer and part-time editor at YoungEntrepreneur. Her work has appeared in publications including BIZ Experiences Magazine, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Huffington Post and Business Insider.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.