Learning How to Fly: John Cafarelli’s Advice for Aspiring Chefs

Now general manager at Finkbine Golf Course, John Cafarelli spent much of his career in the kitchen before he moved into a club management role. Finkbine is the practice facility and competition site for the University of Iowa men’s and women’s collegiate golf teams. It’s also home to Bump’s, the clubhouse restaurant named for Chalmers “Bump” Elliott, director of athletics during one of the winningest eras in the school’s history. In this interview, Cafarelli shares his philosophy that has carried him through his career, his advice for young chefs, and a little bit about the magic of Finkbine.