Pilsen-raised · Bridgeport · Cookbook for a cause

Chef Sam
Gustav

Grilling, smoking, Mexican, Italian and more, all cooked for family and friends. Now it's going into a cookbook, with every dollar going to ALS United Chicago.

🔥 About the Cookbook Support ALS United Chicago →

Chef Sam Gustav cooking at the grill — Chef Sam Gustav at the grill

100%

All proceeds from Belly Bustin Recipes go to ALS United Chicago, the organization that has helped Sam and his wife Armie since her ALS diagnosis in February 2024.

Visit ALS United Chicago

The story

Not for fame.
For Armie.

"Hello, my name is Sam Vera, and I go by the name Chef Sam Gustav. I'm a self-proclaimed chef, originally from Pilsen, and I live in Bridgeport. I don't cook for events. Everything I do is for family and friends."

"My wife Armie was diagnosed with ALS in February 2024. My goal is to help out a foundation that has helped my wife and me make this part of our lives as easy as possible, through this disease and the everyday struggles it brings us."

"I'm not doing this for fame. I'm just trying to make a difference."

On the grill

Watch Sam
work the flat-top.

Sam cooking for family and friends out in Las Vegas, a full flat-top of pork chops going at once.

"Everything I do is for family and friends."

How it started

Self-taught.
Raised on Julia Child.

"What got me into cooking was a roommate who always complained about everything tasting the same, and having my children visit me in the summer. Someone had to cook for them."

"I'm self-taught. I study a lot of chefs and grillers, whatever you want to call them, and growing up as a child I used to watch Julia Child on TV. With all their knowledge and my knowledge, I've created so many dishes that friends and family request over and over."

Catch him at the lake

31st Street Beach

"A lot of times people can catch me at 31st Street Beach grilling it up. If someone passes by and compliments the way my food smells, I tell them: on your way back to your car, stop by and have a plate."

A few people have taken him up on it, and they came back with good compliments.

COMING SOON

By Chef Sam Gustav & Guest

Belly
Bustin

Recipes

All proceeds to ALS United Chicago

The cookbook

Belly Bustin Recipes

By Chef Sam Gustav and Guest. These are recipes Sam created himself, plus a few guest recipes, and he's hoping to have the book out early next year.

~30recipes

100%of proceeds to ALS United Chicago

Earlynext year (hoped)

🔥 Grilling💨 Smoking🌶️ Mexican🍝 Italian🥬 Vegan🫙 Salsas🍰 Desserts

No release date or pre-order yet. Want to know when it's out, or want to support the cause? Email Sam directly at samvera1975@gmail.com, or follow Chef Sam Gustav on TikTok.

Let me know when it's out

In Sam's words