Meet Michael Opulente

We recently connected with Michael Opulente and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

It took me 15 years to even realize that I had a problem with Drug and Alcohol Abuse and eventually facing going to prison to finally shift my perspective on life. It was a quick decent from exceling in AP calculus and physics to getting my first of three drunk driving offenses. I dropped out of college and got a job in a seasonal waterfront restaurant in Hampton Bays. While I did eventually graduate from Suffolk Community Culinary school and became the Sous Chef there, the environment in the kitchen and restaurant culture in general definitely fueled my problem. After I got my second DUI, I was forced to go through the system again and started my first outpatient program- but it wasn’t enough to learn my lesson. I continued to use when I knew I wasn’t going to be drug tested. My life became a vicious cycle of working crazy hours to pay for lawyers, court fees, the high cost of living in the Hamptons, and most importantly- my substances. I spent my energy with the wrong people and was selfishly going through the motions- not tending to my family or friends. I took an opportunity to run the kitchen at The Station Bar, a local dive bar in Hamptons Bays. While there was a big buzz and it appeared as though I was thriving there- it got to the point where I was barely sleeping and using cocaine and vodka to wake up and get out of bed in the morning. After my 3rd DUI and additional drug charges in 2019, it was finally the wake up call that forced me to make a hard reset on my life. Facing jailtime and having my drivers license revoked for 5 years was honestly the most humbling moment, what I consider my rock bottom. I knew things needed to drastically change if I wanted to have any success in my life or career- and at that point, there was no going back. I’ve now been clean for 5 years, and am still involved at “Catholic Charities Outpatient” helping others maintain when I can. Even with the tremendous challenges of living in the Hamptons without a license, I’ve managed to open my own private chef business doing off-premise catering, and also continued to work at The Station Bar as the Culinary Director, elevating their culinary program way beyond your typical bar food. While it’s been tough to cut certain people out of my life for my own growth, I’ve managed to reframe my relationship to The Station Bar- while it was once associated with a very dark period in my life, it’s now a place where I get to practice rock-solid boundaries, create new opportunities and express my creativity. Instead of going to the bar and grabbing a drink- I stay focused, I bike home and tend to my garden, and find productive side gigs and projects that keep me focused on my success and growing my business. Financial Stability is one of the most important factors that drives my mental health, so now instead of collecting unemployment in the winters, I save my summer earnings and allow myself to travel and experience other cultures and cuisines that fuel my ambition and drive me toward greater success.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Opulent Eats Private Chef/Catering is my main focus. Our company provides custom experiences ranging from small private dinners to weddings and even full time private chef placement. Utilizing all of the connections I’ve made over the years on the East end of Long Island, we source as locally as we can. Also participating in and donating services to local events and fundraisers.

The Station Bar and Restaurant continues to grow every year and having an outlet to get as creative and funky as I want with food is such a blessing. We have an amazing team and owners Mark and Heather Smith have helped turn it around from a dive bar to a cherished family establishment holding events throughout the year.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self Discipline has to be one the most important qualities when facing challenges with mental health and addiction. I often look back at myself and wonder how I ever got to that rock bottom, and give thanks every day that I freed myself from that cycle.
Commitment to Personal and Professional Grown. I have always continued to learn and expand my mind through work and life experiences that have helped me become the person I am today.

Having a good work ethic and not being afraid to put in the 80+ hour work weeks in order to achieve my goals.

My advice to people starting out on their journey is to always take time to dedicate to their health. It might seem like fun and games when you are younger, but that catches up to you eventually- and there is nothing more important than having your physical, mental and emotional health intact.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one challenge I have at the moment is that my drivers license is still revoked until 2026. I’m at the tail end of the nightmare, and have to find creative ways to circumvent this challenge without taking my eye off the prize or losing hope. I ride my E-Bike to the restaurant everyday, and have to ask friends for rides and help getting to and from parties with clients. I could let it get me down, but I know that when my driving privileges are restored this business is going to thrive even more. I am appealing the revocation for the second time this year with character references- and while I pray for a good outcome, I will continue to piece things together until my freedom of mobility returns. Until then, I accept the fact that the business is slow growing and still creating a buzz, while also preparing for a big expansion. It’s also been an important period for me to build my own self-trust and learn to be steady, reliable and accountable- not just at work- but to my family, friends, and mostly importantly- myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: opulenteats.biz
• Instagram: @Opulent_eats
• Facebook: Michael Opulente

Image Credits

Linseys Lens