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James Knight-Paccheco celebrates the inspirational stories of people within hospitality, their ups, their downs and everything in between. What does it take to keep up in one of the most competitive, mentally and physically stressful industries in the world? Giving incredible insights and advice to the listeners. For more information go to http://www.chefjkp.com
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Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story shaped by culture, trade, and a woman who believes food can create understanding in ways politics never can. Victoria Hassani grew up inside her family’s restaurant on the Jersey shore. Breakfast crowds, seafood dinners, a deli, an ice cream shop and a childhood built around menus, ingredients, cost control and hospitality. Her earliest memories were not hobbies or weekend activities. They were food memories. She later studied music, moved to ...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story shaped by culture, curiosity, and a woman who sees food as memory, craft, and connection. Leen Al Zaben grew up between Jordanian Bedouin hospitality and the fresh, seasonal cooking of her grandmother’s kitchen. Big salads, olive oil, Friday breakfasts, and long family tables. Those early moments became the foundation of her palate and the way she understands flavor. Her path was never straight. She studied business, tried multiple careers, mo...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story built on pressure, persistence, and two people who refused to settle for the careers they were “meant” to have. Dan and Fix spent years in engineering and construction before Carnistore ever existed. Long days on site, managing hundreds of workers, solving problems nonstop, and dealing with deadlines that could cost millions. But the one thing that stayed with both of them was food. Memories from Egypt, home cooking, street food, and the feelin...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story that’s as honest as it is inspiring. From a small hawker stall in Singapore to standing on the Michelin stage in Dubai, Chef Akmal Anuar has lived a journey built on discipline, sacrifice, and starting from zero more than once. He didn’t grow up loving food. He grew up watching his parents hustle to feed their community. Cooking came later, through tough kitchens, rejection, and a moment that changed his life at Les Amis. In this episode, Akm...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story that blends tradition, determination, and the pursuit of flavour. From the heart of Mexico to Dubai’s shores, Chef Sergio Hernández Ruiz has built his career one kitchen and one lesson at a time. Now the Chef de Cuisine at Tamoka, Sergio brings Latin warmth, coastal soul, and bold creativity to every plate. In this episode, he opens up about growing up in a small town, discovering his calling through Iron Chef America, and pushing himself from...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story built on precision, passion, and perseverance. From the south of France to the heart of Doha, Chef Fabrice Rosso has crafted his journey one plate and one lesson at a time. Now the Executive Chef at IDAM by Alain Ducasse, Fabrice’s path takes us through the world of Michelin kitchens, from Nice and Monaco to Paris, where he trained under some of the world’s finest chefs, before finding his home in Qatar. In this episode, Fabrice opens up abou...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with a story that brings together food, family, and fearless creativity. When her mom once suggested turning her newsletters into a book, Joan Tuaño Rumsey brushed it off. Years later, that tiny spark became Steak Simplified, a thoughtful and beautifully written guide that makes people fall in love with meat, education, and culture all over again. From growing up in the Philippines to helping her parents build La Carne in Abu Dhabi, Joan’s story is rooted ...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with an inspiring story that blends precision, passion, and pastry in the most beautiful way. From cycling through snow at 3:30 in the morning to his first job in a small pastry shop in France, Chef Christophe Devoille has come a long way. Today, he leads one of the world’s most iconic pastry programs as the Executive Pastry Chef at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai. Over the years, Christophe has worked alongside Alain Ducasse, opened luxury hotels from Paris t...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with another remarkable story of resilience, flavor, and fire featuring Chef Thinus Van Der, Culinary Director 99 Sushi Bar. From growing up in South Africa surrounded by braais and family kitchens to becoming a Michelin-star chef in the UAE, Thinus’s story is a masterclass in grit, gratitude, and growth. After surviving stage three brain cancer, he returned to the kitchen stronger than ever, leading teams, redefining Japanese fine dining in Abu Dhabi, and ...
Send us a text Season 11 continues with another powerful voice in food: Solemann Haddad, Head Chef and Owner of Moonrise in Dubai. At just 26, Solemann became the youngest chef in the region to earn a Michelin star, but his story is about more than accolades. From dropping out of university three weeks before graduating to building one of Dubai’s most talked about restaurants, Solemann has forged his path with ambition, honesty, and an uncompromising belief in identity. In this conversation...
Send us a text Chef JKP AKA James Knight-Paccheco gives a warm welcome to Season 11. For the first time the season is extended to 16 episodes, and in this solo opener James shares what he has been up to, talks about the big Michelin moments in Dubai, thanks the hospitality community, introduces Potatoes USA as the season sponsor and launches a listener Q&A. This episode is an honest, personal update and a short celebration of the people who cook and serve food every day. You will hear ki...
Send us a text 🚨The Season 8 Finale is here! And we’re closing it out with an absolute legend in the world of gastronomy - Chef Pierre Koffmann. In this special episode, James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Pierre and his brother-in-law Simon for an unforgettable conversation that dives deep into the career of one of the most influential chefs of our time. From shaping the golden age of fine dining in London to mentoring industry giants like Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay, Pie...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco chats with Neha Mishra, the trailblazing chef and founder of Kinoya, one of Dubai’s most celebrated culinary destinations. Neha opens up about her unique journey - from an independent upbringing and diverse career paths to discovering her passion for ramen and transforming it into an international phenomenon.Tune in to listen to our discussion on:👨🍳Going from independence to passion: Neha reflects on her indep...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco chats with Neha Mishra, the trailblazing chef and founder of Kinoya, one of Dubai’s most celebrated culinary destinations. Neha opens up about her unique journey - from an independent upbringing and diverse career paths to discovering her passion for ramen and transforming it into an international phenomenon. Tune in to listen to our discussion on: 👨🍳Going from independence to passion: Neha reflects on her in...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Pacheco welcomes Doxis Bekris, Vice President of Culinary Shared Services and Concept Development at Emirates Flight Catering, for an in-depth conversation about the fascinating world of in-flight culinary operations. From his childhood in Greece to leading one of the world’s largest catering services, Doxis shares his journey and the dedication it takes to create exceptional dining experiences at 40,000 feet. Tune in ...
Send us a text In this milestone 100th episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight Paccheco reflects on the incredible journey since the podcast's inception in May 2020! JKP explores memorable moments from past episodes with renowned chefs, CEOs, and media personalities. The episode is a celebration of the culinary industry's vibrant stories and a look forward to many more episodes of truth-telling, laughter, and learning. P.S. Keep an eye out for an exciting announcement! 00:00 Welcom...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Fay Economides, Executive Managing Director of M Management Company, to discuss her extraordinary journey from the world of finance to becoming a leading restaurateur in Dubai. Fay shares her inspiring story, from growing up in Athens with a love for food to opening two of Dubai’s most celebrated restaurants, Mythos and Nola Eatery & Social House, simultaneously. Tune in for a great discussi...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Carmen Landsberg, Global Executive Chef of Brunch & Cake, to explore her extraordinary culinary journey. From helping her mom in the kitchen as a child in South Africa to navigating the high-stakes world of casino kitchens and leading an internationally recognized brand, Carmen shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way. Tune in to learn about: 👨🍳 Casino kitchens and leadership: ...
Send us a text In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco welcomes Emma Banks, Vice President of Food and Beverage Strategy and Development for Hilton EMEA. Emma shares her incredible journey from her early days in Asia to becoming a driving force in one of the world's leading hospitality companies. Here’s what we covered: 👨🍳Hospitality leadership: Insights into Emma’s role at Hilton and how she has transformed the company’s food and beverage strategy across the EMEA regi...
Send us a text It’s a special festive episode of the Chef JKP Podcast! James Knight-Paccheco spreads the holiday cheer as we celebrate the podcast’s new availability on YouTube and welcome special guests Courtney Brandt and Liam Collens for a lively discussion about what’s next in the culinary world. With gifts exchanged, festive vibes in the air, and plenty of laughter, this episode dives into the trends shaping 2024, the rise of Emirati cuisine, and reflections on the Michelin awards...
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