Andrew Talks to Chefs

Between speaking on a panel at The Chef Conference in Philly and catching a flight back to New Orleans, chef Nina Compton took time to sit down with Andrew and share the milestones in her life and career to date. From a fondly remembered childhood in Saint Lucia to the Culinary Institute of America to stints working for and with chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Scott Conant, and Norman Van Aken ... to owning and operating her own Compère Lapin in New Orleans ... this conversation packs a lot into 45 minutes. Evident throughout is Nina's love of cooking and her ongoing search for herself on the plate.Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor, meez, the recipe operating software for professionals. Sign up today for a basic  (free) or premium membership. Thanks also to S.Pellegrino. The application process is now open for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-2025! THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Austin Johnson has taken a circuitous route to NYC's One White Street and Rigor Hill Market. He's cooked or cheffed at institutions like Canlis, Noma, Eleven Madison Park, Frenchie, and others, as well as on an Alaskan fishing boat. (His blog from his time on the boat is still online, and is well worth your time.) He shares it all here, and takes time along the way to discuss kitchen culture, whether or not to go to cooking school, and the value of stages.Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor, meez, the recipe operating software for professionals. Sign up today for a basic  (free) or premium membership. Thanks also to S.Pellegrino. The application process is now open for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-2025!  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

If ever there were a guest who needed little introduction, it's certainly Alain Ducasse. The great chef--one of the most influential, prolific, and successful in the history of Western cuisine--sat down with Andrew this week to discuss his new book "Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion." The book is a meditation on Chef Ducasse's life and career so far, and in this conversation, he expands on many of the ideas and moments related in the book. Our great thanks to Emmanuelle Perrier for serving as translator for this interview.The presenting sponsor of Andrew Talks to Chefs is meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient.  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

The Taste of Things is one of the most celebrated films of the past year, a beautifully rendered love story set amid an important chapter in culinary history. On this ATTC Special Conversation, the film's writer-director Trần Anh Hùng joins us from Paris to discuss the genesis of the film, what attracted him to the project, the involvement of chef Pierre Gagnaire, and working with actors Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel. Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient.  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Friends of the pod Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, of Border Grill and other restaurants, check in from Los Angeles to discuss the evolution of chefs and other industry figures making a difference by devoting time, effort, and resources to a variety of causes. In addition to their own substantial work on behalf of organizations such as The Abundance Setting, the James Beard Foundation, The Los Angeles LGBT Center, The Scleroderma Research Foundation, Regarding HER, and Share Our Strength, the dynamic duo talk about the rewards of giving back, how they involve young culinary professionals in this work, and ways of maximizing the power of individuals and the industry as a whole.Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient.  (Photo by Shilah Montiel.) THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

This week, the chef and restaurant community suddenly lost one of its most talented and influential figures. David Bouley, who rose to prominence at Montrachet and Bouley restaurants in the 1980s, died of cardiac arrest at age 70. To remember this towering culinary figure, we are sharing a previously unaired interview recorded at Bouley restaurant in its then-current home in 2014. Our condolences to David's family and to the community of admirers, colleagues, and friends he leaves behind. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

In October 2023, Max Natmessnig and Marco Prins returned to Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, where they once were cooks, as co-chefs of the celebrated tasting-menu restaurant. Four months into their tenure, they sat down with Andrew to share their individual and joint stories, describe their collaborative creative process, and explain their their attraction to New York City. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

MIami's Brad Kilgore displays an easygoing demeanor beneath which resides a precise and driven chef. When Brad and his colleagues hosted Andrew for a book event last fall at the Arlo Hotel Wynwood (home of Brad's MaryGold's Brasserie), the two of them sat down to record this interview. In it they discuss myriad subjects including Brad's adoption of the principles of Molecular and Modernist Cuisines, his time in some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and his plans for the future, including Pizza Freak Co., an already launched direct-to-doorstep frozen pizza venture.  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

While visiting his hometown of Miami, Florida, during his recent book tour, Andrew finally  had the chance to meet and interview with chef Michael Beltran of Ariete, Chug's Diner, and Eva and The Oyster Bar--all in Coconut Grove. Michael is also the host of the excellent Pan Con Podcast, which you should by all means check out. After years of corresponding by Instagram messages, Andrew and MIchael sat down for a conversation that is shared differently on their two shows: Michael and producer Nicolás Antonio Jiménez (who produced the session, and recorded and mixed the sound) ran the entire two-plus-hour dialogue on Pan Con Podcast. We're sharing pieces of it here as Special Conversations, starting with this episode about how a chef can stay true to themself while also drawing and satisfying customers. It's an honest, frank conversation that we think is very timely and entertaining.Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient.  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Our fourth Mentorship panel was staged this past fall in Andrew's hometown of Miami, Florida, at the much-acclaimed  Maty's, part of the Itamae family of restaurants. As chef Valerie "Val" Chang and her crew prepared dinner for a full house of line cooks from around the city, her brother and business partner Nando Chang took to the mic along with his longtime protege Adriano Montano. Their unique story--both are musicians and Adriano continues to pursue his career alongside his now five-year (and going) stint with the Itamae group. This latest installment in our six-part LIVE! national series offers much wisdom on hiring and management, and a touching (and not uncommon) story of a cook finding the kitchen almost by accident, and deciding to stay there.(Be sure to also listen to the other episodes in this series, which are conveniently gathered in an archive on our website.) * photo by Middle River Arts THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

**Content warning – this episode (briefly) discusses attempted suicide.**Sam Hart took a circuitous route to the professional kitchen. After a childhood in which cooking and food weren't especially central concerns, Sam was in a career in advertising when culinary inspiration struck, leading to jobs in such kitchens as  Alinea, and ultimately to becoming chef owner of Counter- and other concepts in Charlotte, NC. Andrew and Sam sat down a few months back to go through their fascinating career and creative arc.Please note: If experiencing suicidal feelings, for professional and/or medical advice/attention, please seek help from an appropriate mental health care specialist and/or medical provider.If you are in the U.S., here are two resources where you can seek help any day, at any time:National Suicide Prevention LifelineCrisis Text Line (also available in the UK, Ireland, and Canada)A great many national and regional resources are available, both in the US and around the world. If in the United States, you can seek a referral here. Wherever you are, a quick web search should point you to qualified help in your area and/or language. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

For the first time in three hundred episodes, we're turning the tables on Andrew and sitting him in the hot seat, a.k.a. the guest's chair, to take you inside his new book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food. Fellow writer and author Chandra Ram, of Food & Wine, takes the helm to ask Andrew all about the book: where the idea came from, what the research entailed, how difficult it was traveling and interviewing during the recent pandemic, and what the key takeaways from the book are. We've also layered in excerpts from the audio book, read by chef MIchael Lomonaco, to bring some sections Chandra and Andrew discuss to vivid life.To order The Dish, please visit HarperCollin's book page, from which you can navigate to your favorite online bookseller. (Or purchase from a local, independent bookseller if you are able.)Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Cafe Mars, a six-month old restaurant in Gowanus, Brooklyn, has made quite an impression on guests and awards-bestowers alike with its unique brand of hospitality, which extends to both staff and guests, erasing many of the invisible boundaries long associated with dining out. Everybody on staff is cross-trained for the kitchen, dining room, and bar; the team closes out their preshift meeting with a stretching exercise; and guests are received and cared for with a familiarity that resonates with a growing fan base. You can call this enlightened hospitality, or (as Andrew suggests in the interview) holistic hospitality. To our guests today--beverage director Madalyn Summers and chefs Paul D'Avino and Jorge Olarte--it's just hospitality, and they hope, fun, Whatever you call it, it won the restaurant a Michelin Guide New York award for Service this year. A conversation that any restaurant professional will take something valuable from.Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient. Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful," and the Wall Street Journal says "takes the reader on an adventure."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news.  THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

**Content warning – this episode (briefly) discusses suicidal feelings.**Eli Kulp inspires us. By age 36, he'd graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, moved from his native Seattle to New York City, and worked in top kitchens before becoming the opening chef de cuisine of the original, fabled Torrisi restaurant. After moving to Philadelphia to take over the kitchen at Fork, a catastrophic Amtrak accident rendered him a quadriplegic. He takes us through all of it, including his post-accident rehabilitation and a professional adjustment that includes continuing to teach cooks, the launch and success of his Chef Radio Podcast, and his role as cohost of local Philly food podcast Delicious City. This is a relatively long one, and also a special one--please be sure to listen to the whole thing. This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news.Please note: If experiencing suicidal feelings, for professional and/or medical advice/attention, please seek help from an appropriate mental health care specialist and/or medical provider.If you are in the U.S., here are two resources where you can seek help any day, at any time:National Suicide Prevention LifelineCrisis Text Line (also available in the UK, Ireland, and Canada)A great many national and regional resources are available, both in the US and around the world. If in the United States, you can seek a referral here. Wherever you are, a quick web search should point you to qualified help in your area and/or language. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

We're delighted to share the third in a series of live discussions on the subject of Mentorship in the restaurant industry. The series is brought to you by our promotional partner S.Pellegrino, and each one is moderated by Andrew, staged in a different city, and builds on the one(s) that precede(s) it. This episode was recorded LIVE before an audience of Houston line cooks at an On the Line dinner at Bludorn restaurant and features Bludorn's chef-owner Aaron Bludorn, Rebecca Masson (owner and head baker of Fluff Bake Bar), Jerrod Zifchak (chef de cuisine of Navy Blue), and Jared Adams (baker at Fluff Bake Bar).(Be sure to also listen to the other episode in this series, which are conveniently gathered in an archive on our website.)Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Since quietly taking the helm of Union Square Cafe in New York City, chef Lena Ciardullo has been turning out some of the best Italian-based food in town ... not bad for a woman who majored in communications in college before deciding to pursue a kitchen career. Recently, Lena sat down with Andrew at Union Square Cafe to discuss her own Italian roots, the time she spent in Italy, the pros and cons of spending her entire post-school career with the same restaurant group, and her philosophies of training and education.This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Jason Hammel originally set out to be a writer, then found his way to the professional kitchen. For more than 20 years, his Lula Cafe has been a Chicago institution. This fall, with the release of the Lula Cafe Cookbook, Jason combines his two professional passions and lovingly tells his story, and that of the restaurant, along with--of course--recipes for the restaurant's many long-enshrined signature dishes.This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Horn Barbecue needs your help to recover from a catastrophic fire. If you would like, and are able, to make a contribution, please do!Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

While at the Hot Luck Festival in Austin, TX, this spring, Andrew sat down with Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, chef and co-owner of Birdie's, one of the restaurants of the moment (it was  recently named "restaurant of the year" by Food & Wine). In addition to describing her own path, which took her from Texas to Chicago to New York and back to Texas, Tracy details the progressive business and service model at Birdie's, which allow for a range of benefits for the team and for her and her husband-business partner, Arjav Ezekiel.This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."If you are in NYC, please come see Andrew in conversation with Food 52 founder Amanda Hesser at P&T Knitwear in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, November 14 at 7pm. Secure your spot now!If you're in Houston, Texas, join us for a lunch celebrating the publication of The Dish at Bludorn restaurant on Thursday, November 16 at 11:45am. Make your reservation now!And Andrew will be at Kendall College in Chicago this Friday, discussing The Dish with Beverly Kim (one of the chefs featured in the book) and Jon Templin (one of the farmers featured in the book). If you'd like to attend, we'd love to see you. You also must RSVP.Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

The ever-energetic Nancy Silverton returns to the pod to talk about her terrific new cookbook: The Cookie That Changed My Life. In it, Nancy--currently helming such restaurants as Chi Spacca and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles--returns to her pastry roots. The book shares more than 100 recipes that capture her perfected versions of beloved, classic baked goods. Written in collaboration with Carolynn Carreño, The Cookie That Changed My Life is a knockout, with much to appeal to pro cooks and home cooks alike, as well as to holiday gift-givers. Our thanks to Metro for their support. Visit their website today to learn more about how they can make your restaurant kitchen and office more efficient. Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

On the heels of his James Beard Foundation Award recognition as Outstanding Chef (in the nation), Rob Rubba visited New York City to discuss his career to date, and the life changes that led to his super-popular restaurant Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C.This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Andrew’s NEW book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now ON SALE! Read the book Publishers Weekly calls "masterful."And if you are in NYC, please come see Andrew in conversation with Food 52 founder Amanda Hesser at P&T Knitwear in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, November 14 at 7pm. Secure your spot now!If you're in Houston, Texas, join us for a lunch celebrating the publication of The Dish at Bludorn restaurant on Thursday, November 16 at 11:45am. Make your reservation now!Since 2019, Andrew Talks to Chefs has been a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related news. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!