Best Table 12 Productions, Inc Podcasts (2024)

1
Nina Compton (Compère Lapin, New Orleans) on How She Put it All Together 58:06

1h ago58:06

58:06

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 Danie…

1
Austin Johnson's Long and Winding Road to One White Street (NYC) 1:30:04

5m ago1:30:04

1:30:04

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 t…

1
Alain Ducasse on His New Book "Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion" (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 34:46

6d ago34:46

34:46

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 …

1
Ep. 13 - Is Foil Takeout Packaging Right for Me? 32:30

1M ago32:30

32:30

This conversation explores the benefits and applications of foil packaging in the food industry. The hosts discuss the advantages of foil packaging, such as heat retention and even heating, and its suitability for takeout and home meal replacement programs. They also address concerns about the perception of foil packaging and the importance of educ…

1
Bringing the Culinary Past to Life with "The Taste of Things" Director Trần Anh Hùng (An ATTC Special Conversation) 35:14

1M ago35:14

35:14

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 …

1
Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger on Making a Difference (An ATTC Special Conversation) 44:01

2M ago44:01

44:01

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 Abu…

1
Remembering David Bouley: In His Own Words and Voice (previously unaired 2014 interview) 1:39:06

2M ago1:39:06

1:39:06

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 …

1
Episode 239: Max Natmessnig and Marco Prins (Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare) on NYC Energy, Collaborative Cheffing, & Making the Final Every Night 1:08:16

2M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

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 att…

1
Episode 238: Brad Kilgore (MaryGold's Brasserie, Miami, FL) on Molecular/Modernist Cuisine, His New Frozen Pizza Venture, and the Surprising Secrets of a French Onion Burger 1:14:25

3M ago1:14:25

1:14:25

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…

1
Is "The Stuff" Enough? with Miami's Chef Michael Beltran (an Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 55:34

3M ago55:34

55:34

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 corres…

1
Mentorship Panel #4: Nando Chang and Adriano Montano LIVE! from an On The Line Dinner in Miami (presented by S.Pellegrino) 32:14

4M ago32:14

32:14

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 hi…

1
Episode 237: Sam Hart (Counter-, Charlotte, NC) 1:21:47

4M ago1:21:47

1:21:47

**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 be…

1
Grilling the Author of The Dish, w/ Andrew Friedman, and guest host Chandra Ram (Food & Wine) 1:21:16

4M ago1:21:16

1:21:16

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…

1
This Restaurant Just Wants to Have Fun w/ Madalyn Summers, Paul D'Avino, and Jorge Olarte of Brooklyn's Cafe Mars (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 55:25

4M ago55:25

55:25

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 ba…

1
Episode 236: Eli Kulp (Chef & Host, Chef Radio Podcast) 1:54:06

4M ago1:54:06

1:54:06

**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 Philadelp…

1
Mentorship Panel #3: Aaron Bludorn, Rebecca Masson, Jarrod Zifchak & Jared Adams LIVE! from an On the Line dinner in Houston (presented by S.Pellegrino) 52:34

4M ago52:34

52:34

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 audie…

1
Episode 235: Lena Ciardullo (Union Square Cafe/NYC) 1:17:33

5M ago1:17:33

1:17:33

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 roo…

1
Episode 234: Jason Hammel (chef-owner Lula Cafe/Chicago, IL & author Lula Cafe Cookbook) 1:18:17

5M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

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--rec…

1
Episode 233: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel (Birdie's--Austin, TX) 1:24:03

5M ago1:24:03

1:24:03

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…

1
Nancy Silverton on The Cookie That Changed My Life, her new book (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 43:04

5M ago43:04

43:04

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 ba…

1
Episode 232: Rob Rubba (Oyster Oyster--Washington, DC) 1:12:44

6M ago1:12:44

1:12:44

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 prof…

1
Episode 231: Klancy Miller (Author, For The Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food) 1:13:15

7M ago1:13:15

1:13:15

Author Klancy MIller sits down to discuss her recently published book For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food, and the life and career that lead to her writing it. Her conversation with Andrew covers her early Francophile tendencies, matriculation at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, time in Michelin three-star pastry kitchens, and her pi…

1
Turning Food Loss into Fashion, with Terratela founder Natalia Burakowska (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 39:49

7M ago39:49

39:49

A few years ago, while dining at Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana, Natalia Burakowska had a revelation: The fashion professional suddenly saw a path to helping to change the discussion around food loss and waste by channeling her personal passion for environmental responsibility into a new clothing brand. The result, TerraTela (which means "Ea…

1
Ep. 12 - A Hospitality Savings Strategy Operators NEVER Consider 27:24

7M ago27:24

27:24

Attention Hospitality and F&B OPERATORS! You could be (literally) throwing money away into your trash, the landfill AND it might be costing you more than $100K every year. This savings strategy is one that most of you may have never considered! It is commonly overlooked and we break it down for you and how it works in this episode. By the end of th…

1
For the Love of Hospitality with Ellen Yin (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 50:49

8M ago50:49

50:49

Shortly before she took home the JBF Award as Outstanding Restaurateur this spring, legendary Philly restaurateur Ellen Yin of High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, High Street Philly, et.al.) sat down with Andrew at the Philly Chef Conference. Their conversation is the first of something we plan to do more of: Deskside Chats with seasoned industry …

1
An Untapped Workforce? with Chef Franklin Becker, An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation 51:41

8M ago51:41

51:41

Might certain often-overlooked populations be part of the solution to the ongoing staffing shortage in the restaurant industry? Speaking from deep personal experience, chef Franklin Becker joins Andrew for this Special Conversation about the compatibility of people on the autism spectrum with restaurant-kitchen work. That subject leads to a free-fl…

1
Episode 230: Emily Swaine (Forsythia, NYC) 1:01:24

8M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

At Forsythia restaurant in lower Manhattan, Emily Swaine serves a menu both faithfully and freely inspired by Roman trattorias. Emily recently sat down with Andrew outside the restaurant to discuss her initial path toward art, how she course-corrected to the pro kitchen, and her gradual focus on Italian food following time in Florence during colleg…

1
The Culinary Journey of a Lifetime with Lisa Donovan (co-founder, Reverie, and author, Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger), an Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation 34:13

9M ago34:13

34:13

Professional chefs and home cooks alike fantasize about culinary retreats--long, leisurely stays in food-centric regions where we can lose ourselves in market visits, farm and vineyard tours, improvisational cooking, and--of course--sharing lavish meals with old and new friends. Author Lisa Donovan, who wrote the rightly celebrated Our Lady of Perp…

1
Episode 229: Marc Vetri (Vetri Cucina & others, in Philly & elsewhere) 1:16:08

9M ago1:16:08

1:16:08

After 3 years of trying to get across a table from each other to record a pod conversation, Marc Vetri and Andrew finally found time during the Philly Chef Conference this spring. They met on a beautiful April morning in the dining room of Marc's flagship Vetri Cucina and went through Marc's evolution from aspiring rock star to fledgling cook to fu…

1
Episode 228: Amanda Shulman (Her Place & My Loup, Philadelphia, PA) 1:09:54

9M ago1:09:54

1:09:54

A lifelong food lover, Amanda Shulman's love of cuisine and cooking became all consuming during a semester in Rome during college. Following a string of stages and early jobs, she committed to the pro kitchen and trained in Vegas, Montreal, and New York City, before opening her hugely successful Her Place in Philadelphia. On this episode, Amanda di…

1
Episode 227: Ryan Bartlow (Ernesto's, NYC) 1:23:52

9M ago1:23:52

1:23:52

At his restaurant Ernesto's in lower Manhattan, chef Ryan Bartlow serves up stunningly faithful renditions of the Basque cuisine he came to love while staging in Spain early in his career. In this interview, Ryan paints a vivid picture of his time overseas that caused him to fall in love with this food. He also recounts his time in some important k…

1
Giving Media-Starved Restaurant Cities Their Due with Karla Walsh (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 28:46

10M ago28:46

28:46

Has coverage of the U.S. restaurant landscape kept pace with the shifting reality that's been playing out across the nation over the past decade or so? Des Moines, Iowa-based journalist Karla Walsh doesn't think so. In this Special Conversation, Karla shares her thoughts on why that is, how and why it should/could change, and tips us off to some sp…

1
Episode 226: Nasim Alikhani (chef & author of Sofreh) 1:18:11

10M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

A native of Iran who once dreamed of becoming a judge, Nasim Alikhani's road to chefdom and proprietorship has been a circuitous one, to say the least. But she's more than made up for lost time at her hit Brooklyn restaurant Sofreh, where she serves her personal take on Persian cuisine. As the restaurant settles into the second half of its first de…

1
Episode 225: Melissa Rodriguez (Al Coro, Mel's Pizzeria, and Discolo--NYC) 1:14:57

10M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

Chef Melissa Rodriguez of Al Coro, Mel's Pizzeria, and Discolo in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood, sits down to discuss her early life and career, gravitation to the pro kitchen, and her unabashed affection for fine dining. Stops along the way to her current restaurants include Northern California, five years at Restaurant Daniel in New York City, and t…

1
Mentorship Panel 2: Kevin Boehm & Lee Wolen LIVE from an On the Line dinner in Chicago (presented by S.Pellegrino) 45:27

10M ago45:27

45:27

We're delighted to share the second 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 will be moderated by Andrew, staged in a different city, and build on the one(s) that precedes it. This episode was recorded LIVE before an au…

1
Episode 224: Nick DiGiovanni (author, Knife Drop) 46:03

10M ago46:03

46:03

At just 27 years of age, Nick DiGiovanni has parlayed a love of cooking and a run to the finals on television's Master Chef into a successful career as an internet culinary personality (he boasts more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube and 11 million on TikTok), food entertainer and educator, and now cookbook author. On the occasion of the publ…

1
Episode 223: Lior Lev Sercarz (author, A Middle Eastern Pantry) 1:08:02

10M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Lior Lev Sercarz has made quite a name for himself as the man behind La Boîte, which sells more than 80 original spice blends plus their signature biscuits. A former chef who grew up in Israel, lived and worked in France, and then moved to New York City, Lior shares his story in this episode. But what really occasioned this interview at this moment…

1
Episode 222: Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar--Houston, TX) 1:16:29

11M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

Rebecca Masson trained in Paris and worked in some of New York City's most popular restaurants before moving to Houston, TX, and launching her hugely successful Fluff Bake Bar. An old friend of Andrew's, we've been wanting to host her on the pod for years, and are thrilled to share this conversation from the Hot Luck Festival, which took place rece…

1
Episode 221: Telly Justice (HAGS restaurant, NYC) 1:38:18

11M ago1:38:18

1:38:18

HAGS, a relatively new restaurant in New York City's East Village, bills itself as being "by queer people, for all people." Andrew recently sat down with Telly Justice, HAGS' chef and partner (with Camille Lindsley, also Telly's life partner). In addition to her path to chefdom, which wound through such restaurants as Five & Ten, Alder, and Contra,…

1
Ep. 11 - Knives that Last a Century: Dexter-Russell 24:34

11M ago24:34

24:34

It’s not often that a professional knife is passed on as an heirloom, but that’s the case for Dexter Knives which are guaranteed to last a lifetime. They are American-made knives that have been around for 205 years. When brands promise a lifetime guarantee, they usually haven’t been around for centuries - but this brand walks the talk. Tune in to d…

1
Episode 220: Omar Tate (Honeysuckle Projects; Philadelphia, PA) 1:02:44

11M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

Omar Tate attained national prominence with his deeply personal Honeysuckle pop-up dinners. In addition to drawing enthusiastic diners wherever they were staged, he received accolades such as being named Esquire's "Chef of the Year" in 2020. After pandemic pivots which included a residency at Blue HIll Stone Barns, Omar and his wife Cybille St. Aud…

1
One Chef's Ongoing Mental Health Journey, with Greg Baxtrom (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 46:12

12M ago46:12

46:12

**Content warning – this episode discusses suicidal feelings.** Greg Baxtrom, chef-owner of a quartet of New York City restaurants, recently opened up in a revealing Instagram post about his years-long struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder. In that post, he mentioned that he'd be joining Andrew for a discussion about his ongoing mental hea…

1
Ep. 10 - Finding the Right Paper Food Packaging For You 25:03

12M ago25:03

25:03

What’s it like to buy paper packaging? Which type is right for you? Are paper packaging prices up or down these days? Rich Rosenberg, a food paper packaging industry leader, joins the show to answer all your questions to help you find the right packaging for your business. Rich Rosenberg is an industry expert in the paper packaging industry. He’s b…

1
Mentorship Panel 1: Erick Williams & Damarr Brown LIVE from the Philly Chef Conference (presented by S.Pellegrino) 44:45

12M ago44:45

44:45

We at Andrew Talks to Chefs are delighted to bring you the first 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 will be moderated by Andrew, staged in a different city, and build on the one(s) that precede it. The inaugural e…

1
Episode 219: Manoella "Manu" Buffara (chef & author of Manu: Recipes and Stories from My Brazil) 1:10:20

12M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

Manoella Buffara, also known as "Manu," has owned and operated her own restaurant, the eponymous Manu, in Curitiba, Brazil, for more than a decade. The restaurant offers an expression of her life and mind in a tasting menu format. This week, she published a book--Manu: Recipes and Stories from My Brazil--that, like the restaurant, is a summation of…

1
Ep. 09 - What is Palm Leaf Food Packaging? 27:53

1y ago27:53

27:53

Episode 09 John and Nick D. are joined at the table with the Director of National Sales for Leafware, Diane Maxwell. In the ever-changing world of food service, green compostable food packaging and dinnerware is not a new term. However, Palm Leaf is a new renewable, sustainable and compostable substrate that you may not be familiar with. Diane shar…

1
Supporting Queer Cooks & Chefs with Rob Connoley (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 35:52

1y ago35:52

35:52

In a recent, impassioned social media post, Rob Connoley, chef and owner of Bulrush restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri, lamented the continued unwelcoming environment many queer cooks face in the pro kitchen, and the limited opportunities for advancement and ownership available to even accomplished queer chefs. We invited Rob to return to the pod an…

1
Episode 218: John Hong & Kat Hong (Yangban restaurant--Los Angeles, CA) 1:13:43

1y ago1:13:43

1:13:43

While in Los Angeles last month, Andrew had time for just one pod interview and tops on his list, based on an excellent dinner at their restaurant last fall, were John Hong & Kat Hong, chef-owners of Yangban (yes, they've dropped the "Society" from the name) in DTLA. In this comprehensive conversation, the couple discuss their respective biographie…

1
Episode 217: Travis Swikard (Callie restaurant, San Diego, CA) 1:12:19

1y ago1:12:19

1:12:19

It's been nearly 2 years since Travis Swikard opened his smash success Callie in his hometown of San Diego, California. Prior to returning to his native state, he spent several years in New York City, several of them as chef of Daniel Boulud's Boulud Sud. Andrew and Travis have been pals for some time, so when he was in NYC in December, Travis paid…

1
Launching Greywind with Chefs Dan Kluger & Caitlin Giamario (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 31:56

1y ago31:56

31:56

One of the pod's good friends, Chef Dan Kluger (Loring Place, et. al.), joins us today to discuss the genesis and development of his new Greywind restaurant, accompanied by Caitlin Giamario, the project's Executive Chef. Dan and Caitlin take us through the origin of the restaurant, which opens today, as well as its accompanying components (a bakery…

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