Best Better Luck Productions Podcasts (2024)

1
Arielle Johnson (food scientist & author, Flavorama) on Why Foods Taste the Way They Do 1:09:51

37m ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Food scientist Arielle Johnson has worked with some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world, and recently offered up much of her knowledge in a surprisingly fun, accessible, and comprehendible book, Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor. In this interview, Arielle recounts her path to becoming a food scientist (a rela…

1
Adair Canacasco (Roister, Chicago) on Nostalgia, his Mexican Roots, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:15:21

35m ago1:15:21

1:15:21

Born in Mexico and raised in the Midwest, Adair Canacasco brings his personal background and passion to his role as executive chef of Roister restaurant in Chicago. While in Chicago recently, Andrew sat down with Adair to learn about his familial roots, his maturation as both a cook and a manager/mentor of cooks, and the complex nature of the live-…

1
Sean Brock (Joyland, Audrey & june, Nashville) on Finding His Culinary Voice in Appalachian Food 1:05:52

4d ago1:05:52

1:05:52

During The Chef Conference in Philly this spring, Sean Brock graciously made time to sit down for this deeply personal and open conversation about his path to the pro kitchen, his development as a chef, and his various restaurants, including his current Joyland, Audrey, and june in Nashville. Please check out our fellow meez network podcasts and ne…

1
Announcing ... The meez Network! A New Hospitality Industry Content Hub co-founded by Andrew and meez founder/ceo Josh Sharkey 10:57

28d ago10:57

10:57

Hey, everybody! Please take 8 minutes and listen to this announcement of The meez Network. Andrew co-founded this new content hub with meez founder and ceo Josh Sharkey, and will initially serve the network as program director. The meez Network launches today (7/1/04) with an inaugural roster of podcasts, and one newsletter. Please check it out, ta…

1
Ruth Reichl (author, The Paris Novel) on Pleasure, Travel, and Discovering the Joy of Writing 44:54

19d ago44:54

44:54

After years mostly writing and editing "real life" articles and books set in and around the food and restaurant realm, Ruth Reichl recently published a new work of fiction, The Paris Novel. The book follows young protagonist Stella as she discovers life's pleasures, and gets to know herself, in the most romantic city on Earth. In this Special Conve…

1
Lyndsay C. Green (Restaurant & Dining Critic, Detroit Free Press) on Becoming a Critic, Detroit's Food Scene, & the Role of Race in Criticism 54:35

1M ago54:35

54:35

Lyndsay C. Green covers restaurants and dining for The Detroit Free Press. She comes to her area of specialization from a background in beauty reporting. In this conversation--recorded after a chance encounter with Andrew at The Chef Conference in Philly this spring--Lyndsay shares her personal story and how she migrated from beauty to food, the ho…

1
LIVE! FROM HOT LUCK: Paola Velez (Dōekï Dōekï; Bakers Against Racism) Just Wants to Bake the World a Better Place 53:23

2M ago53:23

53:23

LIVE! from Hot Luck (Austin, TX)--Perhaps best known as the force behind Bakers Against Racism, Paola Velez (Dōekï Dōekï) has made a life and career of intertwining baking and altruism. (As her website says, she just wants to "Bake the World a Better Place.") In this interview, recorded on the grounds of Hot Luck last weekend, Paola shares about he…

1
Sal Lamboglia (Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony's) on the Long Road Back to Brooklyn 1:07:20

2M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Raised in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, Sal Lamboglia grew up on Italian-American food in a family populated by his chef father, butchers, and other food professionals. Following graduation from culinary school, he spent many years with a Manhattan-based restaurant group before returning to Brooklyn and launching his hit restaurant Cafe…

1
Chad Williams (Friday Saturday Sunday restaurant; Philly, PA) on Finding the Magic & Poetry in Food & Cooking 1:17:43

2M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

When Philly's Friday Saturday Sunday won the James Beard Foundation Award as Outstanding Restaurant in 2023, it was the culmination of chef Chad Williams' slow, patient development, of both his talent and craft, and of the restaurant he co-owns and co-operates with his wife Hanna Williams. In this conversation, recorded at The Chef Conference in Ph…

1
Author Robert Simonson on His Book "The Encyclopedia of Cocktails" (an ATTC Special Conversation) 35:16

3M ago35:16

35:16

Robert Simonson is one of our most prolific and witty scribes on the subject of cocktails. Along with cocktails, he also writes about the related topics of spirits, bars, and bartenders for the New York Times and is the creator and author of the Substack newsletterThe Mix with Robert Simonson. In his most recent book, The Encyclopedia of Cocktails,…

1
The Rent is Too Damn High and Other Industry Issues, with Marc Forgione (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 45:50

3M ago45:50

45:50

On the occasion of the relocation of his eponymous restaurant to its new home in Tribeca, Marc Forgione sat down for one of our special conversations--and, man, did he bring it. In just 30 brisk minutes, he and Andrew discuss NYC restaurant rents, the possibilities of a new space, the crucialness of having a private dining room, and the media's por…

1
Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard (authors, Koreaworld: A Cookbook) on This Exciting Time in Korean Food 1:00:53

3M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

In their second literary collaboration, Koreaworld: A Cookbook, authors Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard take readers on an adventure to Korea, and to hubs of Korean food in the United States, to paint a vivid portrait of Korean food worldwide right now. On today's episode, Deuki and Matt share their impressions of modern Korea and its cuisine, and of s…

1
Evan Funke (Felix, Mother Wolf, etc.) on Pasta, Italy, and the Meaning of Life 1:21:27

2M ago1:21:27

1:21:27

After a few lurches and false starts early in his career, Evan Funke connected with the Los Angeles area dining public in a big way with his Felix restaurant in Venice, California, and has followed it up with a series of successes: Mother Wolf, Funke, Tre Dita in Chicago, and others on the horizon. In this conversation, recorded last week in New Yo…

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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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
Bringing the Culinary Past to Life with "The Taste of Things" Director Trần Anh Hùng (An ATTC Special Conversation) 35:14

5M 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

5M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

7M 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

7M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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
You might be codependent if you…. 20:54

8M ago20:54

20:54

Codependency is a response to trauma. Trauma can be in the form of neglect. It can be in the form of abuse. It can be in the form of rejection. It can be in the form of death, grief. Trauma affects us all differently. Some of us run from it some of us run towards it. Some of us are strong. Some of us need help, but at the end of the day, we all str…

1
What is bad luck teaching you? 26:32

8M ago26:32

26:32

Bad luck comes in the form of pain. Bad luck calms in the form of heartache. Bad luck comes in the form of depression. Bad luck comes in the form of confusion. Bad luck comes with a mask on its face so that we may not be able to discern the good what is bad luck teaching you what lessons are you learning from the bad luck? Are you learning to go wi…

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

8M 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

8M 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
I’m tired of being tired 17:12

9M ago17:12

17:12

I’m tired of running from the problems that are hindering from walking into my purpose! Support the showBy Rebecca

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

9M 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
The Flight to Quality is Real! 4:12

9M ago4:12

4:12

In this episode Ryan challenges the listener to press to quality or be left behind in the mix. Markets such as our current one press us to be better. How are you pivoting, and or being better? Ryan says he aims to be a strategic partner for his clients, with a focus on education. “A big part is simply listening to a client and their goals, and then…

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

9M 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

9M 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
Do you have a goal to grow? 3:03

9M ago3:03

3:03

In this episode Ryan wants to challenge you on the daily routine of staying committed to GROW everyday. Do you have that resolve? Listen in and we want your feedback. Ryan says he aims to be a strategic partner for his clients, with a focus on education. “A big part is simply listening to a client and their goals, and then applying the right tools.…

1
Are you plugged in? Where do you find strength? 3:42

9M ago3:42

3:42

In this episode Ryan chats on staying strong and keeping things in perspective. We are not called to do this thing called life alone. We are here in a community to help, encourage and support one another! How do you plug in? Ryan says he aims to be a strategic partner for his clients, with a focus on education. “A big part is simply listening to a …

1
Time changes you & perspective, change for the better. 3:17

9M ago3:17

3:17

In this episode Ryan breaks down perspective and how our lives can subtly change us as to the message that we hear! How do you leverage change to continually improve? These small changes can make a huge difference. Ryan says he aims to be a strategic partner for his clients, with a focus on education. “A big part is simply listening to a client and…

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

10M 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

10M 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
For the Love of Hospitality with Ellen Yin (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 50:49

11M 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

12M 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

12M 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
Are you engaging with YOUR database? 3:47

12M ago3:47

3:47

Ryan engages the listener on this episode to harvest their gold mine, aka their database. How do you currently engage? How many touches? Do you have systems and leverage? Helping Others Succeed Ultimately, it all comes down to service. “When someone calls, they will get a response in minutes. If I’m in a meeting, my phone forwards to Victoria, and …

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

12M 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

12M 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

1y 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

1y 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…

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