Best Table 12 Productions Inc Podcasts (2025)

1
Rasika Venkatesa (Mythily) on Progressive South Indian Cuisine, Finding the Right Kitchens, and Plotting Her First Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant 1:31:40

25d ago1:31:40

1:31:40

At just 27 years of age, Rasika Venkatesa has already put herself in position to plan her first restaurant. Currently serving a tasting menu in her residency at Fulgrances Laundromat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, (though March 1, 2025), Rasika attended hotel management school in India, worked her way up from commis to chef de partie at The French Laundr…

1
LIVE! from the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Forum in NYC, featuring Valerie Chang, Curtis Duffy, Aisha Ibrahim, Ayesha Nurdjaja, and Junghyun Park 56:46

1M ago56:46

56:46

Recorded LIVE before an audience at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition US regional finals in New York City. Five influential American chefs (the competition's jurors), Valerie Chang, Curtis Duffy, Aisha Ibrahim, Ayesha Nurdjaja, and Junghyun Park discuss how to shape the future of the industry, in a conversation divided into three part…

1
Tomer Blechman (Miss Ada, Theodora, Thea Bakery - Brooklyn) on the Healing Power of Food & Hospitality and Why He Doesn't Look Too Far Ahead 1:09:37

3M ago1:09:37

1:09:37

Tomer Blechman's life has taken him from his native Israel to Los Angeles, the Far East, and finally to New York City. He also naturally progressed from a life of healing to cooking and hospitality, which are for him intertwined. This path has led him to founding three successful Brooklyn ventures: Miss Ada, Theodora, and Thea Bakery. In this deepl…

1
Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo (Esmé, Chicago) – Part 2, in which our heroes work and learn at MK and Next in Chicago, and decide to launch a restaurant (Esmé) together 42:18

3M ago42:18

42:18

In this this second installment of our conversation with Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo, the couple behind Chicago's Esmé, the pair discuss their time at MK and Next in Chicago, the process of concepting Esmé, and their working relationship.. Huge thanks to Andrew Talks to Chefs’ presenting sponsor, meez, the recipe operating software for culinar…

1
Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo (Esmé, Chicago) - Part 1, in which our heroes discover the pleasures of food and cooking and find their way to Chicago 49:36

3M ago49:36

49:36

Two guests demand two episodes! In this first installment, Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo, the couple behind Chicago's Esmé, talk about their childhoods in, respectively, Illinois and Florida, and the relationship with food and cooking that led Jenner to become a chef and Katrina to become a creative director. Huge thanks to Andrew Talks to Chefs…

1
Adam Leonti (Cucina Alba, NYC) on Taking a Historical View of Food, Protecting Yourself in Business, and How His Restaurant Reflects His Life 1:13:04

3M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Adam Leonti discusses his New England upbringing, time cooking in Philly and living overseas, and the series of New York City projects that have led to his current success at Cucina Alba in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood. Huge thanks to Andrew Talks to Chefs’ presenting sponsor, meez, the recipe operating software for culinary professionals. Meez power…

1
Paul Bertolli (Fra'Mani Handcrafted Foods) on Thinking Musically in the Kitchen, Discovering Italy, and Multi-Faceted Careers 1:01:13

3M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

While he was in NYC for the Fancy Food Show in June, Chef Paul Bertolli made time to sit down with Andrew to discuss his varied and textured culinary career, which has included time as chef of Chez Panisse and then Oliveto, authoring or co-authoring books such as Chez Panisse Cooking and Cooking By Hand, and founding the salumi and charcuterie comp…

1
Jeremy Salamon (Agi's Counter, Brooklyn) on Hungarian Food, Making it in NYC, and his First Cookbook (Second Generation) 1:10:51

3M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

It's been a busy year for Jeremy Salamon. The chef and owner of Brooklyn's Agi's Counter came out with his first cookbook, Second Generation: Hungarian and Jewish Classics Reimagined for the Modern Table, and is readying his next restaurant, Pitt's, for its imminent launch. Earlier this fall, Andrew dropped into Agi's Counter and chatted with Jerem…

1
Nick Tamburo (Smithereens, NYC) on Band-Kitchen Parallels, European vs. US Training, and the Quantum Leap from Chef to Chef-Owner 59:00

3M ago59:00

59:00

Following a college-age shift from music to cooking, Nick Tamburo trained in some notable kitchens in the US and Europe, and served in chef positions within the Momofuku group and Claud. In late August, he launched his first restaurant of his own, Smithereens, in downtown Manhattan. The restaurant serves Nick's take on coastal New England cuisine a…

1
Lisa Dahl (Dahl Restaurant Group; Sedona, Arizona) on Restaurant Sanctuaries, Live-Fire Cooking, and Growing as a Chef and Restaurateur 1:16:37

3M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

While in New York City this September, Lisa Dahl--the prolific Sedona, Arizona chef and restaurateur--made time to visit with Andrew for a very personal conversation about her unique life and career path. Lisa wasn't always bound for the pro kitchen. She harbored dreams of singing, and worked for a time in fashion. But once she found her way to Sed…

1
Farmer Lee Jones (The Chef's Garden; Milan, Ohio) on Soil Health, Vegetables as Preventative Medicine, and Building Longterm Relationships 45:48

3M ago45:48

45:48

This fall, at the Roots Conference held at The Chef's Garden's Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, Ohio, Farmer Lee Jones (he of the signature denim overalls and red bowtie) sat down with Andrew to discuss a few key issues covered at the conference--regenerative farming, vegetables as preventative medicine, and the future of the industry. Huge t…

1
Tyler Akin (Bastia, Philly) on the Role of Perfectionism, Gamifying Technique, and Getting Ready for His Close Up 1:14:37

3M ago1:14:37

1:14:37

Chef Tyler Akin has a bona fide hit on his hand with Philly's newish Bastia restaurant, where he presents his spin on Mediterranean cuisine. Back in the spring, before the restaurant launched, Tyler sat down with Andrew for a conversation about his career so far, and about the restaurant as it was being developed. Along the way, they get into the n…

1
Jon Templin (Butternut Sustainable Farm; Sturgis, Michigan) on Chef-Farmer Relationships & How to Get the Most from Them 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

While visiting New York City recently, Jon Templin, of Butternut Sustainable Farm, sat down with Andrew to discuss the importance of chef-farmer relationships, why they're worth nurturing, and how both parties can get the most out of them. (Jon is one of the farmers profiled in Andrew's most recent book, The Dish, which is how they know each other.…

1
Alexander Smalls (author, The Contemporary African Kitchen) on His Creative Life, Loving New York City, and His Thoughtful New Book 1:27:41

3M ago1:27:41

1:27:41

Chef, author, and legendary raconteur Alexander Smalls makes his long-delayed debut on the pod. The occasion of the interview is his newest book The Contemporary African Kitchen: Home Cooking Recipes from the Leading Chefs of Africa. With that as a starting point, during a visit at Alexander’s home in Harlem, Alexander shares the story of his young…

1
Nok Suntaranon (author, Kalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen) on the Momentous Occasion of a First Book, and Leaving a Culinary Legacy 49:45

3M ago49:45

49:45

One of our favorite guests, and one of Andrew's favorite people in the industry, the singular Nok Suntaranon, proprietor and chef of Philly's excellent Kalaya restaurant, returns to the pod to discuss her new cookbook, Kalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen. Huge thanks to Andrew Talks to Chefs’ presenting sponsor, meez, the recipe operating software for c…

1
Daniel Turtel (Peter Luger Steakhouse) on Iconic Dining, the Origin Stories of Landmark Menu Items, and Andrew’s First Visit to Peter Luger (recorded LIVE! in the Peter Luger dining room) 1:08:07

3M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

In this special episode, Andrew makes his first-ever visit to the legendary Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he sits down with Peter Luger VP Daniel Turtel, a key officer and voice for the iconic establishment. Over a classic Luger’s lunch, they discuss the history and enduring allure of this quintessential New York instituti…

1
Clarice Lam (author, Breaking Bao) on Parisian Epiphanies, Training Days, and Her New Book 1:05:43

3M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

Pastry chef Clarice Lam is out with a new cookbook this fall--Breaking Bao; 88 Bakes and Snacks from Asia and Beyond. The book is a fun and energetic mingling of sweet and savory offerings that reflects her own background and travels, and the breadth of what a pastry chef might prepare in a restaurant. She recently sat down with Andrew in Brooklyn,…

1
Edgar Rico (Nixta Taqueria, Austin) on Questing for Knowledge, Tacos, and the Allure of Austin (from Hot Luck 2024!) 1:18:10

3M ago1:18:10

1:18:10

We've all heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but this is ridiculous: We're dropping an episode every weekday between now and December 25, as we try to share all the interviews Andrew has banked in 2024 before the year draws to an end. This Andrew Talks to Chefs December Marathon is brought to you by The Dish, Andrew's most recent book, which ju…

1
Michael Mina (The Mina Group) on his Egyptian Heritage, the Spirit of 90s NYC, and Growing a Restaurant Group 1:13:10

4M ago1:13:10

1:13:10

Michael Mina, whose hospitality group boasts about two dozen restaurants across the United States (and one in the UAE), trained in New York City. But he hadn't opened a restaurant in Manhattan ... until this summer when he and his team launched Bourbon Steak on Central Park South. On the occasion of the opening, Michael sat down with Andrew for a c…

1
Dan Richer (Razza Pizza Artigianale; Jersey City, NJ) on Craft, Obsession, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:39:10

5M ago1:39:10

1:39:10

Dan Richer, the wonderfully obsessed pizzaiolo behind New Jersey's acclaimed Razza Pizza Artigianale, is a longtime friend of the pod. But he's never shared his full story and how he came to love and be consumed with the making of pizza here ... until now. On this episode, Dan and Andrew commandeer the upstairs office at Razza, and Dan shares it al…

1
Ashley Christensen (Raleigh, NC) on How She Started Cooking and Where Restaurant Concepts Come From 1:10:06

5M ago1:10:06

1:10:06

After years of trying, Ashley Christensen and Andrew were finally able to orchestrate an in-person interview this past spring at The Chef Conference in Philadelphia. Unsurprisingly, it was well worth the wait: Ashley opens up about the role of music and food in her childhood, the college dinner parties that sparked her eventual commitment to the pr…

1
Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat & others, Chicago and Los Angeles) on Eclecticism, Career Decisions, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:19:52

7M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

For the past two decades, Stephanie Izard has steadily amassed a stellar culinary and hospitality career as a chef and restaurateur. First introduced to a national audience when she won Season 4 of Top Chef, which she immediately followed with her first restaurant, Chicago's Girl and the Goat. The instantaneous and overwhelming success of that rest…

1
Chicago's Mindy Segal (Mindy's Bakery) on Collaboration, Cannabis, and a Life without Recipes 1:10:59

7M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

From high atop the Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Chicago's Mindy Segal takes us through her life and career: How she grativitated to the pro kitchen and zeroed in on pastry; her instinct-based approach to creativity and collaboration; and the genesis of her self-titled line of edibles, as well as the story behind her current place, Mindy'…

1
Gustavo Arellano (LA Times columnist) on the Ethics of Restaurant Criticism, the Joys of Being a Columnist, and Whether Any Subjects Should be Taboo 1:09:42

7M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Andrew's been a fan of the wit, wisdom, and observational powers of LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano for years. So, when they both attended The Chef Conference in Philly this spring, we asked Gustavo to sit down for an improvisational conversation. He obliged, and did not disappoint. Enjoy this freestyle conversation that covers a wide range of …

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

7M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

11M 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

11M 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

11M 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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

1y 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…

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