Thoughts on Pressure and Performance with a Big Opening

Babbo is back! Dave welcomes executive chef Mark Ladner of the newly reopening New York City institution,  the Italian restaurant Babbo. Dave and Mark catch up, share old New York memories, and discuss that ever-debated rice dish: risotto. They finish with a sneak peek of Babbo's new menu, Pre-Reopening Diaries, and an Ask Dave.

Learn more about Babbo: https://babbonyc.com/ 

Try to get your Babbo reservations if you can here: https://resy.com/cities/new-york-ny/venues/babbo-restaurant?date=2025-09-30&seats=2 

Listen to our recent podcast with Paul Carmichael: https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-dave-chang-show/2025/05/22/feeling-good-with-paul-carmichael 

Learn more about Kabawa: https://www.momofuku.com/restaurants/kabawa 

Learn more about Eeeeeatscon NYC: https://www.eeeeeatscon.com/new-york 

Read Kitchen Confidential: https://amzn.to/46TcWPN 

Read the NYT article about Stephen Starr: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/dining/stephen-starr-restaurants.html

Learn more about Brooklyn Glass: https://brooklynglass.com/ 

Learn more about Alto-Shaam: https://www.alto-shaam.com/en 

Learn more about CVAP: https://foodservice.winstonind.com/commercial-kitchen-equipment/ 

Learn more about Rational: https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/home/ 

Learn more about Craft: https://www.craftrestaurant.com/ 

Learn more about Santi: https://www.santinyc.com/ 

Learn more about Sodi: https://www.isodinyc.com/

Learn more about Rolo's: https://www.rolosnyc.com/ 

Learn more about Noodle Bar: https://www.momofuku.com/pages/noodle-bar 

Learn more about Buddakan: https://buddakannyc.com/ 

Learn more about Lyla Lila: https://www.lylalilaatl.com/ 

Send in your Ask Dave questions to bit.ly/AskDaveForm or askdave@majordomomedia.com.

Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavechangshow.

Subscribe to Recipe Club on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipeclubofficial.

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Host: Dave Chang

Guest: Mark Ladner

Majordomo Media Producer: David Meyer

Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino

Engineer: Belle Roman

Editor: Stefano Sanchez

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