This Is TASTE 723: “Restaurant Lists Piss Me Off,” and the Future of Food Television with Ben Liebmann
Jan 30, 2026
Ben Liebmann, a TV exec and former Noma COO who grew the brand beyond its dining room, and Troy Chatterton, a bookseller launching Wild Sorrel Cookbooks, join for wide-ranging chat. They debate why restaurant lists irritate Ben. They dig into the changing shape of food television, Noma’s pop-ups and LA plans. Troy shares cookbook-curation, shop plans and a Kickstarter to open in the East Village.
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Dumbbell Effect Reshapes Food Media
- Food TV's middle ground is disappearing into cheap short-form and ultra-expensive prestige projects.
- Ben Liebmann calls this a dumbbell effect shaping what gets funded and made in 2026.
Sliding-Doors Meeting With René Led To Noma Role
- Ben met René Redzepi through overlapping work in TV and stayed in touch for years before joining Noma.
- A Tokyo pop-up led to Ben moving from London to Denmark to help grow Noma.
Grow Brand By Backing People And Purpose
- Grow a restaurant brand by investing in people, publishing, and thoughtful partnerships rather than rapid licensing.
- Protect the brand's values and constraints to ensure longevity, says Ben.
