Scouting report of the hottest culinary talent in America (A.K.A. The 2025 Fantasy Top Chef Draft). Plus, a one-man tasting menu in DTLA and the most controversial restaurant in the world.

It’s time for the 2025 Top Chef Fantasy Draft!

Season 22 of Top Chef kicked off this week in Canada. As we do every year, Father Sal and I hosted a draft of the 15 competitors vying for the title of Top Chef. We’re joined by 2024 champion Jessie Evans (alias @Jessie_Eats on Instagram), and Nancy DaSilva and Bits Nicholas of the Compliments to the Chef podcast. 

Plus, an LA Times article on a one-man tasting menu in Downtown LA, and a New York Times feature on a, erm, controversial restaurant in London town…

Helpful links:

Bravo Top Chef https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef

Compliments to the Chef podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/5ySvTZh0inCpq1SJP9baq6

Jessie Eats on IG https://www.instagram.com/jessie_eats/?hl=en

Heather Platt on Sora Craft Kitchen https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-03-11/restaurants-los-angeles-one-employee-sora-craft-kitchen

Amelia Nierenberg on The Yellow Bittern https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/dining/yellow-bittern-london-restaurant.html

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