The Dave Chang Show

The hosts dive into the culinary nuances of Chicago, celebrating its underrated status as a food city. They explore Season 2 of 'The Bear', dissecting character dynamics and memorable moments. Discussions cover the challenges of poaching chefs, the emotional landscape of restaurant management, and the artistic side of cooking. With humor, they reflect on kitchen dynamics and tackle the complexities of restaurant waitlists. Packed with personal anecdotes and culinary insights, this conversation navigates the vibrant intersection of food, culture, and storytelling.

Dave gives an introduction to today's guest, Chef Roy Choi, and runs through his resume. He then interviews Roy and the two old friends catch up, talk about Roy’s career path before starting Kogi, why "fusion" is a loaded word, and trying to age gracefully. Old war stories are shared, new revelations come out, and lots of laughs are had. Dave finishes the episode with an Ask Dave about salad dressing. Listen to Roy on the past DCS episode with the folks from Lasita here: https://youtu.be/sBn41BZ-Hgg?si=tkdtvzb1BAUYuAAeFollow Roy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chefroychoi/?hl=enBuy The Choi of Cooking here: https://thechoiofcooking.com/Buy L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/la-son-roy-choi/1114918638Check out Kogi here: https://kogibbq.com/Check out Best Friend here: https://parkmgm.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/best-friend.htmlCheck out The Chef Truck here: https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/park-mgm/the-chef-truck.html?ecid=GMB_PV_RECheck out The Chef Show here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81028317Check out Le Bernardin here: https://www.le-bernardin.com/Send in your questions to 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.Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com.Join our community Discord on majordomo.com. Host: Dave Chang Guest: Roy Choi Majordomo Media Producers: Kelsey Rearden and David Meyer Spotify Producers: Felipe Guilhermino and T Cruz Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hosts dive into the acclaimed TV show, exploring its authentic portrayal of kitchen chaos and chef-life. They debate if the pilot ranks among the best TV episodes, highlighting the emotional themes of addiction and anxiety. Insights into kitchen dynamics reveal challenges with new leadership and evolving relationships among staff. Personal anecdotes spice up discussions on culinary transformations and the significance of seemingly mundane moments, like cigarette breaks, in high-pressure environments. A deep connection between characters adds to the show's brilliance.

Dave talks about the new promotional poster for 'The Bear'—and its use of tongs. He then interviews his friend and the executive chef/owner of Providence, proclaimed by Dave as "one of the best restaurants in the world," Michael Cimarusti. They discuss why you have to touch your food while cooking, how to figure out the things you don't know, and the different schools of cooking. Chef Michael goes through his career path and its connections to some incredible culinary icons and asks Dave if he thinks cooking is an art or a craft. They finish with an Ask Dave about fish cookery. Learn more about Providence here: https://providencela.com/ Reserve your seat at the Providence 20th anniversary celebration here: https://www.opentable.com/r/providence-los-angeles Learn more about Connie & Ted's here: https://www.connieandteds.com/ Send in your questions to 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. Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com. Join our community Discord on majordomo.com. Host: Dave Chang Guest: Michael Cimarusti Majordomo Media Producers: Kelsey Rearden and David Meyer Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Besha Rodell, the food critic for The Age and author of 'Hunger Like a Thirst,' shares her insightful journey from anonymity to industry respect. She delves into the evolution of food criticism and the importance of genuine passion, while examining the intricate relationship between critics and chefs. The conversation highlights the challenges of maintaining authenticity in dining and the necessity for cultural awareness when critiquing diverse cuisines. Besha also discusses the decline of unique voices in food journalism, advocating for a return to honest, passionate storytelling.

Chris Ying, a former host of The Dave Chang Show and food writer, joins Dave to dive deep into the world of ramen. They explore its fascinating history, tracing its journey from a humble noodle to a global culinary icon. The conversation touches on cooking techniques, with insights on making shio tare, and the cultural significance of ramen in Japan versus the U.S. Personal anecdotes and culinary reflections make it a delicious discussion, perfect for anyone interested in the art of home cooking and the evolution of this beloved dish.

Paul Carmichael, Chef of Kabawa and Bar Kabawa, previously won accolades as Chef of the Year at Momofuku Seiōbo. He shares his culinary journey and dives into the richness of Caribbean cuisine, dispelling myths and celebrating its diverse heritage. The conversation explores the creative process behind opening his restaurants, the joy of communal dining experiences, and the emotional connections that food can foster. Carmichael also provides insights on pairing drinks with Caribbean dishes and expresses his optimism for the cuisine's bright future.

Dave and Chris are joined by fan favorite, the Snackmaster, Noelle, to discuss the cult classic 1985 Japanese film 'Tampopo.' They discuss the most iconic scenes, most realistic culinary moments, and what has aged like wine versus what has aged like milk from the movie, among many other categories. The trio digs deep into one of the greatest Major Food Porn films of all time—and there's a lot to say. Make a bowl of ramen, watch the movie, and join us for the first Food Scenes Only! You can stream 'Tampopo' on HBO Max: https://www.max.com/movies/tampopo/601a9aca-8a12-4678-be5d-9079867d29f1  Or The Criterion Collection: https://www.criterionchannel.com/tampopo. Send in your questions to 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. Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com. Join our community Discord on majordomo.com. Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris Ying Guest: Noelle Cornelio Video/Audio Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Majordomo Media Producers: Kelsey Rearden and David Meyer Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

L.A. Taco's editor-in-chief, Javier Cabral, stops by the Spotify studio to teach Dave and Chris how to eat a carnitas taco the traditional Michoacán way. The trio then talks taco culture in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond, as well as how Mexico rules supreme when it comes to tacos. They finish by discussing L.A. Taco's big Taco Madness event. On this subject, there is plenty to taco-bout! Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingGuest: Javier CabralVideo/Audio Producer: Felipe GuilherminoMajordomo Media Producers: Kelsey Rearden and David MeyerEditor: Stefano Sanchez Visit L.A. Taco here: https://lataco.com/Learn more about this year's Taco Madness here: https://lataco.com/tacos-at-madness-2025Check out this year's winner of Taco Madness here: https://lataco.com/taco-madness-2025Read about the taco stand that Dave, Chris, and Javier eat from in the episode here: https://lataco.com/carnitas-queen-los-angelesCheck out the article on magic mushrooms that Javier mentioned in the episode here: https://lataco.com/where-to-find-psychedelic-mushrooms-in-l-a Send in your questions to askdave@majordomomedia.comSubscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavechangshowSubscribe to Recipe Club on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipeclubofficialSubmit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.comJoin our community Discord on majordomo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Guidara, the author of ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ and former partner at Eleven Madison Park, shares his insights on transforming the hospitality experience. He discusses the influence of Danny Meyer’s approach and emphasizes the significance of empathy and intentionality in service. Guidara explores how ‘unreasonable hospitality’ can elevate guest experiences and the challenges faced by the industry post-COVID. He also touches on personal anecdotes about life changes in New York and the evolving nature of culinary passion.