Pack Your Knives

With Top Chef Carolinas on tap, we have a big announcement to make. In this special offseason episode, we welcome Top Chef finalist Sara Bradley to the team and preview Season 23 by taking turns predicting challenges in Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC. Bradley sheds light about her time living in Charlotte and cutting her teeth at Johnson & Wales. Tom reveals childhood culinary trauma and Sara reveals what she's MOST excited about for the upcoming season. What Charlotte-themed challenges do you want to see? Chime in below. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making his highly-anticipated debut on Pack Your Knives, Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps talks to Tom Haberstroh about his epic performance on Top Chef and why the Afro-Caribbean chef is jealous about the upcoming Top Chef Carolinas. The globetrotter explains what Top Chef greatness looks like, sets the record straight on the supposed Massimo beef (?) and what he envisions for his new restaurant Buboy in Houston. The Charlotte Johnson & Wales graduate also reveals the one former Top Chef that he wants to challenge on a Top Chef All-Stars season and trashes Tom and Eric Adjepong for letting him fall so far on Draft night. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh is over the moon upon discovering that Top Chef Season 23 will be filmed in his own backyard! On Wednesday, it was announced that “Top Chef Carolinas” will have Charlotte, NC as the hub city. Tom sheds light on Charlotte ties to Top Chef alums Tristen Epps, Sara Bradley, Jamie Lynch, Sam Talbot and Eric Adjepong. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Tom and Eric watch the season finale at his restaurant in DC, they host the podcast recap in front of a live audience, a joyous crowd that included the winner’s brother and Season 22 contestant Corwin Hemming.Tom and Eric discuss the significance of the winner’s impressive victory and take stock in the winner’s entire season. Eric shares his personal thoughts on the legacy of the winner’s achievement. After ranking this Top Chef season among the greats, Tom decides to put together his Mount Rushmore of Top Chefs with input from Eric and the audience. We hear from the winner’s brother and Corwin, who shared some behind-the-scenes experiences. Finally, Tom and Eric break down each dish and score each round with their commentary.At the end, Tom and Eric take questions from the audience and then wrap an incredible season of Top Chef.Thank you all for your support on Season 22! Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva Finale. With one episode to go, Tom (now an honorary Ghanaian citizen) and Eric break down the Milan Finale Part 1 with the help of Carly Levitz who shares her analysis on the history of risotto on Top Chef. Is the curse of risotto overrated, underrated or properly rated? One chef's out-of-box thinking gets the best of them and the finale will decide which fantasy team wins: Team Eric or Team Tom. The margins are so slim. That's why it feels so big. See you in DC next week at Eric's restaurant Elmina. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of their Season Finale Watch Party announcement (June 12th at Elmina! Get your tickets now!), Tom and Eric wax poetic about the Quarry Lake episode. This hour of Top Chef had it all. Tom and Eric recap what they consider one of the greatest episodes of the series' history. While getting choked up on air, Eric explains why he got so emotional watching the Quarry Lake episode and especially the heart-breaking judge's table. The integrity of the show, Tom argues, is what makes Top Chef TOP CHEF and that integral guiding post is what helped paint such a beautiful episode. Did the chef deserve to go home? What does it say about the show? And the fantasy standings? Tom and Eric have a lot to say. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And then there were five. With one episode left before the two-part finale, Eric Adjepong and Tom Haberstroh break down the Calgary episode (Yahoo!). As the contestants wrangle with beef and berries, Tom and Eric weigh in on the most underrated cut of the cow and the best preparation at a steakhouse. How exactly we did Massimo make that fancy Fruit Roll-up? A rivalry emerges and three chefs separate themselves from the pack. The race seems more undecided than ever. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last Chance Kitchen is over. Eric Adjepong is back. And the show wraps up Toronto. A returnee comes back into the competition and gets revenge on the competitors. Adjepong shares his thoughts on Tristen at Restaurant Wars and what he took from the last two weeks while he was off air. Tom and Eric can’t help but laugh at the “hot garbage” quickfire while we wonder how sustainable Tristen’s lead might be with Massimo closing fast. The Top Chef fantasy race is getting hot. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buddha Lo, a two-time Top Chef winner and head chef at Huso, shares his culinary journey and insights from judging Top Chef Canada. He discusses the emotional connections chefs have with their dishes, comparing his experiences with fellow competitor Tristen Epps, particularly around loss and ambition. Buddha also dishes on the pressures of cooking for Padma Lakshmi, highlighting standout dishes like a flawless salmon Wellington. The conversation dives into the evolving dynamics of competitive cooking, from presentation strategies to personal narratives, making it an unforgettable listen.

Restaurant Wars is here and so is Kevin Arnovitz! With Eric Adjepong on film leave, Arnovitz steps back into the chair to break down an emotional and tragic Restaurant Wars episode and offer his big-picture thoughts on the Destination Canada season as a whole. Where is Tristen Epps in the pantheon? When did the losing team squander their moment? What's the best way to eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch? And which Atlanta Braves pitcher does Lana remind us of? All that and more on a PYK reunion episode. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠ Apple⁠ or⁠ Spotify⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠YouTube!⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠ @packknives⁠ & Instagram:⁠ @packyourknives⁠ ⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠ - Check it out here:⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices