Andrew Talks to Chefs

What's more fun than volleyball and as entertaining as a great summer read? Why, a podcast interview on the beach, of course. When Andrew met Suzanne Tracht, chef-owner of JAR restaurant, at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market recently, Suzanne suggested they have their conversation on the mostly deserted beach. The two of them commandeered a lifeguard tower and got to it, discussing Suzanne's kosher upbringing in Arizona, her migration to the pro kitchen and to California, the genesis and evolution of her beloved restaurant (now in its 18th year), and how she stays current while also honoring her longtime regulars. Lay down a towel, kick off your flip-flops, and join them. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Maybe it's because they have Florida in common, or maybe because they both write, or maybe it's something more simple and special than that, but Andrew has always felt a kinship with Chef Norman Van Aken, who's been making his mark on Florida dining since his his first at-bats in Key West in the early 1980s. Norman recently welcomed Andrew to Miami to help him promote Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll at Norman's new cooking school, In the Kitchen with Norman Van Aken, and his beautiful new Downtown Miami restaurant, named Three. During the visit, the two sat down at one of Norman's favorite hangs, Palacio de los Jugos, and gabbed about Florida, cooking, writing, and Norman's great career over lunch. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

From '21' to the dear, departed Windows on the World, to his current longtime home at Porter House Bar and Grill, Chef Michael Lomonaco has made a career of finding new registers in the classics of American cuisine. Andrew sat down with his good friend (they collaborated on a book years ago) to discuss the trajectory of Michael's career, how he finds creative expression and satisfaction in the traditional mode he cooks in, and the very personal Italian-American influence that's found its way into his menu in recent years. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

At his restaurants Zahav, Abe Fisher, Dizengoff, Rooster Soup Company, Goldie and others, Philadelphia-based chef and restaurateur Mike Solomonov has established himself as the standard-bearer of modern Jewish/Israeli cuisine. While at the Philly Chef Conference recently, Andrew and Mike borrowed a conference room for an impromptu rap session about what it means to be Jewish in the industry, the pitfalls of modern communication, where new restaurant ideas come from, and the secrets behind Philadelphia’s burgeoning restaurant scene (hint: it’s a good place for cooks to live). Here’s a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it’s free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple’s podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

At Williamsburg's popular Four Horsemen, Chef Nick Curtola brings a young lifetime of experience to bear in creating a concise but diverse menu that complements the restaurant's thoughtful wine program. The resulting offerings draw a steady steam of both civilian and industry diners. Nick shares the path that led him here, including his Bay Area childhood, time spent cooking in Italy, and at Franny's in New York, and his thoughts on menu development, collaboration, and management. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

At Shuka restaurant in downtown Manhattan, chef Ayesha Nurdjaja subtly makes Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine her own. Over coffee one recent morning, she and Andrew kicked around her unique approach to her culinary education, favoring time spent in home kitchens around the world. She also shares a lot about her Brooklyn upbringing and her path to the professional kitchen after considering careers in gemology and music. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Bruce Marder is the first chef named in Andrew's brand new book Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. But he's far from a household name, despite the fact that his long-departed West Beach Cafe is legendary, and that he currently co-owns and operates a handful of successful LA-area restaurants, including Capo and the forthcoming Red Rooster. When Andrew's recent flight home from LA got canceled, he suddenly found himself crashing at the home of Bruce and his wife Shelly, and the two sat down for an interview on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the couple's home kitchen. They discuss Bruce's still-burning passion for cooking, his next restaurant, and how he feels about his place in American chef history. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Greg Prochel presides over one of the hottest kitchens of 2018 at his Ferris Restaurant in New York City. Greg and Andrew borrowed a room in MADE, the hotel that houses the restaurant, and interviewed there recently, going over Greg's early life and career (he switched from finance), stints at Eleven Madison Park and Blanca, and eventually his own chef gig at Le Turtle and now Ferris. In addition to how his distinct style evolved, Greg shares his personal thoughts on everything from kitchen management to his workout scheudule to his love of music in and out of the kitchen. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

For a career-changer, Chef Angie Mar's ascent in the chef world has been nothing short of astounding. Andrew swung by her stylish, wildly successful West Village restaurant The Beatrice Inn to get her story, from her Seattle upbringing to her life as a real estate agent in Los Angeles to her decision to chuck it all and jump into the pro kitchen. They also discuss the unique culture and rituals behind the scenes at The Beatrice Inn and how she went about buying the business and making it into the huge success it's become. Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!

Claire Welle, the chef of Otway restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, has been drawing a lot of attention lately for her straightforward, relatable bistro menu, tweaked just enough to make it enduringly personal. She and Andrew took up a booth one morning last week during the prep day at Otway and talked over her young life and career; her views on teamwork, collaboration, and chemistry; how the current "cook's market" impacts contemporary pro kitchens; her opinion of cooking schools; and a lot more. (We think this is a wonderful companion interview to our preceding episode with Charlie Palmer). Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on iTunes or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's podcast store. Thanks for listening! Andrew Talks to Chefs is powered by Simplecast THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!