

Andrew Talks to Chefs
Andrew Friedman
Our top chefs, as you’ve never heard them before. Author Andrew Friedman, one of the nation's chief chroniclers of professional kitchen life, interviews a diverse cross-section of the best and biggest names in the business, bringing his personal relationships and industry knowledge to bear in coaxing personal and professional revelations from his guests.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 28, 2018 • 1h 37min
Episode 22: Angie Mar
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!
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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!

Feb 21, 2018 • 1h 22min
Episode 21: Claire Welle
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!

Feb 21, 2018 • 54min
Episode 20: Charlie Palmer
The great American chef Charlie Palmer sat down with Andrew the other day at the top of the Archer Hotel in Midtown Manhattan to talk over his life and career, from The River Cafe to Aureole to his collection of restaurants on both coasts of the United States. During this free-ranging interview, they also discuss the relevancy of sports to cooking; teamwork in the kitchen; and how he keeps things fresh after all this time. (Note: This is a wonderful companion interview to our next episode, with Claire Welle.)
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!

Feb 8, 2018 • 1h 10min
Episode 19: Hillary Sterling
As she was giddy with excitement at the prospect of decamping New York City for a Mexican adventure, Andrew joined Hillary Sterling one morning in the Vic's dining room for some shop talk--they kicked around the special allure travel holds for chefs, the value of a chef having worked in the front of house, the importance of sound cues in the kitchen, chef as teacher, and more. A fun and freewheeling conversation with a quick, witty, reflective chef.
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!

Jan 31, 2018 • 1h 30min
Episode 18: Dan Kluger
Loring Place chef-owner Dan Kluger first became known to New York CIty restaurant-goers as the chef of ABC Kitchen, where he announced himself with a dynamic, vegetable-forward style that's among the best of its class anywhere in the United States. But this modest chef's backstory is deep, and punctuated by time with industry legends: He learned alongside Floyd Cardoz, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Tom Colicchio. A fellow resident of Westchester County, Dan swung by Andrew's house on the way into Manhattan one recent morning for a chat about his life and career, and some thoughts on the value and challenges of keeping it simple.
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!

Jan 24, 2018 • 1h 52min
Episode 17: Hooni Kim
If there's such a thing as an epic podcast interview, this is it: Chef Hooni Kim's story spans three continents ... before the age of ten. From there, it's a long journey to the professional kitchen, and then to discovering who he was on the plate, which he sprung on the New York City dining public, first at Danji and then at Hanjan, where he offers his own personal take on Korean cuisine. Along the way, he did time at medical school (including a harrowing ER story), in the demanding ktichens of Daniel and Masa, and along the way became an accidental television star in his native Korea. This is a long one, but we thought it was worth every minute. Just settle in and enjoy.
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!

Jan 17, 2018 • 1h 15min
Episode 16: Missy Robbins
Andrew Talks to Chefs kicks off its second season with the chef of Andrew's favorite restaurant of the moment, Missy Robbins of Lilia in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. From a corner table at the restaurant, the two discuss Missy's culinary and personal journey to a place that so naturally expresses her ideas of Italian food and hospitality, as well as her recent and very revealing book Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ... Life. Along the way, Missy shares her memories of working for Charlie Trotter in Chicago (her very daunting first kitchen gig) and for Tony Mantuano at Spiaggia, as well as learning to love Brooklyn, the unique challenges of an open kitchen, and the value of significant time away from pro cooking.
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!

Dec 13, 2017 • 1h 42min
Episode 15: Richard Blais
**PLEASE DON’T BE CONFUSED: OUR FIRST 94 EPISODES ORIGINALLY AIRED ON OUR FORMER HOST NETWORK, AND STILL FEATURE THEIR STATION ID’S AND ADS. BUT ANDREW TALKS TO CHEFS HAS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT PODCAST SINCE 2019, AND WE’VE NOW AIRED SEVERAL HUNDRED EPISODES, AND COUNTING! SO … THE ONLY CURRENT, COMPLETE, AND OFFICIAL SITE FOR THE PODCAST IS ANDREWTALKSTOCHEFS.COM (PLEASE VISIT AND BOOKMARK), WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL EPISODES, ANDREW’S MUSINGS, NEWS ABOUT PERSONAL AND VIRTUAL APPEARANCES, AND RELATED INFORMATION. THANKS!**Andrew finds himself torn at the outset of our Season 1 finale. On the one hand, he has a hugely entertaining guest--chef/author/podcaster/personality Richard Blais. On the other, this is the week that one of the biggest chefs in the country left the spotlight after a slew of sexual harassment allegations. So Andrew and Caitlin try to make sense of that news and how a (male) writer can help, then abruptly shift gears to celebrate the season and dive into Andrew's interview with Richard. The two of them discuss just about everything, from Richard's Long Island childhood, to his time working at The French Laundry, Daniel, and el Bulli, to opening his own places, and finding stardom on Top Chef. They also compare notes on podcasting (Richard's Starving for Attention debuted just a few months before this show), cookbook writing, and pre-video game entertainment.
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!

Dec 11, 2017 • 1h 1min
Episode 14: Curtis Stone
**PLEASE DON’T BE CONFUSED: OUR FIRST 94 EPISODES ORIGINALLY AIRED ON OUR FORMER HOST NETWORK, AND STILL FEATURE THEIR STATION ID’S AND ADS. BUT ANDREW TALKS TO CHEFS HAS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT PODCAST SINCE 2019, AND WE’VE NOW AIRED SEVERAL HUNDRED EPISODES, AND COUNTING! SO … THE ONLY CURRENT, COMPLETE, AND OFFICIAL SITE FOR THE PODCAST IS ANDREWTALKSTOCHEFS.COM (PLEASE VISIT AND BOOKMARK), WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL EPISODES, ANDREW’S MUSINGS, NEWS ABOUT PERSONAL AND VIRTUAL APPEARANCES, AND RELATED INFORMATION. THANKS!**Los Angeles’s chef Curtis Stone joins us for a special bonus episode to discuss the coming format change at his Beverly Hills hit Maude, which will switch to a wine-region-inspired tasting menu in late January. (The first region he’s exploring: Rioja!) Curtis discusses the reason for the change, and the recent research trip he and his team took to Spain and how the inspiration they found there will find its way back to the restaurant. In this season of giving, we also look at his restaurant group’s unique philanthropic philosophy, especially their recent partnership with Chrysalis, which matches people who need a second chance (e.g., those who’ve spent time in prison or are homeless) through jobs.
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!

Dec 6, 2017 • 1h 50min
Episode 13: Michael White/Philip Tessier
**PLEASE DON’T BE CONFUSED: OUR FIRST 94 EPISODES ORIGINALLY AIRED ON OUR FORMER HOST NETWORK, AND STILL FEATURE THEIR STATION ID’S AND ADS. BUT ANDREW TALKS TO CHEFS HAS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT PODCAST SINCE 2019, AND WE’VE NOW AIRED SEVERAL HUNDRED EPISODES, AND COUNTING! SO … THE ONLY CURRENT, COMPLETE, AND OFFICIAL SITE FOR THE PODCAST IS ANDREWTALKSTOCHEFS.COM (PLEASE VISIT AND BOOKMARK), WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL EPISODES, ANDREW’S MUSINGS, NEWS ABOUT PERSONAL AND VIRTUAL APPEARANCES, AND RELATED INFORMATION. THANKS!**Our first twofer! Chef Michael White, the force behind Marea, Ai Fiori, Osteria Morini, and other modern classics, tells us how he morphed from an offensive tackle from Beloit, Wisconsin, into one of the best practitioners of Italian cuisine in the world. And Philip Tessier, a young veteran of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group who won a long-coveted silver medal for the United States at the international Bocuse d'Or competition, takes us inside his triumph and talks about his beautiful new book Chasing Bocuse, which tells the story of the competition and the USA's decades-long road to the podium. Andrew coauthored Michael's cookbook Classico e Moderno and wrote his own book about the Bocuse d'Or, Knives at Dawn, so brings his own point of view to both of these interviews.
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!


