The Ultimate Dish
Episodes
146 episodes
Kristen Kish in Toronto, Canada: Why Confidence Matters More Than You Think
Escoffier Chef-in-Residence and Emmy-nominated Top Chef host Kristen Kish returns for a special in-person conversation in Toronto, Canada!From her early days on the line to becoming a Top Chef winner, Kristen reflects o...
.png)
Alana Kysar: The Untold Truth About Hawaiian Food
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Alana Kysar, cookbook author, recipe developer, photographer, and the voice behind Aloha Kitchen and Aloha Veggies.Alana shares how returning home to Hawai‘i reshaped the way she sees...
.png)
Top Chef Winner Melissa King: What Changed When I Stopped Holding Back
In today’s episode, we welcome Melissa King, Top Chef All-Stars champion, record-breaking competitor, cookbook author, and host of National Geographic’s Tasting Wild.Melissa shares what changed between her first season of To...
.jpg)
Jacques Pépin: The Secret Wisdom of a Culinary Legend
In today’s episode, we welcome Jacques Pépin, culinary icon, bestselling author, and beloved teacher whose career has shaped generations of cooks around the world.Jacques looks back on his early apprenticeship in France, his move to the ...
.png)
Alexis Stoudemire: Why She Chose Culinary School Now
In today’s episode, we sit down with Alexis Stoudemire, entrepreneur, lifestyle creator, philanthropist, and recent Escoffier graduate.Alexis opens up about enrolling in culinary school as a deliberate next chapter, not a career reset. S...
.png)
How a Home Kitchen Became a Source of Healing
In today’s episode, we sit down with Jennifer Relph, a home baker, mom of four, and former cottage food business owner behind Selah Sweets.Jen shares how baking became a form of therapy during a challenging season of life and why time in...
Kevin Boehm: “How Hospitality Saved My Life”
In today’s episode, we welcome back Kevin Boehm, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur, co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, and author of The Bottomless Cup.Kevin reflects on a childhood shaped by instability and the unlikely ...
Beyond Candy: The Art & Soul of Craft Chocolate with Moksha Chocolate’s Founders
In today’s episode, we chat with Jen and Michael Caines, the husband-and-wife team behind Moksha Chocolate, a bean-to-bar craft chocolate company based in Boulder, Colorado.Jen and Michael take us inside their world of small-batch chocol...
Eden Grinshpan on Letting Go of Perfection and Cooking with Joy
In today's episode, we chat with Eden Grinshpan, TV food personality, cookbook author, and beloved host of Top Chef Canada.Eden opens up about what it really means to follow your curiosity and trust where it leads. Her story starts at Le...
Heat You Can Handle: How a Chef Turned His Hot Sauce Into a Brand
In today’s episode, we chat with Matt Kuerbis, Escoffier Chef Instructor in Plant-Based Culinary Arts and Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management. A chef-educator and entrepreneur, Matt blends classroom teaching with real-world brand...
James Beard Winner Charlie Mitchell on Leading Saga After James Kent
In today's episode, we chat with Charlie Mitchell, executive chef of New York's two-Michelin-starred Saga and James Beard Award winner for Best Chef in New York City.Charlie opens up about one of the most difficult transitions in fine di...
From Burger King to Michelin Star: The BRUTAL Truth About Success with Byron Gomez
In today's episode, we chat with Byron Gomez, executive chef of Denver's Michelin-starred BRUTØ and the first Costa Rican chef to earn this prestigious recognition.Byron opens up about the brutal truth behind his rise from fast food to f...
How This Escoffier Grad Built a Resume of Award-Winning Restaurant Jobs
In today's episode, we chat with Connor Fowler, Escoffier graduate, certified sommelier, and rising talent in fine dining.Connor shares how his culinary education at Escoffier's Boulder campus, where he earned the Curtis Duffy Scholarshi...
Curtis Duffy: How Family Tragedy Forged a ‘Fireproof’ Chef
In today's episode, we chat with Curtis Duffy, James Beard Award winner, Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and author of the powerful new memoir Fireproof.Curtis shares how his traumatic childhood in rural Ohio led him to fin...
Against the Grain: Rethinking Sports Nutrition with Lentine Alexis
In today's episode, we chat with Lentine Alexis, certified holistic nutritionist, Ayurvedic health counselor, pastry chef, yoga and breathwork instructor, and sports performance coach.Lentine shares how struggling to fuel her training wi...
Hosea Rosenberg: The Boulder Chef Who Turned New Mexican Roots Into Restaurant Gold
In today's episode, we chat with Hosea Rosenberg, acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and founder of Blackbelly and Santo.Hosea shares how a college job to pay for school led him from studying astrophysics to training with culinary legends lik...
How André Hueston Mack Is Making Wine Less Intimidating—and More Fun
In today’s episode, we chat with André Hueston Mack, acclaimed sommelier, designer, and founder of Maison Noir Wines, whose journey into the wine world started far from the vineyard in a corporate office at Citicorp.André shares how a bo...
How Claudette Zepeda Rewrote the Rules—From Single Mom to Entrepreneur
In today’s episode, we chat with Claudette Zepeda, award-winning chef, culinary entrepreneur, and Creative Director of Chispa Hospitality, known for her fearless approach to regional Mexican cuisine and globally inspired storytelling.Cla...
How Chef Stefani De Palma Led Team USA to Gold at Bocuse d’Or Americas
In today’s episode, we chat with Chef Stefani De Palma, former Chef de Cuisine at San Diego’s three-Michelin-starred Addison and Head Chef of Team USA at the 2024 Bocuse d’Or Americas.Stefani shares her journey from starting as a pastry ...
Marc Vetri on Why the Best Chefs Don’t Just Cook — They Care
In today’s episode, we chat with Marc Vetri, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author who helped put Philadelphia on the national culinary map.Marc is the founder of Vetri Cucina and the force behind acclaimed restaurants...
Accidentally on Purpose: Chef-in-Residence Kristen Kish on Life, Mentorship & Meaning
In today’s episode, we chat with Kristen Kish, Escoffier Chef-in-Residence, award-winning chef, and host of Bravo’s Top Chef.A Korean adoptee raised in Michigan, Kristen discovered her passion for cooking at a young age. After w...
Carnegie Hall to Culinary School: How One Opera Singer is Nourishing Her Art and Her Life
In today’s episode, we chat with Maria Zouves, a Greek-American soprano, educator, director, producer, and current Escoffier student pursuing a degree in Holistic Nutrition & Wellness.As President of the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Program...
From Resume to Interview: Hospitality Hiring Experts Share Career-Boosting Tips
In today’s episode, we chat with Brian Blum and Evan Kaplan, two expert recruiters from Gecko Hospitality—an esteemed partner of Escoffier.With over 20 years of experience in restaurant operations and staffing, Brian has held leadership ...
Lessons in Hospitality: How Kevin Boehm Builds Award-Winning Restaurants
In today’s episode, we chat with Kevin Boehm, a James Beard Award-winning restaurateur.With a career spanning three decades and over 40 restaurants opened, Kevin has redefined the dining experience. From launching his first six-table res...
From Army to Artistry: Trenin Nubiru’s Culinary Reinvention
In today’s episode, we chat with Trenin Nubiru, a graduate of Escoffier's culinary and baking & pastry programs.Trenin’s journey to the kitchen is far from conventional. With an engineering degree from West Point and 20 years of mili...
