Chef's Day Off
Want to elevate your home cooking with Chef tips from one of the best culinary minds in the game? Celebrated Chef Matthew Dolan: Co-owner of 25 Lusk Restaurant in San Francisco (Food Network Regular, Cookbook author, US Department of State Cutural Envoy) and "Marcus D." Najera (National iHeart Radio personality and food enthusiast) will dig into flavor, foolproof cooking hacks and pro-tips, all while serve up tasty stories peppered with plenty of laughs! Come join us and learn a ton on Chef's Day Off!
Episodes
Chef Matthew Dolan teaches Marcus how to make Lime Posset, an elegant English dessert dating back more than 500 years that's made with just four simple ingredients. Along the way, they share the story of how this very recipe sparked their friendship years ago, eventually leading to the creation of Chef's Day Off. In this episode, you'll learn:
• The fascinating history of Lime Posset
• How citrus naturally transform...
• The fascinating history of Lime Posset
• How citrus naturally transform...
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July 1, 2026 • 16 mins
What separates a good home cook from a great one? It isn't expensive ingredients. It isn't fancy equipment. It isn't some secret recipe. It's finesse. This week, Chef Matthew and Marcus explore the subtle techniques professional chefs use every day that instantly elevate home cooking. From creating the perfect dining experience before you ever light the stove to tasting as you cook, controlling heat, and understanding why patience ...
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May 23, 2026 • 17 mins
Eggs sound simple… until you try to cook them perfectly. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew Dolan break down the techniques behind scrambled eggs, fried eggs, poached eggs, and frittatas. From fluffy curds and runny yolks to restaurant brunch hacks and chef-level tricks, this episode is packed with practical advice you can actually use at home. Chef explains why eggs are one of the true tests of...
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May 9, 2026 • 20 mins
Butter makes everything better… but only if you know how to use it. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew Dolan from 25 Lusk break down one of the most important ingredients in cooking: butter. From steak basting and pan sauces to clarified butter, brown butter, bread service, roasting chicken, and fixing dry turkey, this episode is packed with practical techniques that instantly elevate your cooki...
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April 25, 2026 • 12 mins
You broke down the chicken… now what? In Chicken: Part 2, Marcus and Chef Matthew turn those raw chicken parts into a fast, no-stress, one-pan dinner you can pull off on a weeknight. We’re talking crispy skin, a simple pan sauce, and a full meal on the table in about 20 minutes. Chef walks through how to build flavor from the pan up, what “fond” actually is, how to deglaze like a pro, and the easiest way to...
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April 11, 2026 • 21 mins
If you’re still buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts, this episode might change your life. Marcus and Chef Matthew Dolan break down everything you need to know about cooking a whole chicken. From why it’s cheaper (way cheaper) to how to break it down, cook each part properly, and actually get better flavor at home. They get into roasting techniques, why low and slow beats high heat, how to get crispy skin without d...
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February 22, 2026 • 16 mins
What makes the perfect sandwich?
In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew Dolan go deep on the simplest, most iconic pairing in food history: bread and meat. From sourdough legend Azikiwee Anderson at Rize Up Bakery to Wagyu breakdowns at The Butcher Shop by Niku with Guy The Butcher, they explore what elevates a sandwich from basic to unforgettable. Chef defends the purity of a cheeseburger. Marcus a...
In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew Dolan go deep on the simplest, most iconic pairing in food history: bread and meat. From sourdough legend Azikiwee Anderson at Rize Up Bakery to Wagyu breakdowns at The Butcher Shop by Niku with Guy The Butcher, they explore what elevates a sandwich from basic to unforgettable. Chef defends the purity of a cheeseburger. Marcus a...
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February 1, 2026 • 20 mins
Season two of Chef’s Day Off kicks off with a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood proteins in home cooking: fish. Marcus from Star 1013/iHeartRadio and Executive Chef Matthew Dolan of 25 Lusk in San Francisco break down how to buy fish, what to ask your fishmonger, and how to cook it confidently without overthinking it. From salmon skin and rock cod to whole fish on the grill and why stuffing a fish is mostly for Ins...
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November 16, 2025 • 11 mins
We were clearing out the hard drive as we continue to produce Season 2 and we discovered a yet-to-be-published gem. Call it the "Lost French Fry Episode." Marcus and Chef Matthew go all in on why fries hit so hard, the science behind potato happiness (there is a reason we love them), and which cuts actually deliver. They break down toppings, poutine philosophy, and the chef-level method for making PERFECT fries at home.
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September 20, 2025 • 11 mins
Bananas Foster: part dessert, part pyrotechnics. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew dive into the story behind this New Orleans classic, why it’s flambéed, and how to make it at home without torching your kitchen. They cover the origin at Brennan’s in the French Quarter, the science of sugar and fruit, why bananas need just the right ripeness, and how other fruits (cherries, peaches, plums,...
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September 12, 2025 • 11 mins
Mac and cheese: comfort food, kid favorite, and apparently the cause of Marcus’ cooking anxiety. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew dive into what makes the perfect mac and cheese. From smooth, creamy cheese sauces (and why they go grainy) to beer vs. wine in the base, boxed grated cheddar vs. “real cheese,” and whether nut milk belongs anywhere near the pot, no angle is off-limits. C...
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September 5, 2025 • 13 mins
Stocks and broths sound fancy, but they start the same — bones, water, and a simmer — until one takes a left turn and the other a right. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus and Chef Matthew break down the real difference between a stock and a broth (and where the sexy term “bone broth” actually fits). You’ll learn why cold water matters, why bitterness is the enemy, how long to simmer fish,...
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August 29, 2025 • 11 mins
Hot dogs aren’t just ballpark food — they’re a cultural obsession. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus D. Najera from iHeartRadio San Francisco (The Marcus and Corey Morning Show) and Chef Matthew Dolan (25 Lusk, Food Network regular, cookbook author) go all in on America’s favorite guilty pleasure. From cheese dogs and bacon-wrapped Sonoran street dogs, to the legendary Seattle dog, Chicago-styl...
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August 22, 2025 • 10 mins
Leftovers don’t have to be sad. In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Marcus D. ("Marcus and Corey" on iHeartRadio) and Chef Matthew Dolan (25 Lusk, Food Network regular, cookbook author) explore how to turn “what’s in the fridge” into something worth bragging about. From comforting soups like congee and ham bone & white bean, to crispy taquitos, leftover pizza breakfasts, and even breakfast burrito h...
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August 15, 2025 • 20 mins
Level up every meal with just four sauces. In this episode of Chefs Day Off, Chef Matthew Dolan breaks down the essential set you actually need: a bright, balanced vinaigrette, a versatile red pasta sauce, a proper Hollandaise (plus the exact fix if it breaks), and a fast pan sauce you can riff on for chicken or pork. Clear rules, chef tips, and no fluff—so you can cook restaurant-quality food at home tonight. What you’...
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August 8, 2025 • 20 mins
Why does restaurant food taste so much better than what you make at home? In this episode of Chef’s Day Off, Michelin-starred chef Matthew Dolan and radio host Marcus D. go deep on the holy trinity of seasoning: salt, pepper, and acid. You’ll learn why salt is greedy and thirsty, how pepper adds more than just heat, and why a splash of vinegar or citrus can make or break a dish. Plus: the truth about kosher salt, the da...
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August 1, 2025 • 12 mins
Episode 1 – Rice: How to Cook It, Hack It, and Make It Taste Like a Chef Made It.
In the very first episode of Chef’s Day Off, hosts Marcus D. and Chef Matthew Dolan (of San Francisco’s 25 Lusk) break down one of the most misunderstood ingredients in your kitchen: rice.
We’re talking how to cook the perfect pot of rice, why that viral TikTok rice method actually works, and what to do with lefto...
In the very first episode of Chef’s Day Off, hosts Marcus D. and Chef Matthew Dolan (of San Francisco’s 25 Lusk) break down one of the most misunderstood ingredients in your kitchen: rice.
We’re talking how to cook the perfect pot of rice, why that viral TikTok rice method actually works, and what to do with lefto...
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Watch
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