flavors unknown podcast
We take you behind the scenes of trending kitchens and bars. A podcast for kitchen and bar professionals, foodies and wannabe foodies.
Episodes
As many of you know, I’m in the middle of an exciting moment: the launch journey for my new book, A Taste of Madagascar.
To celebrate—and to give myself the space this project deserves—I’m taking a short creative break from the regular Flavors Unknown format.Our usual chef interviews will resume in January 2026.
Until then, the podcast will temporarily shift its focus to Madagascar: its people, its ingredients, and the ...
In this special episode of Flavors Unknown, recorded during StarChefs Rising Stars Houston and presented in partnership with Symrise Food & Beverage North America, I’m taking you behind the scenes with Houston chefs and mixologists who are defining what makes Houston a top U.S. food city.
Joining me are five of the city’s most influential culinary minds:
- Chef Justin Yu of Theodore Rex
- Chef Evelyn García of JŪN...
Cleveland Food Scene. Today on Flavors Unknown, I sit down with five dynamic culinary voices who are reshaping perceptions of Cleveland and Detroit’s food and drink scenes.
This panel was recorded during StarChefs Rising Stars in Cleveland, and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Symrise Food &...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Roberto Alcocer, the visionary behind two bold culinary concepts: Malva in Baja California, and Valle, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Oceanside, California.
Born in Mexico City, Roberto’s journey is anything but traditional—his story takes us from early resistance at home to elite kitchens in France and Spain, from rustic open-air cooking to high-touch ...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Bhavin Chhatwani, the visionary Executive Chef behind Tamasha Modern Indian in Raleigh, North Carolina. Recognized as a James Beard Foundation “Emerging Chef” semifinalist, Bhavin is boldly reshaping the narrative around Indian food in America.
We explore his journey from the bustling streets of Udaipur to the refined kitchens of luxury hotels and two-MICHELIN-st...
IThis week on Flavors Unknown, I travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to speak with Chef Carlos Portela, the visionary behind Orujo Taller de Gastronomía — a genre-defying restaurant where there’s no printed menu, no scripted experience, and no boundaries between kitchen and guest.
With up to 25 ever-evolving courses rooted in fire, fermentation, and emotionally charged memory, Chef Portela is redefining what Puerto Rican c...
Today on Flavors Unknown, I’m talking with Chef William Dissen — chef, owner, and visionary behind The Market Place, a renowned 46-year-old farm-to-table restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina. Known for his Appalachian heritage and his fierce commitment to sustainability, Chef Dissen sees cooking not just as craft, but as daily activism.
From beating Gordon Ramsay on Uncharted to leading a restaurant that fuels commu...
Today on Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Michelle Wallace — a trailblazing chef and pitmaster who has redefined what it means to cook with fire and soul in the world of Texas barbecue. From her roots in St. Louis to her rise in Houston’s culinary scene, Michelle has crafted a fearless voice in a male-dominated space, fusing traditional barbecue with bold multicultural influences drawn from African, Asian, and Indian c...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Fabio Trabocchi, the Michelin-starred Italian chef and visionary restaurateur behind a growing empire of acclaimed restaurants including Fiola, Fiola Mare, Del Mar, Sfoglina, and Seta su Ilma.
We dive into Fabio’s culinary roots in Italy’s Le Marche region, his early training under the legendary Gualtiero Marchesi, and how French techniques and global travel shap...
Today, I’m talking to Chef Fany Gerson. She is a cookbook author, James Beard nominee, and the owner of Fan Fan Doughnuts and La Newyorkina.
You’ll hear about her culinary journey, from her childhood memories in Mexico City to her innovative in New York hotspots. She talks about the unique fusion of French techniques with Mexican flavors, and the importance of using high-quality ingredients. She also reflects on the imp...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Lisa Dahl, one of the most influential figures in Arizona’s culinary landscape. A self-taught chef and resilient entrepreneur, Lisa shares how an unimaginable personal tragedy led her from San Francisco to Sedona—and eventually into the kitchen, where sh...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Tony Nguyen, the Executive Chef behind the acclaimed Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills—an upscale destination redefining Modern Asian cuisine with elegance and innovation.
Born and raised in St. Louis to a Vietnamese family, Chef Tony shares how his upbr...
Today on Flavors Unknown, we head to Honolulu to meet the culinary duo behind one of Hawaii’s most celebrated dining destinations: Chef Wade Ueoka and Pastry Chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka of MW Restaurant. Their menu is a vibrant tapestry of Hawaii’s multicultural influences, showcasing local farmers, sustainable practices, and authentic island flavors.
In this episode, Wade and Michelle share the stories behind their journ...
Recorded live at Phoenix Palace during NYC StarChefs Rising Stars. Sponsored by Symrise.
In this special episode of Flavors Unknown, we head to New York City for a dynamic roundtable with four of the most exciting names in the city’s food and beverage scene:
Today on Flavors Unknown, I’m joined by Chef Matt Abdoo, co-founder of the wildly popular Pig Beach BBQ. Known for its award-winning approach to regional American barbecue, Pig Beach blends the soul of Southern smoke with chef-driven technique—and Matt is the creative fire behind it all.
But before the smoke, there were stars—Michelin stars. Matt’s culinary path began at Del Posto, where he worked as Chef de Cuis...
In this in-person episode recorded on location in Honolulu, I sit down with Chef Mourad Lahlou, the visionary behind Aziza, Mourad, Leila, and Miro Kaimuki. Known ...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Amanda Cohen, the creative force behind Dirt Candy, one of the most innovative vegetable-forward restaurants in New York City.
Amanda has spent her career redefining what plant-bas...
In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Joerick Rivera, the culinary mind behind Bakku, a Japanese crudo bar in Rincón, Puerto Rico, and Palmonte, where he explores Puerto Rican flavors with a modern twist.
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