090. Top Chef Season 22 Bonus: Interview with Chef Tristen Epps

What does legacy taste like? For Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps, it’s bold, layered, unapologetic—and deeply personal.

In this episode of Eat Your Content, I sit down with the chef who not only dominated the competition with the most wins in the season’s history but used every plate as a platform. Chef Tristen breaks down his philosophy of "uncolonizing cuisine," and how he’s flipping the script on what fine dining should look like.

We dive deep into:

• The cultural power behind his signature oxtail Milanese dish and why it brought Afro-Caribbean, Southern, and European flavors full circle
• The emotional toll of Restaurant Wars and how his teammates helped carry him through tragedy
• The late-night lightbulb moment that turned a dreaded foraging challenge into a winning dish
• Why he believes it’s time to redefine "mother sauces" and push culinary history past the French narrative
• His plans to open Buboy, a Houston-based tasting menu restaurant rooted in his family’s story, and the legacy he hopes to build for future chefs
• This is more than a Top Chef recap—this is a conversation about reclaiming culture, telling the truth through food, and building something that lasts far beyond one season.

🔗 Whether you’re a foodie, chef, or just someone who believes food is more than what’s on the plate, this one’s for you.

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Follow Chef Tristen Epps: @cheftristenepps
https://www.eppsandflows.com/

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