On today's podcast, we sit down with Chef Brad Kilgore, ICONIC award-winning chef and wine enthusiast, and get a front-row seat into the mind of a Michelin-starred chef - one of America's most innovative culinary voices. Known for blending bold global flavors with fine-dining precision, Kilgore explores the ever-evolving world of food, creativity, and culture.
Website: kilgoreculinary.com
Instagram: brad_kilgore
BACK STORY
Widely recognized for his boundary-pushing creativity, Kilgore has earned accolades from Food & Wine (Best New Chef), James Beard (multiple nominations), Esquire (Best New Restaurants), and The New York Times, which called his work "refined, inventive, and unforgettable." With a reputation for blending artistic precision with bold global flavors, Kilgore has cooked at the prestigious James Beard House, collaborated with global hospitality brands, and is now turning heads again—this time for championing Itameshi, a rising Japanese-Italian fusion trend he's helping introduce to American diners.
Already gaining global momentum, Itameshi combines the depth and umami of Japanese cuisine with the rich traditions of Italy—creating dishes that feel both deeply comforting and wildly inventive. From yuzu-kosho buttered pastas to miso-infused carbonara and caviar-topped pizzas, Kilgore is blending the best of both cultures and delivering it with the precision of fine dining and the heart of a neighborhood favorite.
With five acclaimed restaurants already in operation—including Mad Lab, CIMA, Verge at Concourse Club, Café Sebastian, and Fisher Island—and two new openings coming soon in San Francisco (Ama) and Fort Myers (OISE), Kilgore is bringing this genre-bending flavor profile to diners across the country.
He's also expanding his influence far beyond the kitchen with high-profile collaborations at Rosewood Private Residences, OCN Hotel in Mexico, and Inter Miami, Lionel Messi's home team.
And perhaps most surprising? His frozen pizza brand, Pizza Freak, born during the pandemic, was just nominated for World's Best Pizza—the only pre-made pizza to make the iconic pizza ranking list.
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