Chef Geoffrey Zakarian says it’s his insatiable desire to please people that’s shaped his decades-long career. He explains how a gap year in France and a Michelin-star experience sparked his passion for elevated dining and attention to detail. Geoffrey talks about his first job at the famed Le Cirque restaurant in the early 80’s, and the luxurious and unexpected ingredients he worked with in that over-the-top environment. He shares the stories of opening his own restaurants and reveals his approach to training service staff using a European philosophy on what elevated customer service should be. He reveals the reason he initially turned down The Next Iron Chef — and the tactic his agent used to get him to say “yes.” GZ talks about investing his time and resources with his hospitality group to find tomorrow's restaurant mogul on his new show, and the insane first challenge he issued to test their skills.

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Learn More About Big Restaurant Bet: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/big-restaurant-bet

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Award-winning actress Julianna Margulies visits Ina Garten at home in the Hamptons, where they share Real Margaritas. They pick herbs from Ina's garden for Julianna's Halibut with Herbed Butter and then head to the beach in Ina's convertible.

For more conversations with Ina and her friends, check out Food Network's new podcast Be My Guest with Ina Garten. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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Chef Roger Mooking shares where his affinity for fire originated and how it led him to be the host of Man Fire Food. Roger gives his thoughts on why humans are drawn to cooking food over an open flame and the sacred ritual of fire. He talks about growing up in Trinidad with a Chinese heritage and the many cultural influences that shaped his formative culinary experiences. Roger shares why he never cooks the same thing twice and the creative way he fosters culinary curiosity with his four daughters. He talks about the first CD he ever owned and the many influences that impact his own career as a recording artist. Roger talks about his adventures hosting Man Fire Food and the many interpretations of barbecue across the country before talking about the hottest thing he’s ever tasted on his show, Heat Seekers, and how to cool down a spicy bite. 

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Learn More About Man, Fire, Food: https://www.cookingchanneltv.com/shows/man-fire-food

Learn More About Heat Seekers: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/heat-seekers

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/roger-mooking-on-never-cooking-the-same-dish-twice

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Producer Todd Schulkin talks about the many roles he has held that led him to becoming Executive Director of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts and the very famous screenwriter and director he helped to discover when he was a talent agent. Todd shares the touching memory of first meeting Julia Child and why he believes she continues to make an impact on the culinary world today. He talks about how the foundation selects winners for the annual Julia Child Award and how they seek out recipients that reflect Julia’s values and passion. Todd talks about his role as a consulting producer for the new scripted series, Julia, his responsibility to guide the series in an authentic way, and how the series takes a new perspective on Julia’s life and career. He shares the experience of being executive director on the new Food Network show, The Julia Child Challenge, and how Julia’s energy and presence is woven in throughout the show in order to guide the home cooks who are competing. Todd talks about the many elements of the show and how each contestant shares their own story of how Julia Child impacted their lives. 

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Learn More About The Julia Child Challenge: https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/the-julia-child-challenge

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/todd-schulkin-on-why-we-will-always-love-julia-child

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Kwame Onwuachi shares the wisdom he has gained and lessons learned on his journey to becoming an award-winning chef. He jokingly talks about becoming the first employee of his mother’s catering company at just five years old and how her hard work keeps him inspired. Kwame tells the story of how his mother sent him on a two week trip to Nigeria that turned into two years and how those formative experiences shaped his perspective and appreciation for food. He talks about his fierce tenacity and how he approaches every experience like it’s the first time. He reveals the reason he decided to attend culinary school and the entrepreneurial way he paid for tuition. Kwame shares his thoughts on what it means to be a leader and cultivate culture in his kitchens and how he persevered through the disappointment of his first restaurant closing. He talks about how important it is to pause and celebrate your achievements and how it felt to be recognized as a James Beard award winner. Kwame shares the full circle story of sleeping on the green room floor of Chopped, hoping to film, and how it felt to finally be a judge on the show. 

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Learn More About Chopped: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/kwame-onwuachi-on-approaching-life-like-the-first-time-every-time

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Chef Joe Sasto reveals the Food Network star he shares a friendship tattoo with and how he started producing cooking videos that have garnered millions of views. He shares how he met his creative and romantic partner and how they collaborate to produce his drool worthy videos. Joe talks about his journey to Michelin-star kitchens even without formal training and how those experiences shaped his passion for intimate dining and attention to detail. He shares the serendipitous story of how he landed at the pasta station and slowly fell in love with preparing pasta “fatto a mano” and what he thinks it takes to gain Michelin star recognition. Joe talks about nurturing relationships with Bay Area farmers and purveyors and how it has informed and influenced his point of view as a chef. He talks about the process of developing a packaged snack and what inspired the idea for his puffed pasta creation, Tantos. Joe shares his reaction to being named a Food Network Hotlister, what it was like to compete on Chopped, and what he is really thinking when he is on the other side of the table as a judge. 

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Learn More About Tournament of Champions: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/tournament-of-champions

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/joe-sasto-on-those-viral-pasta-tiktok-videos

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Kelsey Barnard Clark shares how her upbringing in small town Alabama shaped her as a person and chef and how she uses her garden and seasonal foods to drive her culinary creativity. She shares her thoughts on leaving home to explore the world and her hopes for increased diversity and experiences for her own kids. Kelsey talks about how her formal French training reignited her interest in Southern cooking and why she is typically considered the underdog as a Southern chef. She tells the shocking story of catering a wedding solo at just fifteen years old and how she fosters curiosity for food with her children. Kelsey shares her thoughts on food sourcing and reducing food waste, especially in her own restaurant, and how she knew from a young age that she would be an entrepreneur. She talks about the process of curating recipes for her cookbook and the difficulty of translating traditional family recipes that often are without measurements. Kelsey shares her thoughts on competing in Tournament of Champions and the difficulty of cooking against the clock. She talks about Guy Fieri being their biggest cheerleader and the joy of reuniting with her former castmates for the show. 

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Learn More About Tournament of Champions: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/tournament-of-champions

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/kelsey-barnard-clark-on-why-we-leave-home-small-town-charm

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Chef Justin Sutherland shares how his Obachan, or grandmother, influenced his love for cooking at a young age and granted his wish for an Easy Bake Oven when he was five years old. He talks about pursuing law school after his undergraduate degree and what ultimately made him pivot to culinary school in Atlanta. Justin talks about the grind of paying his dues early in his career and what he learned when he sold all of his things and moved to Costa Rica for eight months to reset. He reveals what he has learned opening his own restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota, his advice for aspiring restaurant owners, and what concept he has up his sleeve next. Justin shares his passion for encouraging conversations around social change through his streetwear brand and uplifting minority communities through his nonprofit organization. He recalls his experience competing and winning on Iron Chef and his thoughts on the randomizer after competing on the latest season of Tournament of Champions.

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Learn More About Tournament of Champions:

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/justin-sutherlands-advice-for-burnout-the-perfect-ramen-order

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Chef Mei Lin talks about her experience growing up in her parents’ Chinese restaurant and how being up-close-and-personal to their work shaped her culinary perspective. She shares her formative experiences in the kitchen working with The Voltaggio Brothers and Wolfgang Puck, her strategy for working your way up the ranks in the kitchen, and who her closest industry confidantes are today. Mei reveals the Southern inspiration behind her latest restaurant concept and the secret to perfect fried chicken before naming her must-have Asian pantry staples. Mei dives into her Food Network series, The Lunar New Year Menu, the symbolic foods that she remembers from her childhood and how she celebrates today in Los Angeles. 

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Learn More About The Lunar New Year Menu: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/the-lunar-new-year-menu

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/mei-lins-secret-to-crispy-chicken-her-must-have-asian-pantry-staples

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Eric Adjepong talks about growing up in a West African home in New York City and his early food memories. He talks about always having a sense of his career path and why he chose to pursue degrees in nutrition and public health to supplement his culinary knowledge. Eric talks about his decision to focus on West African cuisine while competing on TV and what it means to elevate the foods of his heritage in the culinary world. He reveals how he met his wife and business partner, Janell, and the keys to an intimate dinner party. Eric shares what he is learning so far about becoming an author of a cookbook and the meaning behind its title. He talks about the hallmarks of West African cuisine and the traditional American staples and practices that are influenced by the African diaspora. Eric shares his reaction to being on Food Network’s 2022 Hot List and his experiences filming Alex vs. America with the Iron Chef Alex Guarnascheli. He talks about competing on the latest season of Tournament of Champions and why it is the most difficult food competition show out there. 

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Learn More About Alex vs. America: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/alex-vs-america

Find episode transcript here: https://food-network-obsessed.simplecast.com/episodes/eric-adjepong-on-bringing-west-african-cuisine-into-the-spotlight

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