Michael Symon goes full Greek mode in this Mediterranean-inspired episode, frying up tender beef keftedes — mini Greek meatballs spiced with coriander, cumin and cinnamon — while his guest, the unstoppable Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja of Shuka and Shukette, whips feta into a silky dream.

As they cook, Ayesha shares her incredible story — from getting rejected three times at Lidia Bastianich’s restaurant to sneaking in with a broom and earning her spot as Sous Chef four years later.

The crew dives into mentorship, the power of persistence, and why you should never call a sweet-potato purée “hummus.”

There’s frying in olive oil, garlic candles, talk of TV Titans and Brooklyn accents — plus plenty of laughs and the now-legendary “Rip and Dip.”

It’s a masterclass in flavor and friendship with a side of comedy and chaos — aka classic Chewed Up.

👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: www.chewedupshow.com/recipes

Keywords

Michael Symon, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Greek meatballs, whipped feta, meze, keftedes, olive oil frying, Food Network Titans, mentorship, Brooklyn chef, Trader Joe’s ingredients, Marble Ridge Farms, Blues Hog BBQ, Frontgate, All-Clad, Hedley & Bennett, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Chewed Up podcast

Timestamps (YouTube / Spotify)

00:00 – Intro chaos & banter

01:30 – Michael explains meze and his mom’s Greek roots

02:45 – Guest intro: Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja joins the kitchen

05:30 – Ayesha shares her wild culinary origin story

10:00 – Sponsor shout-outs: Blues Hog, Marble Ridge, Trader Joe’s

12:00 – Cooking the beef keftedes (step-by-step)

16:00 – Ayesha’s whipped feta recipe and kitchen tips

20:00 – The Great Hummus Debate erupts

25:00 – Rip & Dip taste test + dill love-fest

29:00 – Titan talk & fan giveaway winner (Ally in Austin, TX)

🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Blues Hog → Award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs that bring championship flavor to any dish. blueshog.com

Marble Ridge Farms → Fourth-generation Missouri farm raising premium Wagyu cattle in a low-stress, happy environment. marbleridgefarms.com

Trader Joe’s → Your friendly neighborhood market for unique seasonal finds and affordable adventures. traderjoes.com

Frontgate → Luxury entertaining and home essentials that make every spread look spectacular. frontgate.com

All-Clad → The gold standard of cookware, crafted in the USA since the 1970s. all-clad.com

Hedley & Bennett → Professional-grade aprons and kitchen gear built for durability, function and style. hedleyandbennett.com

Kitchen Designed by Anthony Carrino → anthonycarrino.com

Produced by Simple Alien → www.simplealien.com

Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → tvboynyc.com

For more on Ayesha and her restaurants:

on instagram → @ayesha_rare

Shukette

Shuka

About Chewed Up

Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon serve up comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation three times a week — Monday (Appetizers), Wednesday (Mains), and Friday (Desserts). 

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Fan Giveaway

This week’s giveaway: Blues Hog Barbecue Sauce Kit

👉 Enter for future giveaways at chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway

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