Rachel is the founder and pastry chef behind the beloved Charlottesville, VA  bakery Cou cou Rachou, and if you’ve ever seen one of her cakes or pastries online, you already know she’s wildly talented. But beyond that, she’s thoughtful, warm, creative, and has one of those stories that just makes so much sense on how she got where she is once you hear it.

In this episode, we talk about growing up in an incredibly artistic family in Charlottesville, and how creativity was woven into every part of her childhood. We get into her decision to pursue pastry, studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris at just 20 years old, working at the legendary Inn at Little Washington and Petit Trois in Los Angeles, and eventually returning home to open her own bakery. We also talk about comparison, creativity, family, Julia Child, café culture, and the beauty of building something that truly feels like you.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Edited by Susan Kemp

More from Rachel ⁠⁠⁠@coucourachou⁠⁠

More from Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Bryan is a father, husband, chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, TV personality, and even a licensed pilot.

You may know him from Top Chef, Tournament of Champions, and 24 in 24. He’s an incredible chef, a highly respected restaurateur, and someone who’s competed at the highest level more times than he can count.

In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up as the oldest of three, and how that competitive drive started early; first in sports, then in the kitchen. We get into his journey from working in a hotel kitchen as a teenager to building his own restaurants, and what it really feels like to compete on shows like Tournament of Champions, the pressure, the nerves, and everything you don’t see at home.

And of course, we talk about his brother, Michael Voltaggio—from growing up together, to competing against each other, to becoming business partners—and how they’ve ultimately become the dream team. We also get into how he really feels about his competition storyline: always the bridesmaid, never the bride…

On this special Q&A episode of Table 5, host Lindsay Luttrell turns the mic around and answers questions straight from the listeners. With a close friend and frequent Table 5 collaborator taking over as guest host, Lindsay is put in the hot seat, answering your questions with honesty, humor, and a few surprises along the way.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Edited by Susan Kemp

More from Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Danielle is a wife, a soon-to-be first-time mom, a baker, entrepreneur, TV personality, and the author of the forthcoming cookbook The Scone Queen Bakes. You may know her from HBO’s The Big Brunch, or maybe you’ve already had her baked goods at iconic cafés like Joe Coffee or Bluestone Lane.

In this episode, we talk about Danielle growing up on Long Island in a big Italian family where food was everything, and how baking with her grandmother helped spark her love of the kitchen. She shares the story of the scone recipe she created at just 13 years old—one she still uses today. We also get into the moment she was unexpectedly let go from her job and how that hustle and leap of faith eventually turned into a full-scale bakery, plus what it was like building that business during the pandemic and why scones ultimately became her signature. And of course, we talk about her experience competing on HBO Max’s The Big Brunch, her upcoming cookbook, and some really sweet stories about the family traditions that shaped her love of baking in the first place.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Edited by Adam Boucher

More from Danielle ⁠⁠⁠@chefdaniellesepsy

More from Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Lee Anne is a wife, mother, chef, restaurateur, culinary competitor and TV personality. You may know her from Top Chef, Iron Chef America or Tournament of champions.

In this episode, we discuss her experiences as a restaurant owner in Hawaii, the impact of community resilience following the devastating fires, the importance of mental health in the culinary industry, and her personal journey of growth. She delves into her family life, cultural influences, and the joys of traveling with her son. She shares her journey from being a straight-A student and athlete to pursuing her passion for fashion and ultimately transitioning into the culinary arts. She reflects on her experiences on Top Chef, the challenges of culinary production, and the importance of community and friendships in the food industry.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Edited by Adam Boucher

More on Lee Anne ⁠⁠⁠@leeannewong⁠⁠

More on Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Dale s  is a father, husband,  chef, restaurateur, Cookbook author and TV personality. You may know him from Top Chef, Tournament of Champions, or one of the many competition shows he’s appeared on over the years.

In this episode, we talk about what it was like for him to watch himself back on Top Chef and realize he didn’t love the person he saw, and how therapy, time, and perspective helped him grow. We get into why he reads every comment (yes, even the hate), the myths people believe about food TV, and why he actually finds the whole thing pretty entertaining. He opens up about growing up Filipino American, still figuring out where he fits culturally, and how food, friendship, and hospitality have shaped his life. We get into what makes a great dinner party and the details that make people feel truly taken care of.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Edited by Alex Horton

More on Dale ⁠⁠⁠@daletalde⁠⁠

More on Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Karen is a mother, wife, chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur. You may know her from Beat Bobby Flay, Top Chef, Tournament of Champions, or from her fabulous Boston restaurants.

In this episode, we talk about her upbringing in New Jersey, her days as a baby model (and what those earnings eventually paid for), and growing up as a theater kid competing in oratorical contests. She shares her self-proclaimed nerdy side and opens up about her long journey to motherhood. We also dive into her culinary career, from her first diner job at 17 to earning Michelin Bib Gourmand awards for two of her restaurants and even finding a new hobby at 47 years old.

Show Notes: 

Original music by⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More on Karen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chefkarenakunowicz

More on Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell⁠⁠

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Ayesha is an incredible chef, a powerhouse restaurateur, and a fierce culinary competitor. In this episode, we talk about what it was like for her growing up in Brooklyn and how her Indonesian and Italian roots shaped who she is. We get into how she went from wanting to be a lawyer her whole life to becoming a chef—plus her latest adventure as one of Bobby Flay’s Titans on Bobby’s Triple Threat. She shares some hilarious stories from her childhood and lets us in on what she’s excited to conquer next.

Show Notes: 

Original music by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More on Ayesha ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ayesha_rare

More on Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell⁠

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Beau is a husband, father, chef and mentor. You may know him from Iron Chef America, Guy's Grocery Games and Worst Cooks in America. In this episode, we talk about his upbringing across Maine, Massachusetts, and Canada, and hear about his journey from his first restaurant job as a teenager to competing in culinary competitions. He shares how mentorship shaped his path and how he pays it forward today. We also explore food as the great connector and the traditions he’s built in his kitchens over the years.

Show Notes: 

Original music by ⁠⁠⁠Colin Killalea ⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠Curtis Fye⁠⁠⁠

Podcast logo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More on Beau ⁠⁠⁠@chefbeaumac

More on Lindsay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell

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Nini is a chef, cookbook author, culinary instructor and fierce competitor. You may know her from Top Chef, Tournament of Champions and Last Bite Hotel. In this episode, we discuss her deep love for New Orleans, her first trip to Vietnam and how it shifted her perspective, and her journey from earning a Marketing degree to ultimately pursuing her true passion for cooking. She shares stories from her time working in some of New York’s most renowned kitchens, including Daniel, Le Bernardin, and Eleven Madison Park. She opens up about losing her brother, the path her grief has taken, and how that loss inspired her to fully maximize the joy in life.

Show Notes: 

Original music by Colin Killalea & Curtis Fye

Edited by: Susan Kemp

Podcast logo by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moochie Creative⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More on Nini: ⁠@chefnininguyen

More on Lindsay: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@table5pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lululuttrell