The Chef JKP Podcast

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Welcome back to the ChefJKP Podcast for an exciting Season 8! 

This season, host James Knight-Paccheco continues to serve up culinary inspiration, featuring remarkable guests who share their food journeys, career highs and lows, and advice for thriving in the food industry.

What’s new this season?

👨‍🍳New studio: Season 8 kicks off from a brand-new studio setting, bringing a refreshed vibe to your favourite episodes.
👨‍🍳Headline sponsor: A warm welcome back to Chef Middle East, our headline sponsor for Season 8!
👨‍🍳Supporting partners: Excited to partner with No More Bottles and Luvv Fits Gourmet Protein Bars to make this season possible.
👨‍🍳Fresh guest lineup: Expect insightful discussions, laughter, and plenty of culinary wisdom that will leave you hungry for more.
👨‍🍳ChefJKP merch: We’ve launched our official merchandise! Check out the stylish thermos bottles available now at chefjkp.com or DM us on Instagram. 

00:00 Welcome to Season Eight!
00:52 Exciting New Partnerships
01:22 Sneak Peek of Inspirational Guests
03:05 Personal Stories and Career Highlights
04:35 Special Announcements and Achievements
06:23 Reflecting on the Journey
07:18 Embracing Change and Moving Forward
08:56 Final Thoughts and Thank Yous

Click and support our sponsors the way they are supporting this show:
Chef Middle East – www.chefmiddleeast.com 
No More Bottles – www.nomorebottles.ae
Luvv Fits – www.luvvfits.com

Filmed and produced by Poddster - www.poddster.com

Don’t forget to share this episode and subscribe to the podcast - it’s the best way to support us and help grow the ChefJKP community.

Remember: Food is memories. Enjoy Season 8, culinary brothers and sisters! 🍴

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In this final episode of the ChefJKP Podcast season 7, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Reim El Houni - a veteran in the world of television and media. 

Reem shares her fascinating journey, from discovering her passion for television at a young age to founding her own successful production company, TI22 Films. 

Throughout the discussion, Reim emphasises the importance of perseverance, building relationships, and developing strong camera presence and visibility - lessons that are applicable not just for chefs, but for anyone looking to build a successful career.

 Key Topics Discussed:

• Childhood food memories growing up in Libya, including the prominence of pasta, bread, and spicy Libyan dishes like harissa
• Discovering a passion for television and media at a young age
• The founding of her production company TI 22 Films and how it evolved over the years
• The critical importance of having strong camera presence and visibility
• Advice for budding presenters, including finding your niche, being persistent, and leveraging social media

You can follow Reim on HERE

This show is proudly brought to you by Luvvfits, your go to gourmet protein bar, you can follow them on HERE

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In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, Shaw Lash, the chef and founder of Lila Taqueria, shares her culinary journey, starting from her childhood memories of Mexican cuisine to her professional experiences working with renowned chefs. 

Throughout the episode, Shaw discusses the intricacies of Mexican cuisine, dives into her transition from being a chef to a culinary producer and touchs on the challenges and successes faced in opening Lila Taqueria.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Childhood food memories and culinary influences
• Transition from politics to culinary career
• Lessons learned from working with Rick Bayless
• Inspiration and journey to establish Lila Taqueria
• The unique dining experience at Lila Taqueria

You can follow Shaw on HERE

This show is Brough to you by Luvvfits - your go to guilt free protein bar, you can follow them on HERE 

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In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, founder of Aroma Di Olio Magdalena Orzechowska, shares her incredible journey from a corporate career to becoming a health advocate and olive oil expert after a life-changing cancer diagnosis. 

She discusses the intricacies of running an olive oil business, provides tips on choosing the best extra virgin olive oils, and shares her passion for educating people on the incredible health benefits of high-quality olive oil.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Growing up in Poland during the communist era and the types of foods available
• Magdalena's educational path and her initial career in banking
• Magdalena's breast cancer diagnosis and how it led her to discover the power of the Mediterranean diet
• Magdalena's journey to becoming a master olive oil sommelier and starting Aroma Di Olio
• Tips on cooking with and consuming high-quality extra virgin olive oil

You can follow Magdalena on HERE

You can see more of the Extra Virgin Olive Oils on HERE

The show is proudly brought to you by Luvv Fits, your go to Gourmet Protein Bar, you can follow them on HERE 

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In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Alex Augusti, the food blogger and influencer behind the popular Instagram account JustFoodDXB. 
Alex shares his journey from working in restaurants as a teenager to building a successful food content business in Dubai. 

Key Topics Discussed:

• Alex's childhood food memories growing up in Cyprus with his Greek grandfather.
• The challenges of learning social media and video content creation from scratch.
• Navigating conflicts with restaurants over negative reviews and the importance of authenticity.
• Strategies for effective food content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
• Thoughts on the differences between "influencers" and "food bloggers".

You can follow Alex on HERE

This show is proudly brought to you by LuvvFits Gourmet Protein bars, you can follow them HERE

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In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, we delve into the inspiring and challenging journey of Prachi Kulkarni, a highly trained and qualified chef who has overcome cancer. 
The episode begins with Prachi sharing her childhood food memories and her transition into the culinary world. 
She recounts her experience working in various kitchens, including a detailed exploration of her time in the butchery.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Prachi’s time in the butchery and her transition into fitness as a chef.
• Prachi’s misdiagnosis, subsequent cancer diagnosis, and the beginning of her treatment journey.
• The challenges of continuing work while undergoing chemotherapy.
• Navigating the complexities of cancer treatment and recovery.
• Her love of all things gastronomy.
• Pushing beyond your limits.

You can follow Prachi on HERE

This show is proudly brought to you by Luvvfits, you can follow them on HERE

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In this episode, Chef Kyung Soo Moon shares with the podcast his incredible journey from wanting to be a policeman as a child to becoming one of the top chefs in the Middle East. 

He discusses his early passion for food, learning Japanese cuisine, and the challenges he faced breaking into the industry. Chef Moon also talks about his experiences working in iconic hotels like the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa, as well as opening the renowned Sushi Samba restaurant in Dubai.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Chef Moon's childhood food memories and decision to become a chef
• Moving to Dubai and working at the Address and Armani Hotels
• Opening and overseeing Sushi Samba in Dubai
• Tailoring menus for different markets and expanding the Sushi Samba brand
• Challenges of managing multiple restaurants globally

You can follow him on HERE

This show is brought to you by LUVV FITS Gourmet Protein Bars, you can follow them on HERE 

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In this deeply heartfelt episode, Chef James Knight Pachecco celebrates the life and legacy of the late Chef Greg Malouf, a true pioneer in modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Over the weekend, the culinary world lost an icon, and in this special tribute, Chef James reflects on the incredible impact Greg had on chefs and food lovers around the globe.

From his co-authorship of eight influential books to his role in bringing Middle Eastern flavours to the global stage, Greg was more than just a chef—he was a visionary and a mentor. This episode revisits personal stories, tributes from industry peers, and Chef James' own memories of interviewing Greg in 2021. During that interview, Greg’s kindness, humour, and wisdom left an indelible mark on Chef James, who fondly recalls their conversation about food, travel, and life.

Join Chef James as he raises a glass to Greg—his favourite Negroni—and invites listeners to do the same, in remembrance of a man who changed the culinary landscape forever.

"Thank you, Greg, for your kindness, your brilliance, and the memories that will live on."

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In this episode, host James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Michelle Johnson, the co-founder and managing partner of the award-winning Pitfire Pizza brand. 

Michelle shares the incredible journey of how she and her husband Bill turned their pizza passion into a thriving business, overcoming challenges and building a beloved brand in the Middle East.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Growing up in rural Alabama and the food scene there
• Michelle's educational and career path, from accounting to human resources
• The origins of the Pitfire Pizza brand name and concept
• Overcoming challenges and legal battles in the early days of Pitfire
• Developing the Pitfire menu and recipes

You can follow Michele on HERE

This show is brought to you by LUVV FITS Gourmet Protein Bars, you can follow them on HERE

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In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, David Tapley, the Editor-in-Chief of Fact Magazine, shares about his urban lifestyle magazine covering food, art, culture, and travel across the GCC region. 

Prior to his role at Fact, David had an unconventional path into media, starting out working in professional kitchens before transitioning into journalism and content creation. 

Key Topics Discussed:

• David’ first food memories growing up in the UK and how his palate expanded through travel
• Lessons learned from David’s time in the kitchen, including the challenges of long hours and rigid processes
• How David transitioned from the kitchen into travel writing and eventually joining Fact Magazine
•  Fact Magazine's approach to restaurant reviews, including how they handle negative feedback
• Advice for aspiring writers on building a portfolio and getting started in the industry

You can follow David on HERE

This show is Brough to you by KATA, you can follow them on HERE

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