Adrienne and Joe are back for another episode of The Chef’s Cut, and this time they’re joined by longtime friend and James Beard award winning chef Erick Williams. They find out how he came to be one of the most respected chefs in Chicago, including what brought him to the kitchen at Virtue Restaurant in Hyde Park. Plus, we discuss:

Review Review: Takeout complaints at Virtue (spoiler: they don’t do takeout at Virtue)

The worst customer behavior Erick has had to endure at his new establishment, Cantina Rosa

Walk-In Confession: A last-minute steak run gone (almost) horribly wrong

Erick’s work as a mentor for young chefs and leadership for growing restaurants

The people and experiences that changed his trajectory as a chef

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Erick: @cheferickwilliams

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham 

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm are joined by Missy Robbins (Lilia, Missi) to talk about her ascent into becoming a Michelin star chef and James Beard Award winner. Plus, we cover:

The importance of a caring mentor and impact of Tony Manuano (Spiaggia, Top Chef Masters) on Missy and Joe’s careers

Fork It or Forget It: Seafood and cheese

Missy's journey through various kitchens and her approach to restaurant design

One-Star Guest Behavior: booking a small party and showing up with a large group

Missy’s nightmare moment on Top Chef masters (watch your fingers)

Walk-In Confessions: Switching out sugar for salt on dessert

Missy's cameo on the TV show Billions and her thoughts on acting.

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Missy: @missyarobbins

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham 

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

We’re back with another episode of The Chef’s Cut featuring hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm, who tell us exactly how chefs plan their trips around food, including their favorite dining spots and the importance of leaving room for spontaneous culinary adventures. Plus, we discuss:

Fork It or Forget It: Raw Milk edition (featuring some unpasteurized opinions)

The latest NYT restaurant review and challenging stereotypes about high end cuisine

One-Star Guest Behavior: Adrienne shares a story of poor restaurant etiquette – is it time to start letting restaurants review diners too?

Walk-In Confessions: Joe recounts a harrowing kitchen mishap

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham 

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Celebrity chef Eric Adjepong joins hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm to dive deep into the realities of food television, leadership in the kitchen, and the secrets behind surviving the restaurant world.

🔥 In this episode:

The mentors who shaped Eric’s culinary journey

Lessons from working with Bobby Flay

Why top chefs struggle to cook at home

Navigating personality clashes and communication styles

The challenge of handling bad reviews with grace

Why Eric still hasn’t watched The Bear

His biggest kitchen fail involving onions and dessert 😅

Follow the chefs:

Eric: @chefericadjepong

Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Joe: @insta.flamm

In the latest episode of The Chef's Cut, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm share how they got their start as chefs — and the paths that brought them to New York and Chicago.

They dive into:

Big debate: Is rhubarb ever worth the trouble?

Why they both love Le Creuset (how could you not?)

The challenges of transitioning from culinary school to a real working kitchen

A brutal one-star review from someone who didn’t even eat at the restaurant

Adrienne’s honest confession: the time she accidentally sent out raw salmon

This episode blends humor, honesty, and behind-the-line insight from two acclaimed chefs.

🔗 Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

🔗 Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

In this episode of The Chef’s Cut, recorded live from the 2025 James Beard Awards launch party at BLVD Steakhouse in Chicago, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flam sit down with celebrity chef Stephanie Izard (Top Chef, Girl and the Goat) to talk about what it’s really like to win a James Beard Award.

🎙️ Topics covered in this episode include:

Is it more memorable to win Top Chef or a James Beard Award?

Stephanie’s lasting impact on the Chicago restaurant scene

Behind the scenes at a James Beard Awards after party — and how to have the best time

Which is tougher: innovating food or beverages in today’s industry?

Stephanie’s earliest memories from Girl and the Goat (including some wild outfit choices!)

A full recap of the 2025 James Beard Awards winners

Stephanie: @stephanieizard

Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Joe: @insta.flamm

Award-winning chef Kristen Kish joins hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm for a deep, fun, and unfiltered conversation about her Top Chef memories, Chicago food roots, and the biggest lessons from the kitchen. In this episode, they dive into:

The power of kitchen mentorship, featuring the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

Kristen, Adrienne, and Joe’s first impressions and early memories of one another

The buzz around the Charlie Trotter tribute pop-up event

A new round of Fork It or Forget It featuring Raspberry Espresso

Tom Colicchio’s hidden tradition from the Top Chef finale

Kristen’s shocking Walk-In Confession about her worst kitchen mistake

Burning foie gras, forgetting meat, and other culinary disasters

Her honest journey writing "Accidentally on Purpose," her personal memoir

🎧 Whether you're a Top Chef fan, an aspiring chef, or love insider food stories — this episode is packed with flavor, failure, and fun.

🔗 Follow the Hosts & Guest:

👩‍🍳 Kristen Kish: @kristenlkish

👩‍🍳 Adrienne Cheatham: @chefadriennecheatham

👨‍🍳 Joe Flamm: @insta.flamm

Chefs Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm reunite as former Top Chef finalists and launch their brand new podcast with a behind-the-scenes look at their journey—from competing in the kitchen to becoming co-hosts and close real-life friends.

🎙️ In this debut episode of The Chef’s Cut, Adrienne and Joe dive into everything from food industry headlines to hilarious kitchen horror stories, including:

🍽️ Gregory Gourdet’s bold return to NYC’s dining scene

📺 Padma Lakshmi’s new cooking show—and how much the winner actually takes home

😂 Review Review: People who complain about sunshine

🥒 Fork It or Forget It: Pickle Lemonade + NYT’s hot take on Caesar Salad & French Fries

🔥 Joe’s tofu-in-a-wok story (spoiler: it nearly took off his eyebrows)

😱 Adrienne’s unforgettable Brillo Pad disaster that made it to the dining room

💬 Tune in for this fun, unfiltered, and flavorful conversation between two Top Chef stars turned podcast co-hosts.

📱 Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

📱 Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Each week, Top Chef alums Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm give you a seat at their table as they have hilarious, vulnerable, and oftentimes messy conversations with other chefs, restaurateurs, celebrities and friends about what it means to build something bigger than yourself.

New episodes out every Tuesday