Culinary Characters Unlocked

CHEF DONALD YOUNG - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 11

Chicago chef Donald Young won a Michelin star before he turned thirty. Mentored by legendary chef Roland Liccioni, Young earned his chops at a variety of remarkable restaurants, including a stint at a Michelin 2-star in France. Young now stages surprise pop up dinners (diners aren’t told where they’ll be eating until shortly before the meal). He’ll even cook his superb cuisine at diners’ homes. He specializes in dry aged duck.

THE 2FOODTRIPPERS - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 10

Daryl and Mindi Hirsch met over bagels, discussed his obsession with cheese, and as their relationship grew, they bonded over their shared love of food and got married. Eventually, they made food their jobs, traveling the world (now from their home base in Lisbon) to taste local cuisines and write about their experiences, on their website 2foodtrippers.com and on social media. On this episode, they discuss favorite foods, favorite food cities, the differences between food in America and food elsewhere, and why they've begun to prefer mom and pop restaurants over the Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy.

JENNIFER JASINSKI - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 9

Chef Jennifer Jasinski is a powerhouse restaurateur whose Denver restaurants offer French, Spanish, and seafood menus, and whose cooking has won a James Beard award. She worked for her mentor Wolfgang Puck for years, rising to head chef in charge of dozens of his restaurants before opening her own. She talks about her journey, her passions, and why local product is great but not always the best.

TONY GEMIGNANI- CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 8

Tony Gemignani is one of the leading figures in the world of pizza. His pies were just named sixth best in the world by a leading Italian pizza guide. He has won countless international championships and runs a pizza empire from his San Francisco flagship, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. He talks about all of it, including the pizza he’ll whisk away and replace if you take too long eating it.

ANNE QUATRANO - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 7

Chef Anne Quatrano is the Grande Dame of the culinary scene in Atlanta, where her restaurant empire includes Bacchanalia, which is among the most renowned restaurants in the south. Much of what she serves was grown on her family farm. She has mentored a bevy of rising star chefs and is a major and pioneering force in farm to table cuisine. And a charming and witty interview, who has plenty of great advice for home cooks.

DAVID STANDRIDGE - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 6

David Standridge, who just won the James Beard award as best chef in the northeast, honed his skills under, among others, legendary chef Joël Robuchon, before opening his own restaurant, The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut, where he serves fabulous—sustainable seafood, shellfish, and even kelp! Yes, Kelp. It’s great!

DAVID PAGE TALKS WITH CHEF STEPHANIE IZARD - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED - EP 5

The first woman to win Top Chef, who also won Iron Chef and was named James Beard best chef in the Great Lakes region, Stephanie Izard has blazed culinary trails in Chicago and Los Angeles. She’s mastered various cuisines, from China to South America, her featured ingredient is goat, and she can still song the happy birthday song from her early days at the Olive Garden.

DAN BARBER - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 4

He’s got the Michelin stars, he’s got the James Beard Awards, he’s been named by Time Magazine one of the most influential people in the world, and he’s fighting to change what and how we eat. Dan Barber says it isn’t about political correctness; no, you don’t have to stop eating meat; and he explains why flavor is disappearing from the American table.

CHRISTINA NGUYEN - CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED EP 3

Fresh off her 2024 James beard Award as best chef in the Midwest, Christina Nguyen talks with David Page about her path to celebrated restaurateur—growing up in Minneapolis to immigrants from Vietnam; entering the food world with no experience by opening a food truck selling South American sandwiches; turning a notorious strip club into a Southeast
Asian restaurant. And she discusses her restaurant’s “no
” policy.

Legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent is David Page’s guest. CCU - EP 2

Legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent is David Page’s guest. The New York Times said he may be the last old school American restaurateur standing. Founder of Nobu and The Tribeca Grill (with his partner Robert DeNiro) and dozens more highly acclaimed restaurants, Drew talks about an upbringing that included family visits to some of New York’s best restaurants, how revenge fueled his success after he was turned down for a job, celebrity chefs, phony Frenchy restaurants, his desire to open a deli, loyalty in the kitchen, and how social media has improved the culinary landscape.