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When it comes to culinary education, diving into a textbook buzzing with cooking fundamentals or leveraging a specific tool can work wonders. However, for culinary enthusiasts and students on the go, tuning into a podcast can prove to be just as valuable and even more digestible.
If you didn’t know yet, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts has its very own podcast, The Ultimate Dish, hosted by our Boulder campus president and provost, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann. In just under an hour per episode, Chef Kirk interviews a diverse range of guests from all corners of the industry and beyond, tapping into their most intimate culinary stories and career insights, as well as unveiling their ultimate dish.
Here are the top five episodes of The Ultimate Dish Podcast in 2024.
1. A Heartfelt Talk with Daphne Oz: Exploring Family, Food, Social Media and Authenticity
In this special episode, you can expect to glean deep insights about what it’s like to start a career in food media, Daphne’s best social media tips, and how to maintain an authentic personal brand.
The Ultimate Dish Podcast Host, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann and Daphne Oz, Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times-bestselling author, and natural foods chef.
Daphne Oz is an Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times-bestselling author, and wife and mother of four, offering confidence-boosting culinary, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle insights to television audiences and her millions of online followers.
In this episode, learn more about how Daphne’s cardiac surgeon father Dr. Oz helped to ignite her lifelong passion for health advocacy and media. After graduating from Princeton University, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and obtaining a culinary degree, she found her career niche by curating an authentic, old world-inspired, and effortlessly elegant approach to living life in full.
Aside from launching her website, Daphne has authored a handful of cookbooks, such as The Dorm Room Diet and Eat Your Heart Out, filled with 150 gluten- and refined sugar-free simply delicious recipes you’ll return to ‘again and again’ to eat clean, feel good, and have fun doing it all.
She has also graced TV screens for years, as a previous co-host of The Good Dish and ABC’s The Chew, with frequent appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Fox & Friends. Currently, she serves as a judge on FOX’s MasterChef Junior.
Listen to or watch the full episode here.
2. Top Chef Host Kristen Kish: Her Incredible Story from Culinary School to Culinary Stardom
Explore what it means to stay true to yourself in the culinary world and how to cultivate a unique path to success.
The Ultimate Dish Podcast Host, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann and Kristen Kish, host of Bravo’s Emmy Award-Winning Top Chef, chef, and partner of Arlo Grey in Austin, TX, as well as the founder of Kish Apéritif.
Born in South Korea and adopted into a family in Kentwood, Michigan, Kristen Kish’s journey to “find herself” started at a very young age. After a brief modeling stint during her teenage years, she enrolled in culinary school to take her deep-seated passion for cooking to new heights.
Kristen never envisioned herself being in the spotlight, but after winning season 10 of Top Chef and earning the distinction of becoming the franchise’s second female winner, her plans took an unexpected turn — ‘a series of happy accidents,’ as she likes to say.
Kristen is now the Emmy-nominated host of Top Chef as well as the host/producer of Restaurants at the End of the World on Disney+ and Hulu, co-star of Fast Foodies on truTV/Food Network, and co-host of Iron Chef on Netflix. In 2023, she was named to TIME 100’s Next, AdWeek’s Creative 100 and Marie Claire’s Power lists.
Kristen is the author of two books Kristen Kish Cooking: Recipes and Techniques and It’s All in the Sauce: Bringing Your Uniqueness to the Table. Her next book, a memoir titled Accidentally on Purpose, will be published in 2025. She’s also the chef and partner of Arlo Grey in Austin, Texas, and a NYC restaurant in the works that is slated for Spring 2025. She is the founder of Kish Aperitif, a line of chef-inspired liqueurs designed to elevate anyone’s cocktail craft.
Listen to or watch the full episode here.
3. Matty Edgell: The Schoolteacher Who Won The Great British Bake Off
In this episode, discover how Matty overcame challenges on The Great British Bake Off and tapped into his sports mindset to ultimately win the season.
The Ultimate Dish Podcast Host, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann, and Matty Edgell, the 28-year-old winner of season 14 of The Great British Bake Off on Netflix.
Matty Edgell always considered himself a sports enthusiast and athlete, but baking in his home kitchen seemed to steal the cake. During his university days at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, Matty decided to study sports coaching and physical education, on the path to becoming a PE teacher. Despite his academic pursuits, his love for baking remained steadfast.
So with a nudge from his now wife, Matty packed his bags to compete on The Great British Bake Off, unsure if his skills could take him to the finish line. He was certainly the underdog throughout the competition but ended up stealing the hearts of audiences with his humble demeanor and remarkable baking skills, winning season 14 of GBB. Today, Matty is a PE and science teacher in Peterborough and also continues to bake, sharing his lavish creations on Instagram.
Listen to or watch the full episode here.
4. Chef Nancy Silverton: The Key to Finding Your Culinary Obsession
Discover the importance of finding mentors along your journey and the top skills culinary students should hone in on.
The Ultimate Dish Podcast Host, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann, and Nancy Silverton, co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza, as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go, and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles.
Throughout her distinguished career, Nancy has always strived to be the very best in her craft. She’s worked with the most influential chefs in the nation, including Jonathan Waxman at Michael’s Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck at Spago. She’s also mentored countless chefs who have become successful restaurateurs.
After launching the legendary La Brea Bakery and the beloved Campanile Restaurant, she went on to open the award-winningPizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go, and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles. She’s also the creative mind behind Nancy’s Fancy gelato.
Nancy was recognized as Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chef.” In 2014, she received the James Beard Foundation’s highest honor as “Outstanding Chef.” That same year, she was named one of the Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink by both Fortune and Food and Wine Magazines. She’s also authored eleven cookbooks, including Breads From the La Brea Bakery, The Mozza Cookbook, and her latest release, The Cookie That Changed My Life. In 2017, she was featured on Netflix’s documentary series Chef’s Table.
Listen to or watch the full episode here.
5. Preserving the Family Legacy: A Special Conversation with Michel Escoffier
Explore how Michel Escoffier continues to uphold his great-grandfather’s legacy and his future vision for culinary arts.
The Ultimate Dish Podcast Host, Chef Kirk T. Bachmann, and Michel Escoffier, the great-grandson of our school’s namesake Auguste Escoffier, renowned as the ‘King of Chefs’ and the pioneer of modern French cuisine.
As President of the Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum in Villeneuve-Loubet, France, and a member of the Advisory Board at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Michel has dedicated himself to preserving the enduring legacy of his great-grandfather.
In collaboration with his father, he published Souvenirs Inédits d’Auguste Escoffier, which was later translated by his wife in 1996 as Auguste Escoffier: Memories of My Life. This memoir beautifully captures Escoffier’s unique culinary philosophy, showcasing his innovative dishes, presentations, and original recipes.
Today, Michel remains deeply involved in international events and collaborates with nonprofit organizations that honor the Escoffier name.
Listen to or watch the full episode here.
Want to Hear More From Elite Chefs?
Podcasts, books, and TV shows are a great place for any budding culinarian to start. But if you’re ready to take your pursuits to the next level, consider exploring the degree and diploma options at Escoffier.
Many of these can be completed online, so you can get your culinary credentials while working or taking care of a family. Courses are taught by chef instructors with decades of industry experience and tons of knowledge to impart.
If you’ve dreamed of having a professional chef as a mentor, culinary school is a great place to start. Contact us to take the next step toward your dream career.
HERE ARE SOME MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR THE INSPIRED CULINARIAN:
- 2024 Consumer Dining Trends: How Americans Are Spending on Restaurants and Takeout
- Fine Dining Etiquette: A Guide to Rules and Best Practices
- Top 10 Food Festivals in the U.S. That Aspiring Culinarians Should Visit
This article was originally published on December 27, 2021, and has since been updated.
