Pod Chef

Bryan is MIA this week, so Jamal and Reaves hold down the fort by ranting about the impossibility of ordering a simple bacon cheeseburger and flexing Reaves's return to the Ezra Klein podcast.This week on Pod Chef, Jamal and Reaves are riding solo to break down the most highly anticipated episode of any Bravo season: Restaurant Wars! But before we get into the front-of-house meltdowns, Jamal airs his grievances about how hard it is to order a simplified bacon cheeseburger at modern restaurants, and Reaves forces us to listen to another clip from his guest spot on the Ezra Klein podcast. Finally, we head to the kitchen to judge the Top Chef Season 11, Episode 9 “Restaurant Wars” concepts and decide who is shutting their doors for good.⏱️ EPISODE MENU 00:00 - Intro & Bryan is MIA04:29 - Jamal’s Restaurant Story14:30 - Reaves on Ezra Klein’s Podcast Part 225:00 - Chef’s I Prepared For You40:18 - Top Chef S11E09 Recap starts: "Restaurant Wars" breakdown👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇 If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction (MIA this week!)Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Currently pitching the New York Times)🎸 CREDITS The Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Reaves flexes his intellectual muscles by sharing a clip from his guest spot on the Ezra Klein podcast.This week on Pod Chef, the boys are back to recap Top Chef S11E08 “Piggin Out.” But before we talk Bravo, Reaves makes Jamal and Bryan listen to a clip from his guest appearance on the Ezra Klein podcast. After we review Top Chef Season 11, Episode 8 “Piggin Out.”⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro09:45 - Reaves was on Ezra Klein25:05 - Chef’s I’ve Prepared For You42:30 - Top Chef S11E08 Recap👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇 If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininactionJamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Currently pitching the New York Times)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Jamal goes solo for an impromptu, one-on-one interview with world-renowned Chef Seng Luangrath for a special mid-week second helping of the podcast.This week on Pod Chef, we are stepping out of the Bravo universe for an exclusive conversation with a true culinary powerhouse. Jamal sits down with Chef Seng to discuss the origins of Bangkok Golden, the secrets behind Thip Khao's legendary crispy rice, and the intricate balance between traditional and modern cooking. We also dive deep into the evolution of the D.C. dining scene, the true definition of street food, and how Chef Seng is mentoring the next generation of Laotian chefs.⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro and Chef Seng joins the Pod03:49 - Traditional Padaek09:06 - Thip Khao Crispy Rice11:43 - Traditional Cooking vs. Modern Cooking14:46 - Bangkok Golden Origin Story16:57 - The DC Dining Scene21:29 - “Street Food”24:18 - Laotian Cuisine27:02 - Inspiring the Future/Mentoring👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇 If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction (Taking a mid-week breather)Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Sitting this one out)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

The three amigos are back in the studio debating if it is too early for Halloween, and for the first time ever, all three of us actually cooked something for the pod. Then we recap Top Chef S11E07 “Jazz Hands.”EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro & Too Early For Halloween?13:15 - Chef’s I Prepared For You43:20 - Top Chef S11E07 Recap Starts: "Jazz Hands" breakdownSUPPORT THE SHOW If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).FOLLOW THE KITCHENWatch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcastTHE LINE COOKSBryan: @bjacksonininactionJamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Holding down the fort)CREDITS The Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Jamal and Reaves kick things off by telling Bryan all about seeing the movie Aliens together in 70mm. After, the boys recap Top Chef S11E06 "Campfires, Cream Cheese and Countryside." ⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro & Seeing Aliens in 70mm10:45 - Chef’s I Prepared For You33:31 - Top Chef S11E06 Recap: "Campfires, Cream Cheese and Countryside"👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: 🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Bryan is finally back on the mic after a four-week contract dispute, and Jamal is recovering from eating an insane amount of food at a Charlottesville wedding.This week on Pod Chef, the boys are finally reunited! We clear the air on why Bryan was absent for the last month during intense contract negotiations, and Jamal recaps the absolutely massive amount of food he consumed at a recent wedding in Charlottesville. After we get through the life updates in Chef's I Prepared For You, we get down to business to recap Bravo's Top Chef Season 11, Episode 5, "Lea Michele's Halloween Bash." ⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)​00:00 - Why Bryan was absent​15:57 - Chef’s I Prepared For You​37:01 - S11E05 Recap👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪​Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcast​Instagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳​Bryan: @bjacksonininaction​Jamal: @hell0newman•Reaves: (Holding down the fort)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Jamal and Reaves take full credit for writing the new Anthony Bourdain movie "Tony" before jumping into a stressful elimination-only Top Chef episode.This week on Pod Chef, Jamal and Reaves are holding down the kitchen. We kick things off by reviewing the trailer for "Tony"—the upcoming Anthony Bourdain movie that the boys are definitely claiming to have written. After sharing what we cooked up this week, we head into the  chaos of Bravo's Top Chef Season 11, Episode 4, "Captain Vietnam." It’s an elimination-only episode, so we are judging the dishes, breaking down the mistakes, and deciding who goes home.⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro & Review of the trailer for “Tony”34:42 - Chef’s I Prepared For You45:20 - Top Chef S11E04 Recap Begins👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction (MIA this week!)Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Holding down the fort)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Jamal and Reaves react to Gail Simmons' opening monologue at the 2026 James Beard Awards before heading down to New Orleans for a brutal double elimination.This week on Pod Chef, Jamal and Reaves are holding down the fort to review the double elimination episode that was Top Chef S11E03 “Commander’s Palace.” Before we check in on the competing chefs, the boys react to the opening monologue of the James Beard 2026 awards hosted by Top Chef’s very own Gail Simmons.⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro05:26 - Reacting to the 2026 James Beard Awards monologue35:26 - Chef’s I Prepared For You46:03 - Top Chef S11E03 Recap👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction (MIA this week!)Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Holding down the fort)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

Reaves somehow got his hands on pages from Tom Colicchio’s unproduced movie script ".Tom." and reads them on air, while Jamal recaps a Jaws-themed movie night.This week on Pod Chef, the boys take a detour into Hollywood. Before we get to the culinary critiques, Reaves does a reading from Tom Colicchio’s script, and Jamal breaks down the menu from his recent Jaws-themed movie night during Chef's I Prepared For You. After that, we head down south to recap Bravo's Top Chef Season 11, Episode 2 “Rebuilding New Orleans.”⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - Intro09:50 - Tom’s Script for the Movie “.Tom.”23:10 - Chef’s I Prepared For You46:14 - Top Chef S11E02 Recap Begins👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇 If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininactionJamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (not on social media folks)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms

The boys are back from their summer break, but before we head to the swamp, Reaves is reading our official podcast report card from Tom Colicchio himself.This week on Pod Chef, Jamal and Reaves return from their summer break to kickoff the review of Season 11 of Top Chef. Before we get into the kitchen, Jamal discusses exactly how many subscribers the podcast lost during our hiatus, and Reaves reveals the podcast report card we got from Tom Colicchio. After addressing the damage, the boys recap Top Chef Season 11, Ep 1 “Soiree in the Swamp.” We are officially back in action!⏱️ EPISODE MENU (Timestamps)00:00 - The Boys are Back in Town!07:46 - Reaves Read’s our Report Card31:45 - Chef’s I Prepared For You46:28 - Top Chef S11E01 Recap👇 SUPPORT THE SHOW 👇If you laughed, hit that Subscribe button so you never miss a Monday drop. ⭐ Rate us 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! (We read the best ones on air).🔪 FOLLOW THE KITCHEN 🔪Watch the pod on YouTube: @podchefpodcastInstagram & Twitter: @podchefpodcast👨‍🍳 THE LINE COOKS 👨‍🍳Bryan: @bjacksonininaction (MIA this week?)Jamal: @hell0newmanReaves: (Holding down the fort with a report card)🎸 CREDITSThe Pod Chef intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray. Follow him on IG: @jeffrayfilms