What Really Makes Someone Influential? | Season 13 Begins

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Arva Ahmed, Co-Founder of Frying Pan Adventures, for a conversation about food, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and the cultures that have shaped Dubai’s food scene.Arva shares how her relationship with food evolved from childhood memories in the UAE to running a late-night food business from her university dorm in the US. After returning to Dubai, she began exploring the smaller restaurants and communities that were largely missing from the city’s food conversation, eventually turning that curiosity into Frying Pan Adventures.She also opens up about building the business through years of experimentation, the impact of appearing on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil, and why she stopped waiting for her dream food show to happen and created Ditch the Silver herself. They also explore how Dubai’s food scene has evolved, what makes great food storytelling, and why understanding the audience matters when creating content.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in Sharjah and Dubai and her earliest food memories• Running a food business from her university dorm• How food became a way to connect with people• Why she wanted to change the narrative around Dubai’s food scene• Building Frying Pan Adventures and learning through experimentation• The impact of appearing on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil• Why she stopped waiting for her dream food show and created Ditch the Silver• What makes great food storytelling and contentCHAPTERS00:00 Growing Up With Food In The UAE18:44 Starting A Food Business From Her University Dorm35:35 The Idea Behind Frying Pan Adventures44:19 The First Food Tour & What Went Wrong49:23 Building Frying Pan Adventures01:09:10 Appearing On Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil01:25:18 How Dubai’s Food Scene Has Changed01:42:24 Advice For Food CreatorsFEATURED GUESTArva AhmedCo-Founder, Frying Pan Adventureshttps://www.instagram.com/arva.ahmed/SEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle Easthttps://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDEhttps://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flaskhttps://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is Memories™️ 🍸#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #arvaahmed #fryingpanadventures #ditchthesilver #dubaifood #foodculture #foodstories #entrepreneurshipSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Greg Wright, Co-Founder of Food People and Project People, for a conversation about recruitment, entrepreneurship, the food industry, and building a business in the Middle East.Greg shares how he left the UK at 19 and arrived in Dubai with no job, went from struggling to afford a meal to selling millions in real estate, and eventually found his way into executive recruitment. He also reveals how one unexpected meeting led to the creation of Food People, why relationships became one of the company's biggest advantages, and how AI is now changing the way they recruit talent around the world.They also explore what employers really look for when hiring, the mistakes people make on their CVs, how Dubai's food scene has evolved, and why communication, accountability, and curiosity remain some of the most valuable skills in any career.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in Coventry and his earliest food memories with his Italian grandmother• Leaving the UK at 19 and starting from scratch in Dubai• Going from real estate to executive recruitment• The unexpected meeting that sparked the creation of Food People• Building a recruitment business across the entire food supply chain• How Food People survived the pandemic without making redundancies• What employers actually look for in a CV and interview• How AI is changing recruitment and candidate screeningCHAPTERS09:58 Moving To Dubai At 1913:44 From Struggling To His First Major Real Estate Deal22:28 Moving To Australia & Discovering Executive Search37:06 How Food People Started51:51 Surviving The Pandemic As A Business57:22 What Makes A Great CV01:06:02 How AI Is Changing Recruitment01:32:51 Advice For Anyone Entering RecruitmentFEATURED GUESTGreg WrightCo-Founder, Food People & Project PeopleSEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle Easthttps://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDEhttps://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flaskhttps://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is Memories™️ 🍸#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #gregwright #foodpeople #recruitment #foodindustry #hospitality #entrepreneurship #leadership #dubai #uaeSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Karin Drane, founder of Curveball Events & Talents, one of the region's leading event and talent management companies.Karin shares how she went from studying law in Sweden to building a business in Dubai, why she dropped out of university twice, and how networking, resilience, and taking calculated risks helped shape her career. They talk about entrepreneurship, events, talent management, leadership, building high-performing teams, and what it really takes to succeed behind some of the Middle East's biggest productions.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Childhood food memories growing up between Sweden and Spain• Why she dropped out of law school and moved to Dubai• Studying hospitality before choosing entrepreneurship• Building Curveball Events from a single opportunity• What really happens behind major corporate events• Managing some of the region's biggest personalities• How to build and lead high-performing teams• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, creators, and talentCHAPTERS06:12 Growing Up In Sweden & Spain15:12 Leaving Law School For Dubai22:18 Studying Hospitality & Choosing Entrepreneurship39:14 Building Curveball Events53:28 What It Takes To Manage Talent01:02:41 How To Build A High-Performing Team01:15:02 The Future Of Events In The UAE01:28:22 Quick Fire Questions01:34:08 Advice To Her 16-Year-Old SelfFEATURED GUESTKarin DraneFounder, Curveball Events & TalentsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/karindrane/Curveball Events & Talents:https://www.instagram.com/curveballeventsandtalents/SEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle Easthttps://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDEhttps://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flaskhttps://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is memories. 🍸#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #karindrane #curveballevents #eventmanagement #talentmanagement #leadership #entrepreneurship #dubai #hospitality #business Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Paul Clifford, a journalist and editor who has spent more than a decade covering the Middle East's hospitality industry.Paul shares how he left banking to become a reporter, moved from crime journalism into food and hospitality, and built his career in Dubai. They talk about restaurant reviews, food influencers, responsible criticism, career change, and why journalists should never make themselves the story.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in northeast England and the food that shaped his childhood• Leaving a banking career to become a journalist at 27• Reporting crime and the lessons it taught him about people• Moving to Dubai and building a career in hospitality media• Launching Gault&Millau in the Middle East• The difference between restaurant critics and food influencers• Why credibility matters more than popularity in journalism• His advice for aspiring journalists and storytellersCHAPTERS00:00 Childhood Food Memories10:10 Why He Left Banking For Journalism22:47 Reporting Crime And Learning To Tell Stories48:22 Moving To Dubai And Starting Again01:08:36 Building A Career In Hospitality Media01:34:37 Food Critics vs Food Influencers02:14:23 Why He Left After Eleven Years02:27:01 Advice For Young Journalists02:38:31 Quick Fire Questions02:47:05 Advice To His 16-Year-Old SelfFEATURED GUESTPaul CliffordJournalist, Editor & EntrepreneurInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdclifford/SEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle Easthttps://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDEhttps://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flaskhttps://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is memories. 🍸#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #paulclifford #journalism #hospitality #restaurantreviews #foodmedia #gaultmillau #storytelling #dubai #hospitalityindustrySupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Nicolas Lambert, Senior Executive Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Dubai and one of the most respected names in modern pastry.From growing up in his parents’ bakery in France to leading teams across Hong Kong, Russia, and Dubai, Nicolas shares the risks, mentors, and decisions that shaped his career.They discuss apprenticeship, leadership, competitions, learning English from scratch, and why mastering the fundamentals still matters more than chasing recognition.WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up inside his parents’ bakery in France• Choosing pastry instead of following his father into baking• The five-year apprenticeship that shaped his career• Learning inside some of France’s most demanding pastry kitchens• Moving to Hong Kong without speaking English• Becoming Asia’s Best Pastry Chef• Leading pastry teams across Hong Kong, Russia, and Dubai• His advice for young chefs building a lasting careerCHAPTERS05:19 Choosing Pastry Over Baking06:28 The Five-Year Apprenticeship That Shaped Him09:27 Leaving Home And Building His Career Across France22:30 The Decision That Took Him Beyond France30:18 Becoming Asia’s Best Pastry Chef33:33 Russia, Dubai And Leading Global Teams45:46 Competitions, Preparation And Advice For Young Chefs48:02 Why Young Chefs Need Patience And Strong Fundamentals58:13 The Kitchen Mistake That Changed His LeadershipFEATURED GUESTNicolas LambertSenior Executive Pastry Chef, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah BeachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolas_lambert/SEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle Easthttps://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDEhttps://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flaskhttps://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is memories. 🍸#chefjkp #thechefjkppodcast #nicolaslambert #pastrychef #modernpastry #fourseasonsdubai #asiabestpastrychef #pastryarts #cheflife #culinaryleadershipSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailSeason 13 of The Chef JKP Podcast is built around one idea: influence.Across 15 episodes, chefs, founders, journalists, operators, and industry leaders share how they have shaped food, hospitality, business, and culture.In this opening solo episode, Chef JKP introduces the season, reflects on the current state of hospitality, shares updates from behind the scenes, and answers listener questions on leadership, career risks, branding, resilience, creativity, and the future of the industry.This is where Season 13 begins.What You’ll Hear in This Episode• Why influence is the central theme of Season 13• What to expect from the 15 guests featured this season• The current challenges facing hospitality in the region• What separates a good chef from a great leader• Why career risks can become defining decisions• How chefs can stay relevant in a fast-changing industry• The role of resilience, curiosity, and consistency in success• Why human connection will remain essential in the future of hospitalityChapters00:00 Welcome to Season 1301:57 A first look at this season’s guests06:49 Hospitality, industry updates, and life behind the scenes11:17 Why influence became the theme of Season 1313:32 Listener Q&A begins18:14 What separates good chefs from great chefs30:12 Hospitality, leadership, and the future of the industry52:12 The message behind Season 13Season Sponsor – Elle & Vire ProfessionnelThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.https://www.elle-et-vire.com/int/en/pro/Audio Partner – RØDEThe Chef JKP Podcast is recorded using RØDE microphones and audio equipment, delivering the sound quality behind every conversation.https://rode.com/Support the ShowStay hydrated with the official Chef JKP Thermos Flask.Get yours here:https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFollow Chef JKPInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoFood is memories.Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailThis episode is different.Joining him is the person who knows him better than anyone else, his wife, Maria Knight-Paccheco.What begins as a fun conversation quickly becomes one of the most personal episodes of the podcast.They talk about marriage, life behind professional kitchens, the sacrifices hospitality demands, why chefs think differently, the reality of building something together, and the moments that shaped both of them.Maria turns the tables and asks James the questions nobody else has. From Michelin dreams and career regrets to family, legacy, fatherhood, restaurants, and what success really means today.It is an honest conversation about love, resilience, hospitality, and why the dinner table still matters more than ever.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Why James believes the podcast is never about the host• The realities of being married to a chef• The career moments that still hurt and the dreams still left to chase• How hospitality shaped their relationship• Why "Food is memories" became more than just a tagline• The importance of family dinners in a digital world• Building a life together through difficult seasons• Legacy, leadership, purpose, and the future of hospitalityCHAPTERS00:00 A Special Episode With Maria Knight-Paccheco09:20 Maria Takes Over As Host23:00 The Truth Behind Building The Podcast36:50 The Career Moments That Still Hurt47:10 What Success Means Today56:00 Why Food Still Brings People Together01:00:00 The Future Of Hospitality And Why Chefs Matter01:05:00 Maria's Childhood Food Memories01:10:00 What It's Really Like Being Married To A Chef01:24:00 Marriage, Communication And Final ReflectionsFOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoFollow Maria Knight-PacchecoInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mariaknightpaccheco/LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-knight-pacheco-2b790260/PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFood is memories. 🍸Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Ariana Bundy, chef, author, television presenter, and founder of Ariana's Persian Kitchen at Atlantis The Royal Dubai.Ariana shares her journey through Iran, Switzerland, New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, and Dubai. From childhood food memories with her grandmother, to studying at Le Cordon Bleu, running pastry kitchens in Hollywood, writing cookbooks, filming across Iran, and opening a restaurant rooted in Persian heritage.They talk about food memories, Persian cuisine, television, motherhood, health, hospitality, and the responsibility of preserving culture through food.This is a conversation about identity, resilience, storytelling, and how food can carry memory across generations.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Ariana's childhood food memories and her grandmother's kitchen• Growing up between Iran, Switzerland, New York, London, and Paris• How Le Cordon Bleu made her feel like she finally belonged• Running a pastry kitchen in Hollywood straight after cooking school• Writing cookbooks and rebuilding recipes without gluten or dairy• Filming her National Geographic series across Iran• The story behind opening Ariana's Persian Kitchen in Dubai• Persian tea, wellness, food memories, and advice for young chefsCHAPTERS00:00 Childhood Food Memories And Growing Up Between Countries07:00 Studying Business While Dreaming Of A Creative Life11:20 The IHOP Conversation That Changed Everything13:20 Finding Her Place At Le Cordon Bleu17:00 Running A Hollywood Pastry Kitchen In Her Twenties24:00 Burnout, Food Intolerances And Writing Her First Cookbook30:05 Why She Bet Everything On Persian Food And National Geographic40:05 The Phone Call From Dubai That Changed Her Life50:20 Building Ariana's Persian Kitchen At Atlantis The Royal59:55 Persian Food, Saffron, Wellness And Ancient Food Wisdom01:12:10 Why Persian Cuisine Deserves A Bigger Place On The Global Stage01:27:00 Advice For Young Chefs, Entrepreneurship And Life LessonsFOLLOW THE GUESTAriana BundyInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/arianabundy/Ariana's Persian Kitchenhttps://www.instagram.com/arianaspersiankitchen/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFood is memories. 🍸Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Glen Ballis, chef, restaurateur, and one of the most influential figures in modern hospitality.Glen shares his journey from a Greek family in Melbourne to leading kitchens across Thailand, Indonesia, China, Russia, and Dubai. He reflects on the chefs who shaped him, the lessons that came from failure, and how different cultures transformed the way he cooks and leads.They talk about opening restaurants, surviving financial crises, building teams, the realities of running hospitality businesses, and why great food will always be about product, simplicity, and people.This is a conversation about resilience, leadership, travel, and a lifetime spent chasing great food.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in a Greek household and the food memories that shaped him• Why a dream of becoming a professional cricketer led him into kitchens• The tough lessons learned in Australia's restaurant industry• Moving to Thailand and the leadership mistake that changed his career• Building restaurants across Asia and adapting to different cultures• Opening concepts in Moscow and spending more than two decades in Russia• The philosophy behind INA and cooking with fire in Dubai• Why chef-led restaurants and great produce are the future of hospitalityCHAPTERS03:31 Childhood food memories, Greek family traditions and his mother's cooking11:58 From aspiring cricketer to finding his place in professional kitchens17:52 Moving to Thailand and the leadership lesson that changed everything27:31 Indonesia, Malaysia and how Asia shaped his cooking style37:31 Moscow, Novikov and building a career in Russia47:03 Financial crises, sanctions and the rise of local produce56:34 Why he moved to Dubai and the philosophy behind INA01:15:15 Masters of Fire, the future of restaurants and chef-led hospitality01:29:29 Quick fire round01:41:05 Advice for young chefs entering the industryFOLLOW THE GUESTGlen BallisInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/glen_ballis/FOLLOW THE BUSINESSFundamental Hospitalityhttps://www.instagram.com/fundamentalhospitality/J1 Beach Dubaihttps://www.instagram.com/j1beachdubai/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFood is memories. 🍸Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE

Send us Fan MailChef JKP sits down with Ben Kouider, Founder of Champavin.Ben shares how he went from engineering and oil and gas to building a business around champagne in the UAE.They talk about Normandy, family food memories, global travel, leaving corporate life, grower champagne, and the biggest mistakes people make when drinking champagne.This is a story about food, reinvention, and understanding champagne beyond the label.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Growing up in Normandy and the food traditions that shaped Ben's childhood• Studying engineering, sales and international commerce• Building a global career in the oil and gas industry• Working across cultures, countries and complex international projects• How travel and food deepened his appreciation for wine and hospitality• Discovering the world of champagne and the growers behind it• Leaving oil and gas to build Champavin in the UAE• The biggest misconceptions people have about champagne todayCHAPTERS03:31 Childhood food memories and his mother’s gratin14:15 Science, hip hop and learning how to express himself28:35 The pressure, politics and problem-solving of oil and gas42:55 Building Champavin and bringing grower champagne to the UAE56:44 The biggest champagne mistake people make01:06:13 Champagne education, memberships and building a culture01:18:06 How to choose champagne based on grape, style and taste01:36:38 Quick fire round01:41:49 Advice for people starting their champagne journeyFOLLOW THE GUESTBen KouiderInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/benchampagnes/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNFood is memories. 🍸Support the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE