The Best Meal I Ever Had. A Podcast

S2 Life is Meals with Alex McKenna | Actress & Vintage Fashionista Oct 17, 2023

Asking Alex McKenna the best meal she’s ever had is, essentially, asking her the best moment of her life. The two exist only together in her world. In this episode, Alex illuminates the essential human elements that accompany any memorable meal– the hospitality that grounds us in the moment, the company that surrounds us, the circumstances that bring us to the table, and even the beauty of a space. While delicious food is always on the table at a best meal, these “ingredients” are what can transform a meal into a core memory. Her stories paint the picture of a life well lived, combining deep appreciation for wanderlust, hospitality, flavor, connection, beauty, friendship and family.

S2 Taste the Nostalgia with Dan Fogler | Actor/Writer/Comedian Oct 10, 2023

Before the days of celebrity chefs pop-ups and insta-worthy interiors, restaurants relied on one simple thing to get customers in the door: consistently delicious food. This week, Tony award winning actor, writer and comedian Dan Fogler celebrates that version of dining, recounting meals at infamous dining establishments from New York to New Orleans. The names might be familiar and the meals might be predictable, but the stories are anything but tired.

S2 All I Think About is Food with Judy Gold | Comedian, Actor and Playwright Oct 03, 2023

In a time when most emails end with a quick “thanks,” comedian Judy Gold takes the time to close hers with “Sent while thinking about my next meal.” But in this episode, Judy does quite the opposite: with unencumbered joy, she takes us back in time to her parents’ kitchen and backyard garden in New Jersey, where it wasn’t just a love of food that was born–it was a love of loving food. The predictability of everyday meals we love to hate. The thrill of the unexpected. The cultivation of a family bond. The honoring of tradition. The sense of comfort that comes over us from just a whiff of that certain meal. Judy’s stories are a reminder of the joy that comes from keeping food at the center of our lives.

S2 Outside the Carbonara Box with Katie Parla | Italian Cookbook Author & Culinary Guide Sep 26, 2023

Katie Parla is living the foodie dream. The Jersey girl has called Rome home for the past 20 years, where she is a food and beverage writer, culinary guide, and cookbook author. While you might share her passion for pizza and pasta, the similarities likely end there: Katie has an art history degree from Yale and master’s degree in Italian Gastronomic Culture, not to mention she’s a certified sommelier and archaeology specialist in the city of Rome. Her approach to food is so deeply intertwined with her expertise on Italian history and culture that the two have become one. In this episode, Katie takes us all over Italy, to answer not only what, but why, the food of Italy is so beloved all over the globe. Prepare for a little pizza fomo inside what is an incredible lesson on Italy’s regionality, seasonality, and multicultural expression of food. Katie’s Italy is not only delicious, but complex, technical, and unexpected.

S2 Welcome to New York, People | Deli Owners | Peter Shelsky & Lewis Spada Sep 19, 2023

As born-and-bred Jewish and Italian New Yorkers, Peter Shelksy and Lewis Spada (we’ll let you sort out the Jewish and Italian part) naturally gravitate toward food. They are the duo behind Shelsky’s of Brooklyn, where they preserve two of New York’s most prized dining traditions: the appetizing store and the delicatessen. From fine-dining to tavern food, this episode unfolds as a dining guide to the city from two guys you will immediately trust with your tastebuds.

S2 I Actually Cried | Jane Ko | Food Blogger Sep 12, 2023

Since 2010, Austin food blogger Jane Ko’s life has been packed with restaurant visits and weekend jaunts, all of which she chronicles through her blog, A Taste of Koko, and on social media. In this episode, Jane takes us to Sante Fe, where a simple meal was so good it brought her to tears and dishes a crash course on the Austin BBQ scene. In a time when we love getting whatever we want whenever we want it, Jane reminds us of how special an “you can only get that here” experience can be.

S2 New World, Old World | Jake Cohen | Cookbook Author & Creator Sep 05, 2023

Jake Cohen is a NYT bestselling cookbook author and NJB from NYC. He has amassed a celeb-filled social media following in the millions, who he charms with his modern take on traditional Jewish recipes. He has paved a new world way to preserve the past, one viral video at a time. And while things might look a little different in Jake’s world than it did in his ancestors (who probably didn't make challah in a swim brief on Fire Island) one thing remains true: hospitality is a life force for those who give and receive it. In this episode, Jake’s reverence for his Jewish identity, culinary expertise, and penchant for fun just might inspire you to invite your neighbor over for coffee and cake.

Off the Menu | The 411 on Mezcal with Seth Millard |Special Mini-Episode Aug 31, 2023

Celebrity-backed tequila might be all the rage these days, but those aren't the bottles you'll find behind Seth Millard's bar. In this mini-episode, Seth breaks down what is a mezcal, how he curates the mezcal menu at Comedor, and offers some suggestions for anyone ready to dive in (well, sip in) to the good stuff at home.

S2 Trust Your Bartender | with Mixologist Seth Millard Aug 29, 2023

If you’ve ever thought a seat at the bar makes for an inferior dining experience, you’ve never met Seth Millard. Seth is mezcal expert, army vet, and bartender at Austin hotspot Comedor, where he curates one of the most unique mezcal menus in the United States. In this episode, Seth’s stories bring to light the ebb and flow that is hospitality: as diners, it’s our questions and candor that can elevate a great meal into a best meal. From a single bite of anchovy to a surprising mezcal luge, prepare for a mix of southern charm, passion for craft, and a love of flavor that just might inspire you to book a flight to Austin for a seat at his bar.

S2 Life-Changing Delicious | with Chef Rocco DiSpirito Aug 29, 2023

Rocco DiSpirito has had his share of life-changing moments. He’s been named Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, earned 3 stars from NYT food critic Ruth Reichl, and even graced the pages of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. But it was in the backyard garden of his grandmother’s house where his life-changing love of food began–and perhaps still resides. In this episode, Rocco takes us from Long Island to the Lower East Side, from the hills of Campagnia to tables of Paris with stories that reveal an essential truth about food: our connection to ingredients, process, people, and place are at the core of any unforgettable meal.

Announcing Season 2! Aug 25, 2023

The Best Meal I Ever Had Podcast is back! Join host Andrew Schulman for an all new season of incredible guests, including chefs, celebrities, musicians and more, as they sit down at the table to answer one simple question: what's the best meal you've ever had? And as always, the answers are anything but simple. From once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences to simple meals shared with family, this season's stories are rich, relatable, and just might inspire you to try a new recipe, start a new tradition, or book that dining reservation or bucket list trip you've been dreaming of. Season 2 premieres August 29 with a double-episode drop, featuring celebrity chef and author Rocco DiSpirto and Austin mixologist Seth Millard. With new episodes being served every Tuesday. Enjoy!

Let It Shine | with William DuVall of Alice in Chains Aug 13, 2019

Alice In Chains front man William DuVall is getting back to basics. Much like his new solo album One Alone reveals the core of his artistry, William’s best meals reveal the way simplicity in food can celebrate the pure flavor of an ingredient, the essence of a culture, and the love in a family. From his roots in Atlanta and DC to hot spots in New York and LA, William takes us from world-class dining to local hole-in-the-walls in only the way a rock legend could.

Host: Andrew Schulman

Guest: William DuVall of Alice In Chains

The Nana Network | with Chef and Author Anna Francese Gass Aug 06, 2019

Anna Francese Gass is French Culinary Institute-trained chef who has worked in the kitchens of Whole Foods, Martha Stewart, Food52, cookbook authors & television chefs. But her favorite kitchen? Those of immigrant grandmothers. In fact, she traveled the country visiting such kitchens and created a cookbook on the topic. With a passion not only for great food but the love behind it, Anna’s best meals combine delicious food and heartfelt stories that pay homage to the incredible women who stir the spoons.

Anything But Mainstream | with Cultural Detective Justin Fornal Jul 30, 2019

Justin Fornal has an appetite for the unknown. He’s an explorer and cultural detective (how’s that for a LinkedIn title) and investigates indigenous traditions and historical mysteries. Needless to say, he’s got a passion for adventure…especially those that involve food. From the open air markets of Hanoi to the remote shores of the Arctic, Justin’s best meals deepen his connection to history, tradition, and his core purpose. Prepare for some of the most interesting meals of the season!

Mouthgasm After Mouthgasm | with Sensualist Deborah Kagan Jul 23, 2019

Deborah Kagan is a speaker, author, and sensualist on a mission to help women turn up their mojo. And when a person can be described using the words “sensual” and “mojo” in one sentence, best believe their relationship with food is a passionate one. In this episode, Deborah takes all of our senses on an adventure around the globe as she recalls the best meals she’s ever seen, smelled, tasted, touched…and yes, even heard. Her stories are tantalizing, delicious, and make this episode the sexiest of the season.

It Was Just Simple | with Chef Anita Lo Jul 16, 2019

Chef Anita Lo is very good at doing hard things. She’s held a Michelin Star and a 3-star review from The NY Times. She was the first female guest chef to cook for a State Dinner at the White House. She won Iron Chef. In this episode, Anita’s stories of food rewind to the very foundation on which her greatness is built: a simple yet unbounded love of the identity, provenance, and potential of food. Her best meals are deliciously uncomplicated and wonderfully executed, and her stories remind of the meditative way food deepens our connection to life.

The Old Neighborhood | with Brooklynite & Musician John Khoury Jul 09, 2019

Musician John Khoury’s Brooklyn is not the same place your sister moved after college for that barista residency. Raised in Brooklyn in the 70’s, John’s stories bring the stoops and storefronts of the borough’s past to life through the characters and food that occupied them. As he recounts his Saturday trips to the butcher, baker, and White Castle with his father, his mother’s gravy, and a menacing maître d’ at NYC’s Campagnola, we’re reminded that some of the best meals begin where formality ends.

Fireworks | with Butchers Erika Nakamura & Jocelyn Guest Jul 02, 2019

Erika Nakamura and Jocelyn Guest are not the butchers your dad used to know. The New York Times crowned the pair a “female couple remaking the restaurant industry” and pushing the boundaries seems to run in their blood. In this episode, Erika, a then-vegetarian, is forever changed by a plate of lamb tongue. While struggling to settle into life in a new city, Jocelyn finds all the reassurance she needs in a sandwich. Risk meets reward in these epic moments that remind us of the comfort power of food.

Set The Mood | with Chocolatiers Jacques & Hasty Torres Jun 25, 2019

When it comes to unforgettable meals, master chocolatier Jacques Torres’ memory can get a bit blurry. (A famed career in fine dining will do that to a person.) In this episode, the creator of Jacques Torres Chocolates and his wife, business partner, and fellow chocolatier Hasty share stories about the undeniable bond between food and emotion. From a rendezvous at The Plaza Hotel to an afternoon on the patio at famed restaurant El Bulli, their stories show how just the right combination of food and atmosphere sets the mood a once-in-a-lifetime meal.

That's The Magic | with Wine God John Ragan Jun 18, 2019

John Ragan, master sommelier and director of wine and restaurant operations for Union Square Hospitality Group, knows a thing or two about a great meal. In this episode, John takes us on a journey that spans Italy, New York, and California—with nostalgic stop in southern Illinois—to share a menagerie of meals, people, places and moments that unpack the essence of hospitality. “There is something to be said for that wine, in that place, at that time, with that food, and with someone who really cares about it pouring it for you. That’s the magic.”

The Dish Changed My Life | with Chef & Medium Heather Carlucci Jun 18, 2019

All kitchens are busy. But when you’re a psychic medium the clamor can get particularly loud, as award-winning pastry chef and medium Heather Carlucci knows all too well. In this episode, Heather takes us through the moments in her life when food was powerful enough to shut out all the noise. A taste of Keema Matar prepared by one of her pastry students inspired her to open Lassi, her West Village Indian joint, with absolutely no experience cooking Indian. But Heather had her own secret sauce: a feverish passion for the way a human being can be fundamentally changed by food. Heather's life has been an epic journey of creating and chasing that experience. From a burrata pizza in Sicily to the Turmeric Fish Noodle at LA’s Viet Noodle Bar, Heather recounts her best meals like another might describe art—a tango of technicality and magic.

The Best Meal I Ever Had - Series Promo May 28, 2019

What is The Best Meal I Ever Had podcast? Dropping the week of June 3, 2019, it's the podcast that asks one simple question - with an answer that is always appetizing and entertaining. Join the table with host and creator Andrew Schulman, as he meets incredible guests to hear their stories about that one unforgettable amazing meal. From chefs to celebrities, musicians to restauranteurs, and some good friends, who have experienced - the best meal they have ever had!

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