The Chef's Cut - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Chef Fariyal Abdullahi on Crack Burgers, Kitchen Fires and Ethiopian Food 101 Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Adrienne and Joe are joined by special guest and friend of the show, chef Fariyal Abdullahi. She fills us in on what it’s like to be the executive chef at one of the most sought-after restaurant reservations in New York City, Hav & Mar. Plus, we discuss:

Fork It or Forget It: Crack Burgers (yes this is a real trend)
LA vs. New York: Who holds the Ethiopian crown? (How about Washington DC)
Tips for dining out at an Ethiopian restaurant (and not getting too full)
Fariyal’s exhausting weekend at the 2025 James Beard Awards
Review Review: How do you get one-star before you even open your doors?
Women running the kitchen in fine dining
Walk-In Confession: Fariyal gets caught in a fire mishap and Adrienne finds herself in a cloud of smoke

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Fariyal: @fariyalabdul

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

The Great Condiment Showdown, Joe’s Big Restaurant Gamble, and Major Food Influencer Controversy Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

This week of The Chef’s Cut kicks off with an important debate: which condiment in your fridge would come out on top in a battle of the bottles? They tell us which condiment ranks atop their own favorites, and throw it to the listeners to help build a bracket of champions. Plus, we discuss:

Fork It or Forget It: Dining al fresco
Whisk Takers: Joe tell us about the biggest career bet he made on himself
Line Check: Discussing the San Francisco chef who lost his job after calling out an influencer in his own restaurant
Walk-In Confession: Adrienne shares the story of her most successful kitchen prank

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Erick Williams on His Chef Journey, Making Great Food and the Business of Restaurants Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Adrienne and Joe are back for another episode of The Chef’s Cut, and this time they’re joined by longtime friend and James Beard award winning chef Erick Williams. They find out how he came to be one of the most respected chefs in Chicago, including what brought him to the kitchen at Virtue Restaurant in Hyde Park. Plus, we discuss:

Review Review: Takeout complaints at Virtue (spoiler: they don’t do takeout at Virtue)
The worst customer behavior Erick has had to endure at his new establishment, Cantina Rosa
Walk-In Confession: A last-minute steak run gone (almost) horribly wrong
Erick’s work as a mentor for young chefs and leadership for growing restaurants
The people and experiences that changed his trajectory as a chef

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Erick: @cheferickwilliams

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Missy Robbins on Michelin Stars, Salt v Sugar, and Her Billions Cameo Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm are joined by Missy Robbins (Lilia, Missi) to talk about her ascent into becoming a Michelin star chef and James Beard Award winner. Plus, we cover:

The importance of a caring mentor and impact of Tony Manuano (Spiaggia, Top Chef Masters) on Missy and Joe’s careers
Fork It or Forget It: Seafood and cheese
Missy's journey through various kitchens and her approach to restaurant design
One-Star Guest Behavior: booking a small party and showing up with a large group
Missy’s nightmare moment on Top Chef masters (watch your fingers)
Walk-In Confessions: Switching out sugar for salt on dessert
Missy's cameo on the TV show Billions and her thoughts on acting.

Follow the show: @chefscutpod

Follow Missy: @missyarobbins

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Adrienne and Joe on Culinary Travel, One-Star Diner Drama, and the Raw Milk Debate Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

We’re back with another episode of The Chef’s Cut featuring hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm, who tell us exactly how chefs plan their trips around food, including their favorite dining spots and the importance of leaving room for spontaneous culinary adventures. Plus, we discuss:

Fork It or Forget It: Raw Milk edition (featuring some unpasteurized opinions)
The latest NYT restaurant review and challenging stereotypes about high end cuisine
One-Star Guest Behavior: Adrienne shares a story of poor restaurant etiquette – is it time to start letting restaurants review diners too?
Walk-In Confessions: Joe recounts a harrowing kitchen mishap

Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Chef Eric Adjepong on Food TV, Skipping The Bear and His Wildest Kitchen Mistake Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Celebrity chef Eric Adjepong joins hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm to dive deep into the realities of food television, leadership in the kitchen, and the secrets behind surviving the restaurant world.

🔥 In this episode:

The mentors who shaped Eric’s culinary journey
Lessons from working with Bobby Flay
Why top chefs struggle to cook at home
Navigating personality clashes and communication styles
The challenge of handling bad reviews with grace
Why Eric still hasn’t watched The Bear
His biggest kitchen fail involving onions and dessert 😅

Follow the chefs:

Culinary Beginnings & Kitchen Confessions: Rhubarb, Raw Salmon, and Real Talk with Adrienne Cheatham & Joe Flamm Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

In the latest episode of The Chef's Cut, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm share how they got their start as chefs — and the paths that brought them to New York and Chicago.

They dive into:

Big debate: Is rhubarb ever worth the trouble?
Why they both love Le Creuset (how could you not?)
The challenges of transitioning from culinary school to a real working kitchen
A brutal one-star review from someone who didn’t even eat at the restaurant
Adrienne’s honest confession: the time she accidentally sent out raw salmon

This episode blends humor, honesty, and behind-the-line insight from two acclaimed chefs.

🔗 Follow Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

🔗 Follow Joe: @insta.flamm

Live from the 2025 James Beard Awards: Stephanie Izard on Winning, Top Chef, and Chicago’s Culinary Scene Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Chef’s Cut, recorded live from the 2025 James Beard Awards launch party at BLVD Steakhouse in Chicago, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flam sit down with celebrity chef Stephanie Izard (Top Chef, Girl and the Goat) to talk about what it’s really like to win a James Beard Award.

🎙️ Topics covered in this episode include:

Is it more memorable to win Top Chef or a James Beard Award?
Stephanie’s lasting impact on the Chicago restaurant scene
Behind the scenes at a James Beard Awards after party — and how to have the best time
Which is tougher: innovating food or beverages in today’s industry?
Stephanie’s earliest memories from Girl and the Goat (including some wild outfit choices!)
A full recap of the 2025 James Beard Awards winners

👩‍🍳 Follow the chefs on Instagram:

Stephanie: @stephanieizard

Adrienne: @chefadriennecheatham

Joe: @insta.flamm

Kristen Kish Dishes It All: Top Chef Memories, Kitchen Confessions & Foie Gras Fails Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Award-winning chef Kristen Kish joins hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm for a deep, fun, and unfiltered conversation about her Top Chef memories, Chicago food roots, and the biggest lessons from the kitchen. In this episode, they dive into:

The power of kitchen mentorship, featuring the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy
Kristen, Adrienne, and Joe’s first impressions and early memories of one another
The buzz around the Charlie Trotter tribute pop-up event
A new round of Fork It or Forget It featuring Raspberry Espresso
Tom Colicchio’s hidden tradition from the Top Chef finale
Kristen’s shocking Walk-In Confession about her worst kitchen mistake
Burning foie gras, forgetting meat, and other culinary disasters
Her honest journey writing "Accidentally on Purpose," her personal memoir

🎧 Whether you're a Top Chef fan, an aspiring chef, or love insider food stories — this episode is packed with flavor, failure, and fun.

🔗 Follow the Hosts & Guest:

👩‍🍳 Kristen Kish: @kristenlkish

👩‍🍳 Adrienne Cheatham: @chefadriennecheatham

👨‍🍳 Joe Flamm: @insta.flamm

Top Chef Reunion Podcast: Adrienne Cheatham & Joe Flamm on Food TV, Tofu Tales & Real-Life Friendship Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

Chefs Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm reunite as former Top Chef finalists and launch their brand new podcast with a behind-the-scenes look at their journey—from competing in the kitchen to becoming co-hosts and close real-life friends.

🎙️ In this debut episode of The Chef’s Cut, Adrienne and Joe dive into everything from food industry headlines to hilarious kitchen horror stories, including:

🍽️ Gregory Gourdet’s bold return to NYC’s dining scene
📺 Padma Lakshmi’s new cooking show—and how much the winner actually takes home
😂 Review Review: People who complain about sunshine
🥒 Fork It or Forget It: Pickle Lemonade + NYT’s hot take on Caesar Salad & French Fries
🔥 Joe’s tofu-in-a-wok story (spoiler: it nearly took off his eyebrows)
😱 Adrienne’s unforgettable Brillo Pad disaster that made it to the dining room