The Ultimate Dish

In today’s episode, we sit down with Chef Eric Skokan, James Beard Award finalist, author of Farm, Fork, Food, and chef-owner of Black Cat Farm Table Bistro and Bramble & Hare in Boulder, Colorado.
Eric shares the journey that took him from studying history at the University of Virginia to working in kitchens across the country before finding his home in Colorado. He reflects on how a small backyard garden sparked his passion for farming, eventually growing into an organic farm where the harvest determines what's on the menu. Eric also discusses why grasping technique gives chefs creative freedom, the importance of letting exceptional ingredients shine, and how his commitment to sustainability, curiosity, and teaching the next generation continues to shape his work.
This conversation is about trusting nature, following your curiosity, and discovering what happens when you let the ingredients lead the way.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Chef Barclay Dodge, chef and owner of Michelin-starred Bosq in Aspen, Colorado.
Barclay shares the journey that took him from washing dishes as a teenager in Aspen to culinary school in San Francisco, traveling through the Mediterranean, and working at acclaimed restaurants including elBulli before returning home to build Bosq. He reflects on why aspiring chefs shouldn’t skip the rungs of the culinary ladder, how years of experience helped him develop his own style of cuisine, and what it took to guide Bosq through its challenging early years. Barclay also opens up about putting his team first, the expectations that came with earning a Michelin star, and how advice from a former Broadway performer changed the way his team approaches each night of service. 
This conversation is about climbing every rung, building a team you can trust, and approaching every Michelin service like it’s “the big show.”

In today’s episode, we sit down with Matt Armendariz, food photographer, creative director, author, and founder of Matt Armendariz Studios. For more than two decades, Matt has brought food stories to life for an impressive roster of chefs, celebrities, and brands, including Eva Longoria, Demi Lovato, Tabitha Brown, Tia Mowry, Coca-Cola, Target, Martha Stewart, and Food Network.
Matt shares the unconventional path that took him from graphic design and art direction at Whole Foods Market to becoming one of the culinary world’s leading visual storytellers. He reflects on losing his day job and making photography work, how his early food blog opened unexpected doors, and why the skills picked up along the way were anything but wasted. Matt also takes us behind the scenes of cookbook photography, from collaborating with authors and food stylists to embracing imperfection, solving problems, and finding the story hiding inside every frame.
This conversation is about staying curious, trusting the detours, and discovering where an unexpected creative path can take you.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Chef Aitor Zabala, chef and owner of three-Michelin-starred Somni in West Hollywood and the first Spanish chef to earn three Michelin stars outside of Spain.
Aitor shares the remarkable journey that took him from discovering cooking at 17 in a military kitchen to working at some of Spain’s most influential restaurants, including Akelarre and elBulli, before a chance meeting with José Andrés brought him to the United States. He reflects on choosing learning over titles, the mentors who shaped his approach to food, and the balance between creativity, technique, and exceptional ingredients. Aitor also opens up about the nearly five-year journey to rebuild Somni after its 2020 closure, the setbacks that tested him along the way, and why reaching the highest levels still means looking for ways to get better.
This conversation is about staying curious, learning from every experience, and keeping the hunger to grow no matter how much you achieve.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Suzy Karadsheh, founder and CEO of The Mediterranean Dish and two-time New York Times bestselling author.
Suzy shares how the food she grew up with in Port Said, Egypt, became the foundation for one of the world’s most beloved Mediterranean cooking brands. She reflects on shopping at the local market with her father, learning to cook by watching her mother, and how a simple food blog created to preserve family recipes for her daughters unexpectedly grew into a global community. Along the way, she opens up about leaving a career in marketing and philanthropy, embracing the role of an “accidental CEO,” and building a business by listening to the people she serves.
This conversation is about following your passion, staying true to your purpose, and discovering that the biggest opportunities often begin by accident.