Episode Archives

Sam Diminich on Local Farms, Craft, and Responsibility

January 6, 2026 0:39:55

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In this conversation, Chef Sam Diminich shares his journey in the culinary world, discussing his experiences from competing on television to running a restaurant and engaging with local farmers. He emphasizes the importance of service in cooking, the impact of sobriety on his culinary creativity, and the need for a supportive community in the industry….

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A Taste of Madagascar Travel

Madagascar Flavor: Chefs on Creativity and Travel

November 18, 2025 0:27:41

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As many of you know, I’m in the middle of an exciting moment: the launch journey for my new book, A Taste of Madagascar.To celebrate—and to give myself the space this project deserves—I’m taking a short creative break from the regular Flavors Unknown format. Our usual chef interviews will resume in January 2026.Until then, the…

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Panel Chef Hawaii

Inside Honolulu’s Food Scene with Hawaii’s Top Chefs

November 4, 2025 1:30:56

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In this special live episode of Flavors Unknown, host Emmanuel Laroche heads to Honolulu, Hawai‘i to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the StarChefs and Symrise partnership, with Hawaii’s Top Chefs. Gathered at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, five of the island’s most innovative culinary voices — Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s Restaurants, Eating House 1849), Chris…

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Panel Discussion Houston

Exploring the Houston Food Scene: Creativity & Culture

October 21, 2025 1:38:40

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In this special episode of Flavors Unknown, recorded during StarChefs Rising Stars Houston and presented in partnership with Symrise Food & Beverage North America, I’m taking you behind the scenes with Houston chefs and mixologists who are defining what makes Houston a top U.S. food city. Joining me are five of the city’s most influential…

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Panel Discussion Cleveland

Inside the Bold New Cleveland & Detroit Food Scene

October 7, 2025 1:27:11

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Cleveland Food Scene. Today on Flavors Unknown, I sit down with five dynamic culinary voices who are reshaping perceptions of Cleveland and Detroit’s food and drink scenes.This panel was recorded during StarChefs Rising Stars in Cleveland, and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Symrise Food & Beverage North America. My guests include:🍕 Chef…

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Chef Roberto Alcocer

Chef Roberto Alcocer on Valle & Mexican Fine Dining

September 23, 2025 0:47:19

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In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Roberto Alcocer, the visionary behind two bold culinary concepts: Malva in Baja California, and Valle, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Oceanside, California. Born in Mexico City, Roberto’s journey is anything but traditional—his story takes us from early resistance at home to elite kitchens in…

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Chef Bhavin Chhatwani

Inside Tamasha: Chef Bhavin Chhatwani’s Journey

September 9, 2025 0:37:33

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In this episode of Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Chef Bhavin Chhatwani, the visionary Executive Chef behind Tamasha Modern Indian in Raleigh, North Carolina. Recognized as a James Beard Foundation “Emerging Chef” semifinalist, Bhavin is boldly reshaping the narrative around Indian food in America. We explore his journey from the bustling streets of Udaipur…

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Chef Carlos Portela

Orujo Chef Carlos Portela Breaks All the Rules

August 26, 2025 0:45:45

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IThis week on Flavors Unknown, I travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to speak with Chef Carlos Portela, the visionary behind Orujo Taller de Gastronomía — a genre-defying restaurant where there’s no printed menu, no scripted experience, and no boundaries between kitchen and guest. With up to 25 ever-evolving courses rooted in fire, fermentation, and…

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Chef William Dissen

Chef William Dissen on Cooking with Purpose

August 12, 2025 0:37:13

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Today on Flavors Unknown, I’m talking with Chef William Dissen — chef, owner, and visionary behind The Market Place, a renowned 46-year-old farm-to-table restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina. Known for his Appalachian heritage and his fierce commitment to sustainability, Chef Dissen sees cooking not just as craft, but as daily activism. From beating Gordon Ramsay…

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Chef Michelle Wallace

From Pitmaster to Top Chef: Michelle Wallace’s BBQ Story

July 29, 2025 0:34:12

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Today on Flavors Unknown, I sit down with Michelle Wallace — a trailblazing chef and pitmaster who has redefined what it means to cook with fire and soul in the world of Texas barbecue. From her roots in St. Louis to her rise in Houston’s culinary scene, Michelle has crafted a fearless voice in a…

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