Cooking Your Way Through Life

Happy New Year — and welcome to the first episode of 2026.In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I’m taking a moment to acknowledge something important: we made it another year. With that comes reflection, intention, and the opportunity to start fresh.We talk about New Year’s resolutions — how to make them realistic, obtainable, and sustainable, and why consistency and effort matter more than big declarations. Resolutions only work if we’re willing to put the work in.On the food side, I share practical tips around meal prep — ways to make it easier to stick to if you’re doing it yourself, and an honest look at using meal prep services or personal chefs when it makes sense. Realistically, it’s often not much more expensive than the drive-through these days.This year is about consistency for me, and new episodes will be dropping every Thursday.Thank you for being here, and here’s to showing up for ourselves in 2026.

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Drake Robertson (aka Chef Hollywood) is joined by Jamal and Lexi for an honest and thoughtful conversation about impulse — the thoughts and actions we make in the moment, often without slowing down to examine why.We dive into impulsive decision-making and ask the bigger questions: Are our impulses driven by gut instinct, emotion, or habit? And how do those split-second choices shape our lives, relationships, and routines?On the food side, we connect impulse to something everyone can relate to — fast food. I share tips on how to make four easy “fast food–style” items at home, because sometimes the drive-through feels like the quick answer, when cooking at home can be just as fast and even more satisfying.🎧 New episodes every week — where food meets life lessons, and every ingredient tells a story.🌐 Website – chculinarycreations.com 🔗 All Links – linkinbio.com/chefhollywood👥 Guests: Jamal & LexiLexi and Jamal are a married couple based in Atlanta, GA. Lexi is a freelance graphic designer, and Jamal is a soccer coach. Together, they share a love for travel, creativity, and making meaningful memories.📸 Instagram – @jbyeldell 📸 Instagram – @lexiwandesigns 📸 Instagram – @lexisrisuwanyeldell

Connection shows up in our lives in more ways than we realize — through the people we love, the friendships we build, the cultures we explore, and the food that brings us together. Today’s episode dives into what connection truly means and how it shapes who we are.We start by exploring the difference between a deep personal connection — the kind where you feel vulnerable, valued, and fully seen — and the powerful connections we form with close friends and family through shared experiences and trust.From there, we move into the culinary side of connection. I share two stories from my childhood: Sundays spent outside cooking with my grandfathers and uncles, and Sundays inside learning to bake with my grandmother. These early moments sparked my love for food and taught me how cooking naturally creates connection, long before I ever stepped foot in a professional kitchen.I also touch on what connection looks like as a chef and traveler — how food allows us to communicate across cultures, and how gastronomy has shaped my view of the world. And in today’s digital age, we also look at online connection and whether it’s truly connection if we don’t nurture it the same way we do in person.Whether it’s around a holiday table, a Sunday dinner, or a simple shared meal, food connects us all. Let’s explore what that means, and how we can reconnect with ourselves and others through presence, intention, and flavor.New episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a moment.

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Hollywood slows things down for the holiday and dives into the art of being present. Thanksgiving often gets overshadowed by the rush of Christmas, social expectations, and constant comparison — but this episode is all about grounding yourself in what’s right in front of you.We talk about how reflection during the holidays helps us appreciate what we already have, instead of focusing on what we think we’re missing. In life, in love, in careers — sometimes we’re chasing so much that we overlook the blessings and people sitting right in front of us.For the food portion of this episode, Chef Hollywood shares the two dishes he genuinely looks forward to every Thanksgiving and asks the big question: Are you still making the same traditional holiday foods, or do you experiment each year?This episode is warm, real, and all about slowing down, showing up, and savoring the moment — in and out of the kitchen.📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Hollywood sits down with Brittany, owner and pastry chef of the Low country’s first mobile bakery — Declan’s Delights Co., a Best of Bluffton nominee. 🍰Together, we dive into the idea of risk — the big leaps and small daily decisions that shape both our careers and our lives. From following passion projects to walking away from comfort zones, we share what it really means to bet on yourself and grow through uncertainty.This episode also explores the art of cooking without a recipe — learning to trust your instincts, rely on core techniques, and let creativity take the lead in the kitchen. 👨🏽‍🍳🎙️ Guest: Brittany, Owner & Pastry Chef of Declan’s Delights Co. 📸 Instagram: @declansdelightsco 📘 Facebook: Declans Delights Co. 🌐 Website: www.declansdelights.com📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Cooking Your Way Through Life 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Drake Robertson (aka Chef Hollywood) sits down with Warren Mullins — a former cruise director turned tattoo artist with more opinions than facts — for a fun and fearless conversation about real fears vs. irrational fears, and how both can hold us back more than we realize.Together, we open up about facing fear, trusting change, and learning to laugh through life’s challenges — all while making Black Magic Margaritas and Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites to keep things deliciously spooky.🎧 New episodes every week — where food meets life lessons, and every ingredient tells a story.🍴 Stay Connected🌐 Website – chculinarycreations.com 🔗 All Links – linkinbio.com/chefhollywood👤 Guest: Warren Mullins📸 Instagram – @ininkwetrust 🎵 TikTok – @ininkwetrust 🌐 Website – ininkwetrust.co.uk💭 Join the ConversationWhat’s one irrational fear that’s been holding you back — and how are you cooking your way through it? Drop it in the comments below.

Discipline isn’t about being perfect — it’s about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.In this episode, Chef Hollywood explores how building discipline in the kitchen mirrors building it in life. From learning French to hitting the gym or reading more, every habit starts with small, intentional steps — just like measuring every ingredient with care.Through the art of baking, Chef breaks down how structure creates freedom, how patience shapes results, and how consistency turns goals into growth.🍰 Because just like a good recipe, success is all about timing, precision, and showing up every single day.🎙️ Listen, learn, and cook your way through life. 👉🏾 Follow for more recipes, episodes, and chef tips: bio.chculinarycreations.com

Today's episode is really fitting for the final episode of season 5. What is closure and do we need it every time or sometimes do we just need to move on? That is one of the things we talk about today and also having the ability to think clearly before making a decision. Today's recipe is a take on a crab boil, but done in the oven with loads of flavor.

On today's episode we go over what is Growth and what it looks like to each of us. Sometimes we feel like we are not growing fast enough or not at all, but we have to establish what is our definition of it. Today's recipe is Drunken Mussels and we go over this PEI recipe that has become the national dish of Belgium.

Today's episode dives into the idea of being the strong friend. This can be for those people who are the rock in their friend groups, family circles, or relationships. Today's recipe is a Buckwheat Gallet which is a French style savory crepe that you can customize anyway you like.

This episode we dive into the idea of spinning the block and going back to someone or something that you use to be involved with. Today's recipe is Bunny Chow and it is a great dish that can be adapted to different flavors and needs.

Today's episode is all about using all of the resources that you have at your disposal. Sometimes we overlook the resources we do have and are too focused on the ones that we don't have access to. Today's recipe is a really fun and delicious dish called Shaking Beef, a Vietnamese favorite. Support the show

Today's episode is all about that dreadful feeling of being ghosted. What hurts more, the getting ghosted or the unanswered questions and no closure? Today's recipe is African Peanut Stew, which really has a unique flavor and richness that you can't find in just any stew or soup.Support the show