Food Network Obsessed

Chef Kenny Gilbert joins the pod to talk about his impressive run on this season of Tournament of Champions, from the pressure of the randomizer to cooking in one of the most intense competition formats on TV. He shares how he prepares for the unpredictable nature of TOC, why blind judging raises the stakes, and how he approaches each round with a “swim your race” mentality. Kenny also takes us back to his early days in the kitchen, from cooking out of a Betty Crocker cookbook as a kid to preparing his first full Thanksgiving dinner at just 11 years old. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Kenny on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Tournament of Champions: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bryan Ford joins the pod to talk about judging Food Network’s new competition series Ultimate Baking Championship and what it was like watching some of the most skilled pastry chefs in the country go head-to-head. He shares why blind judging raises the stakes, what separates technically perfect baking from something truly special, and how storytelling plays a role even in the most precise desserts. Plus, Bryan opens up about opening Diljan Bakery in Brooklyn, exploring Afghan baking traditions, and how his self-taught path helped shape the way he approaches both baking and business today. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Bryan on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Ultimate Baking Championship: HERE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duff Goldman returns to the pod for his third appearance, officially earning Food Network Obsessed royalty status. He catches up with Jaymee on life at home, getting ready to become a dad of two, and why he’s embraced his unexpected role on the internet as the guy giving calm, rational dad advice.  Duff also dives into his newest Food Network series Ultimate Baking Championship, where sixteen elite pastry chefs compete in one of the most technically demanding baking competitions the network has ever done. Plus, after years of strong opinions, Duff finally sets the record straight on cupcakes… and whether he actually hates them as much as he says he does. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Duff on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Ultimate Baking Championship: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Tchao joins the pod to talk about how his unexpected landing on Food Network’s 2026 Hot List was a true full-circle moment. He shares how teaching a total kitchen “noob” helped him find his voice as an educator, and why experimenting in public is at the heart of his content. Michael also dives into his recent trip to Japan, where he documented a family preserving a centuries-old charcoal craft that burns hotter, cleaner, and more intentionally than standard briquettes. From patience in the kiln to patience in content creation, he reflects on slowing down, focusing on quality over quantity, and building a brand rooted in curiosity, clarity, and value.  Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Michael Tchao on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Food Network Hot List: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Mei Lin returns to the pod to talk about her Beverly Hills restaurant 88 Club, where nostalgic Chinese flavors meet a moody dining room and serious vibes. She shares how dishes like shrimp toast and Namu chicken connect to her childhood and why this chapter of her cooking feels more personal and unapologetic than ever. Mei also dives into festival cooking, Lunar New Year collaborations, and the energy of live food events before opening up about her newest role as a judge on Tournament of Champions. She talks blind judging, missing the adrenaline of competing, and how social media trends are starting to show up on competition plates. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow the Mei Lin on Instagram: HERE Learn More about TOC: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Designer, author, and TV host Bobby Berk joins the pod to talk about the unexpected ways food and family shape the spaces we live in. He opens up about how his upbringing influenced his design philosophy, why kitchens are always the emotional center of a home, and how comfort (both visual and emotional) guides every project he touches. Bobby also shares what he’s learned from years in front of the camera, the balance between function and feeling, and why creating welcoming spaces isn’t all that different from cooking a great meal. Plus: thoughtful design splurges, the power of small details, and what “home” really means at this stage of his life. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Bobby Berk on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Junk or Jackpot: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef, author, and Emmy-winning host Kardea Brown returns to the pod to reflect on marriage, a new restaurant, two cookbooks, and her ever-growing Food Network family. She shares how her Gullah Geechee roots remain the heartbeat of everything she cooks, why her new book Make Do With What You Have is a love letter to resourceful home cooks, and the emotional stories behind the dishes that shaped her childhood. Kardea also takes us behind the scenes of Holiday Baking Championship, from Team Naughty vs. Team Nice to Duff and Nancy’s hilarious dynamic. Plus, she talks about restaurant life at Charleston Airport, family pride, and what she hopes 2026 brings. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Kardea on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Holiday Baking Championship: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and host Oliver Hudson joins the podcast to kick off the holiday season and share the heart-warming (and hilarious) stories behind his family’s legendary Christmas traditions. From Kurt Russell’s unforgettable sleigh-track illusion to Goldie Hawn’s famous biscuits and gravy. Oliver opens up about stepping into his first-ever hosting role for Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition, Food Network and Magnolia Network’s newest holiday spectacle. He reflects on the creativity and emotion behind the builds, the surprising depth of the contestants’ stories, and why this show feels like “a big, cozy hug in TV form.” Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Oliver Hudson on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef and multisensory mastermind Jozef Youssef joins Jaymee to talk about transforming food into emotion through his immersive dining studio, Kitchen Theory. He shares how science, storytelling, and a little curiosity turned him into one of the most innovative voices in modern gastronomy. Then Jozef takes us behind the scenes of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Season Two, where he returns as a judge alongside Carla Hall and the Phelps twins. He dishes on the magic of filming inside the Great Hall, what makes a dessert truly enchanted, and why sound might be the most powerful ingredient of all. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Jozef Youssef on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Chapter Two : HERE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef, restaurateur, and Top Chef Masters champ Rick Bayless joins Jaymee to talk about the mission that’s guided his kitchens for decades: celebrating regional Mexican cuisine through technique, nuance, and joy. He shares the “why” behind signature sauces and masa, and how insisting on real control over sourcing and recipes helped turn Tortas Frontera into an airport game-changer. Then Rick previews his turn in the judge’s chair on Bobby’s Triple Threat and what he looks for first. He talks about how risk pays off only when rooted in skill, and the advice he’d give any chef walking into that kitchen. Rick also reflects on his day-one Iron Chef America duel with Bobby Flay, what he learned from that battle, and wraps with rapid-fire favorites from go-to chiles to perfect street bites.  Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Rick Bayless on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Bobby’s Triple Threat : HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Food Network star Zac Young returns to the pod to catch up with Jaymee to talk about the 10-year anniversary of his viral PieCaken creation, from humble beginnings to holiday tradition, and why it still surprises him every year. He dishes on Sprinkletown, his shop that balances playful creativity with customer favorites, and how his love of pastry unexpectedly translates into home renovation projects. Then it’s all things Halloween as Zac previews Season 11 of Halloween Baking Championship. He teases the haunted mansion set, outrageous costumes, and the new twist that forces bakers to “bake for their lives.” Zac also shares behind-the-scenes stories with fellow judges Carla Hall, Stephanie Boswell, and host John Henson. Rapid fire covers everything from his biggest fear to Broadway dream roles, guilty-pleasure snacks, and which childhood treat he wishes would return.  Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Zac Young on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Halloween Baking Championship : HERE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja makes her Food Network Obsessed debut to talk about her Italian and Indonesian roots and building her NYC restaurants Shuka and Shukette into vibrant, herb-forward destinations. She shares why she calls her food a “Middle Eastern party,” what it means to celebrate community through flavor, and how recognition like her James Beard nomination shaped her journey. Ayesha opens up about her unconventional path from law firm assistant to culinary school student, with pit stops dreaming of DJing and even dealing diamonds. And of course, Ayesha dishes on stepping into her biggest role yet… becoming the newest Titan on Bobby’s Triple Threat. From Bobby Flay’s surprise phone call at the gym, to training sessions at Food Network Kitchen, to the surreal moment of seeing her face on the giant posters in New York City, Ayesha shares the nerves, joy, and validation of taking her seat on the Titan couch.   Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Ayesha Nurdjaja on Instagram: HERE Learn More Bobby Flay’s Triple Threat: HERE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.