Claudette Zepeda and the Canned Bodega Escargot

About this episode

Chef Claudette Zepeda discusses her journey in the culinary world, personal challenges, and creative inspirations.

Cooking the Borderlands author and chef Claudette Zepeda opens up about growing up in Tijuana learning English from PBS shows, being told she’d “never make it” as a chef while pushing a newborn in a stroller, and why she relies on her inner "chaos demon." She shares how a trip to Morocco reignited her creative spark, why she and her cooks chant “You’re doing it, Peter” in the kitchen, what it took to survive toxic restaurant culture, and the 160-mile Camino de Santiago walk that helped her process the loss as she rediscovered her childhood self. Visit foodandwine.com/tinfoilswans for more Episode Art Courtesy of Food & Wine / Johnny Miller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Food & Wine

Guest: Claudette Zepeda

Topics covered

• cooking
• restaurant culture
• personal growth
• cultural identity
• creativity
• motherhood

Keywords

• Claudette Zepeda
• cooking
• restaurant culture
• Tijuana
• Morocco
• Camino de Santiago
• creativity
• motherhood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Food & Wine

Books & works: Cooking the Borderlands

Places: Tijuana, Morocco, Camino de Santiago

More episodes of Tinfoil Swans

• Fermín Núñez and the Tortilla-Scented Candle · June 2, 2026 · 56 min
• Encore: Cody Rigsby and the Chicken Finger Math · May 26, 2026 · 43 min
• Donna Hay and the 22 Thousand Person Dinner Party · May 19, 2026 · 55 min
• Dr. Arielle Johnson and the Dorito of Sadness · May 12, 2026 · 54 min
• Nancy Silverton and the Artichoke That Knows · May 5, 2026 · 58 min
• Wolfgang Puck and the Tennis Match With the Pope · April 21, 2026 · 1h 3m