This Is TASTE 723: “Restaurant Lists Piss Me Off,” and the Future of Food Television with Ben Liebmann
Jan 30, 2026
Ben Liebmann, a TV exec and former Noma COO who grew the brand beyond its dining room, and Troy Chatterton, a bookseller launching Wild Sorrel Cookbooks, join for wide-ranging chat. They debate why restaurant lists irritate Ben. They dig into the changing shape of food television, Noma’s pop-ups and LA plans. Troy shares cookbook-curation, shop plans and a Kickstarter to open in the East Village.
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Episode notes
Sliding-Doors Meeting With René Led To Noma Role
- Ben met René Redzepi through overlapping work in TV and stayed in touch for years before joining Noma.
- A Tokyo pop-up led to Ben moving from London to Denmark to help grow Noma.
Pop-Ups Aim To Spotlight Places, Not Just Profit
- Ben worked on multiple Noma pop-ups (Australia, Tulum, Kyoto) and saw their intent to spotlight places, not just profit.
- He defends high LA ticket prices as part of a broader cultural and tourism ripple effect.
Favor Peer Recommendations Over Rankings
- Use chef-driven recommendations and creator-led showcases as alternative discovery tools.
- Ben prefers peer-led platforms like Top Jaw over numeric ranking lists.
