Pack Your Knives

Three episodes in, a clear favorite emerges from the pack of Top Chef: Destination Canada. Tom and Eric skate their way through the Jamaican patty and hockey episode that saw the judges sadly send home one of the more talented chefs of the group.Eric shares his favorite beef patty stories from childhood and provides a BTS insight about what the producers say on set that gave him some a pang of pseudo-PTSD.Tom recaps last week’s Last Chance Kitchen with a request for Tom C.Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As expected, the poutine episode has arrived!Eric Adjepong and Tom Haberstroh marvel at Anya's secret ingredient that she brought from Russia; when you've melted the minds of Tom, Eric AND Daniel Boulud, you know you're a serious Top Chef force.Tom and Eric debate the merits of a two-team challenge this early in the game and both have strong thoughts about the Whole Foods curveball.Eric gives insights into the challenges of doing chawanmushi or soufflé on competition shows.Plus, Tom has thoughts about the Last Chance Kitchen twist.Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To take a closer look at the season premiere, Tom Haberstroh is joined by PYK Substack contributor and data whiz Carly Levitz to break down the episode's trends and storylines.What does the data say about Massimo and the history of "home" chefs?Do the numbers say Richard Blais is the GOAT Top Chef?Carly also picks her favorite underdog chef and reveals what trends she's keeping an eye on as we progress through Season 22: Destination Canada.Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the 8th annual Pack Your Knives draft, Tom Haberstroh and Eric Adjepong take turns selecting their cheftestants and recap the Season 22 Destination Premiere along the way.A shocking twist occurs in Bronx-natives Adjepong’s pattern of selections.How soon did the elimination challenge winner get picked?Tom & Eric weigh in on the quality of chefs this season, the decisions that led up to the elimination and look ahead at Season 22.Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh and Top Chef alum Eric Adjepong react to the Top Chef Season 22 contestant list and break down the promo video for clues.Which chefs have the most promising bios and resumes for Top Chef Canada?Haberstroh brings the stats on social media followings while Adejpong reveals which chefs he knows personally, the meals they cooked and their cooking styles.Adjepong and Haberstroh also share their Super Bowl eats and give a fresh update on Adjepong's new restaurant opening.Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Eric Adjepong, an acclaimed chef and Top Chef contestant, as he dives into his experiences on the reality cooking competition. He shares behind-the-scenes insights and the emotional intensity of the Kentucky premiere. The conversation features a humorous debate on mint chocolate, a look at the surprising romance that blossomed during the show, and Eric's excitement about his new restaurant, Elmina, which celebrates West African cuisine. He also reveals the unique challenges of culinary competitions and the importance of balance in restaurant life.

Eric Adjepong, a two-time Top Chef contestant and emerging West African cuisine ambassador, shares insights into his culinary journey. He discusses misconceptions about competitive cooking, his elite knife skills, and the excitement of opening his own restaurant, Elmina. In a playful debate, he weighs the allure of winning a Michelin star against his passion for the New York Knicks. Listeners are treated to candid stories about the pressures of culinary competitions and the emotional bonds chefs form under intense circumstances.

Every episode of television is a series of creative decisions. Which characters do we spend the most time with? In which settings? How will the conflict occur?Season Three of “The Bear” took some unconventional risks — some worked and some didn’t.PYK Producer Anthony Mayes joins Tom and Kevin to break it all down, and to look ahead to the show’s final season. Subscribe to the new PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or SpotifyFollow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chef Eric Adjepong knows restaurant kitchens and he knows television — he hosts “Alex vs. America” and “Wildcard Kitchen” on The Food Network. He stops by PYK to chat about what “The Bear” gets right.Tom and Kevin also ask him which is more beneficial: A love-letter of a review of a restaurant in a big city newspaper, or an Instagram reel of Kamala Harris & husband raving about the dining experience.He also shares why so many chefs both love the show, but also are triggered by the intensity of the kitchen experience. Subscribe to the new PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or SpotifyFollow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandwiched between two bottle episodes, “The Legacy” puts Sydney on the spot — will she take Shapiro’s offer to become Chef de Cuisine at his new joint, or will she finally sign the partnership agreement and fully commit to the Bear.Tom and Kevin debate what Sydney will — and should — do. They also lament that the show’s shot selection, opting for more scenes of the Fak brothers esoteric and unfunny shtick over more dramatic beats that heighten conflict and deepen characters.Tom enjoyed “Ice Chips” and the interplay between Natalie and Donna on the verge of delivering her firstborn into the world.Kevin appreciated the stage play, but wonders how much the series can devote to deep dives between supporting characters before losing the central thread.Subscribe to the new PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or SpotifyFollow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknivesCOUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices