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Explore every episode of the podcast Pack Your Knives
Dive into the complete episode list for Pack Your Knives. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S23 Ep 8: Restaurant Wars | 29 Apr 2026 | 01:22:33 | |
A loaded recap episode this week tackles all the happenings on Top Chef’s iconic Restaurant Wars episode with a special boots-on-the-ground report from Tom, who attended as a takeout guest.
Sara and Tom break it all down and rehash Sara’s Restaurant Wars history and whether she’d prefer to be dine-in or takeout. Sara disagrees with the choice of which chef went home while Tom questions the kitchen jobs of the Tierra Reina team. Is a welcome drink a waste of time? Did immunity save a certain chef? Is a Bloomin’ Onion the worst takeout food of all-time?
We also had a Last Chance Kitchen finale to recap. We welcome back the LCK winner and look forward to the show’s next stop in the Carolinas.
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Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!
Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| Track Your Knives Ep 7 | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:48:57 | |
We're back for episode seven of Track Your Knives, the data-driven Top Chef companion podcast brought to you by Pack Your Knives. This week Carly analyzed how often desserts land chefs in the top or bottom of elimination challenges and we hypothesized on what will happen next week during Restaurant Wars. Will there only be 7 chefs or will we see a surprise return?
As always, enter your scores each week before the episode airs on find-topchef.com and become a subscriber on packyourknives.com to get additional data-driven insights on Top Chef.
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| Track Your Knives Ep 3 | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:37:14 | |
We're back for episode three of Track Your Knives, the data-driven Top Chef companion podcast brought to you by Pack Your Knives. Carly and Kendra are here to break down YOUR power rankings and fantasy league results from episode 3.
If you're just finding us, head over to find-topchef.com to submit your power rankings and play along, and subscribe at packyourknives.com for deeper weekly insights.
01:56 Setting the record straight
07:46 Our favorite moment from episode 3
11:55 Power Rankings analysis
15:14 Predicting episode 3's winner
22:53 Thoughts on next week's episode
27:03 Fantasy Leagues analysis
32:27 Sign off and reminder to submit rankings!
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| S19 Ep 6: Tough Love | 08 Apr 2022 | 01:15:08 | |
After Top Chef welcomes back an eliminated contestant from Last Chance Kitchen, Kevin and Tom dive into Episode 6's drama -- or lack thereof. The competition show brings in trailblazing women to honor trailblazing women and the chefs deliver satisfactory meals, but hardly anything transcendent. With the help of producer Anthony Mayes, Tom and Kevin try to untangle their feelings about this season of their beloved Top Chef and wonder if its recent softness is a symptom of a broader cultural shift.
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| S19 Ep 5: Don’t Mess With BBQ | 01 Apr 2022 | 00:58:47 | |
A tentpole challenge is presented on this week's episode, but Tom and Kevin are trying to figure out why this season doesn't seem to be hitting its mark. Tom mourns a surprising elimination, which prompts Kevin and Tom to do a mock redraft of contestants. Who goes No. 1? And can a Last Chance Kitchen juggernaut jolt the season into shape? Five episodes in, the PYK crew are hoping that's the case.
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| S19 Ep 4: Doppelgängers | 25 Mar 2022 | 00:55:51 | |
Kevin and Tom unpack what goes down as one of their favorite challenges of Top Chef in Pack Your Knives history: doppelgänger dishes! But first Kevin and Tom reveal their favorite biscuits in America and then praise a sense-deficient cheftestant’s rise. A terrific double-elimination challenge cripples one of the fantasy teams and Mayes’ squad provides hope to resolve Kevin’s lone complaint about this season.
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| S19 Ep 3: Open Market | 18 Mar 2022 | 00:56:38 | |
Kevin and Tom recap the Asian night market episode and survey the landscape. Kevin unveils his night market power rankings, dominating Tom’s impromptu trivia. The two discuss Sam the Potato Man’s polarizing behavior. Meanwhile, trade discussions continue as producer Anthony Mayes picks up his very own cheftestant.
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| S19 Ep 2: Carbo Loading | 11 Mar 2022 | 00:50:23 | |
Tom and Kevin break down the second episode of Season 19. With Evelyn on the mind, Tom investigates hometown advantage. A trade is proposed and the two are officially engaged in negotiations.
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| S19 Ep 1: The Draft | 04 Mar 2022 | 00:53:53 | |
After a season premiere chock full of surprises, Kevin and Tom take part in their fifth annual PYK draft of cheftestants. Who went No. 1 overall? And which pick created the most controversy? Kevin and Tom give their first impressions on the cast as another season of Pack Your Knives gets underway.
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| Season 19 Preview | 25 Feb 2022 | 00:40:53 | |
And we’re back! With the season premiere of Top Chef Season 19 Houston around the corner, Kevin and Tom give a scouting report on Houston and the 15 cheftestants. Which cheftestants seem to have a leg up? Which Top Chef alumni are returning? And what’s the dirty little secret about bone marrow? Kevin and Tom dig in and get ready for another season of Top Chef.
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| S18 Finale Recap: Staff Meal | 03 Jul 2021 | 01:09:37 | |
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| Ep 13 Recap: Abdication | 25 Jun 2021 | 01:02:25 | |
After the penultimate episode of Season 18, Tom and Kevin debate the merits and joys of hunting for seafood. A Top Chef judge's table scandal has Kevin and Tom fuming. Did Gail, Padma and Tom fail in their duties as judges?
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| Ep 12 Recap: Cheesy Bread | 18 Jun 2021 | 00:47:46 | |
Kevin and Tom break down the final four as we head into toward the coast. A discussion about Dawn's gougères veers into a love letter for cheesy bread at various establishments and other gluttonous exploits. Speaking of exploits, Tom and Kevin indict chefs for taking advantage of one of their own.
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| S23 Ep 3: True Colors with Jamie Brown | 25 Mar 2026 | 01:25:18 | |
With Supperland hosting Top Chef this week, Tom and Sara took their talents to Supperland in Charlotte to recap the episode.
Liver mush. An incomplete dish. Flaccid pork.
Live in person, Tom and Sara together break down the episode with the help of Supperland’s Jamie Brown, who welcomed the Top Chef crew to her restaurant in Plaza Midwood. Tom and Sara didn’t hold back.
With Jamie Brown on the show, the PYK hosts ask her Charlotte, Supperland and bringing Top Chef into their restaurant. Were the dishes THAT muted? What was it like to be at the table with Emeril Lagasse? She share her experience with the pod.
Plus, Tom shrinks as he updates Sara on the fantasy scoring.
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| Ep 11 Recap: Blind Ambitions with Gail Simmons! | 11 Jun 2021 | 00:59:01 | |
Kevin and Tom are blessed by the presence of Top Chef judge and culinary expert Gail Simmons, who makes her long-awaited debut on the podcast. Gail takes us through a most dramatic episode of the season and pulls back the curtain on her new Top Chef Amateurs show that launches July 1. Also, our mission to get Kevin on Top Chef Amateurs is one step closer to becoming reality, but he's still mentally two years away from being two years away.
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| Ep 10 Recap: Tofu Tourney | 05 Jun 2021 | 00:46:14 | |
Top Chef is coming down to the final five and Kevin and Tom are locked in. This week they discuss Kevin's horrific cooking injury, Tom's frustration with the scoring format, a double feature of Last Chance Kitchens and wish that the show would solve its only issue: not being able to taste the food.
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| Ep 9 Recap: Portlandia | 28 May 2021 | 00:45:13 | |
Recipe books take center stage as a Top Chef twist rattles the cheftestants and sends an overmatched chef home. While Kevin expresses disdain for complicated instructions, Tom proposes a theory on elimination tells on social media, and they unite to discuss various milks, hipster or not. Plus: which cheftestant is the Jen Carroll of this season?
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| Ep 8 Recap: Restaurant Wars! | 21 May 2021 | 01:01:48 | |
It's time for the Restaurant Wars. Or is it Chef's Table Wars? Tom and Kevin gather themselves after a shocking elimination and compare the upset to a certain NBA Finals stunner. Kevin coaches up one of the teams on their concept and Tom blasts the hard taco movement.
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| Ep 7 Recap: I'm Baaack | 14 May 2021 | 00:57:04 | |
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| Ep 6 Recap: Connective Tissue | 07 May 2021 | 00:54:41 | |
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| Brian Malarkey's Top 10 | 03 May 2021 | 00:45:11 | |
Two-time Top Chef contestant Brian Malarkey joins the show to reveal his Top 10 power rankings and also gives his surprising prediction on who's going to win the competition. Kevin and Tom have their minds blown when chef Brian explains his rationale. Also, Brian offers some behind-the-scenes intel on his rally in Season 17 and sets the record straight on his much-debated net worth.
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| Ep 5 Recap: Drive-in Debate | 30 Apr 2021 | 00:49:00 | |
Tom and Kevin quarrel about the quality of the movie drive-in episode and marvel at how flattened the race has become. New contenders emerge while the juggernauts experience an absolute horror show.
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| Ep 4 Recap: Richard Blais | 23 Apr 2021 | 00:55:12 | |
Top Chef superstar Richard Blais returns to the pod to help Kevin and Tom recap the fruit-filled episode. We discuss Richard's amazing hair and geek out over TopChefStats.com as Richard takes us behind the scenes in Portland. Plus, finally, Richard gets to be in the same sentence as LeBron James.
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| Ep 3 Recap: Yes, You Have | 16 Apr 2021 | 00:46:29 | |
Kevin and Tom recap Episode 3 of Top Chef Season 18: Portland while reminiscing about Friendly's peanut butter sauce and revisiting last week's big trade. One thing is clear: Kevin means business this year.
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| Track Your Knives Ep 2 | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:46:50 | |
We're back for episode two of Track Your Knives, the data-driven Top Chef companion podcast brought to you by Pack Your Knives. Carly and Kendra are here to break down YOUR power rankings and fantasy league results from episode 2.
If you're just finding us, head over to find-topchef.com to submit your power rankings and play along, and subscribe at packyourknives.com for deeper weekly insights.
This week did not disappoint! We've got 139 power rankings submitted, Rhoda making Top Chef history, and 86 leagues with 282 fantasy teams to dig into. Let's get into it.
00:00 Hello and welcome!
04:55 First episode, first impressions
08:18 Carly and Kendra’s power rankings
11:00 Orientation to Power Ranking results
11:42 Shout-outs to listeners/players doing well!
13:50 Power Rankings analysis
27:26 Thoughts on Power Rankings going into episode 2
35:35 Reminder to submit rankings and join Fantasy Leagues
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| Ep 2 Recap: Chefsplainin' | 09 Apr 2021 | 01:00:52 | |
Kevin and Tom recap the second episode of Season 18/Portland and debate the game theory of choosing teams in the Top Chef schoolyard. Also, after much deliberation, a four-chef trade is completed between the two PYK teams.
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| The Draft | 02 Apr 2021 | 00:45:40 | |
Tom and Kevin take part in their fourth annual PYK draft. A trade is made. The teams are selected. Top Chef Season 18 has begun.
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| Chef Gregory Gourdet | 02 Apr 2021 | 00:43:05 | |
Part 2: Tom and Kevin are joined by Top Chef alum and Portland’s own Gregory Gourdet. The Season 18 host and judge talks about his new restaurant, Haitian food, the infamous back injury and whom he’d want as a White House chef.
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| Season 18: PDX Preview! | 25 Mar 2021 | 00:56:07 | |
With the season premiere of Top Chef Season 18 Portland on the horizon, Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh set the stage for another round of Top Chef and scout the new 15 cheftestants. What's new? What's staying the same? The new season of Top Chef is upon us.
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| Mother Of All Finales (Ep 6 Finale Recap) | 03 Nov 2020 | 01:11:56 | |
Kevin and Tom bust out the scorecards and judge the final courses of the three finalists of Top Chef Season 6. Who deserved to win? Controversy ensues. Finally, a request from our Pack Your Knives audience as we look ahead.
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| Viva Napa Valley (Ep 14 Recap) | 27 Oct 2020 | 00:56:16 | |
With the cheftestants leaving Las Vegas for wine country, Kevin and Tom break down part 1 of the finale, discuss wine vs. beer and bid farewell to a stellar chef. Also, Kevin explains his new upcoming diet and asks Tom for some advice.
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| Welcome Back (Ep 13 Recap) | 20 Oct 2020 | 00:48:56 | |
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| Gambled And Lost (Ep 11/12 Recap) | 14 Oct 2020 | 00:52:28 | |
Kevin and Tom recap the Vegas hotel episode, write a love letter to Thousand Island Dressing and debate the virtues of breakfast in bed. When a certain chef goes home, Kevin and Tom cry foul. Also: chicken wings.
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| Eat Your Veggies (Ep 10 Recap) | 06 Oct 2020 | 00:56:04 | |
Tom and Kevin break down the Natalie Portman episode, reminisce about TV dinners and go deep on vegetable protein stats. A controversial chef goes home.
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| R3VOLT-ing (S6:E9 Recap) | 29 Sep 2020 | 01:09:23 | |
It's Restaurant Wars! It's time for Kevin and Tom to bring in PYK's Senior Restaurant Wars Correspondent guest Hershy Ash to break it all down. Who should have gone home? Who was right in the Robin-vs.-Michael spat? Plus, halfway through the pod, a surprise guest appearance from one of the cheftestants on the show.
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| S23 Ep 2: Puckerbutt | 18 Mar 2026 | 01:02:59 | |
Tom Haberstroh and Sara Bradley turn up the heat and break down the trip to Puckerbutt with Mei Lin, Smokin’ Ed Currie and Noah Chaimberg of The Heatonist.
Sara reveals her shocking distaste for a certain culinary treat as PYK tries to salvage any sponsorship opportunities to the show. We also watch a 2021 YouTube video of Tom eating a dried Carolina Reaper from Puckerbutt. Tom can attest: “If it doesn’t pucker your butt, it’s not Puckerbutt.”
With the group elimination challenge, Tom and Sara debate the progression strategy of a certain chef who gets eliminated, and celebrate a first in Top Chef history.
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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| Revisiting Vegas with Chef Ash Fulk | 25 Sep 2020 | 00:53:22 | |
Kevin and Tom are joined by Chef Ash Fulk from Season 6 Las Vegas. The Hillcountry Barbecue Market chef takes us behind the scenes on the season and reveals the secret breakouts from elimination island, the real story behind the amazing "Oh, I forgot flavorrr" line and takes us on a tour of Texas barbecue lore.
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| Candy Pallette Whine (Ep 8 Recap) | 22 Sep 2020 | 00:59:19 | |
Tom and Kevin debate their favorite elevated snack food and break down Episode 8, which bids farewell to a chef that hurt our sides from laughing so hard.
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| Chef Jen's Flu Game (S6:E7 Recap) | 15 Sep 2020 | 01:14:14 | |
Kevin and Tom recap Episode 7 with the help of Chef Jen Carroll who talks about her flu game, the surprising beef between Chef Kevin and Chef Bryan, and the lowdown on Chef Robin.
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| Under Deconstruction (S6:E6 Recap) | 08 Sep 2020 | 00:55:34 | |
Tom and Kevin deconstruct the Penn & Teller episode of Top Chef Season 6 and dish about Eli's pressure cooker incident, Toby Young, the Eli line and an unfair linguistic disadvantage.
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| Giddy Up! (Ep 5 Recap) | 31 Aug 2020 | 00:52:09 | |
Tom and Kevin recap a hot ‘n spicy episode of Season 6 and break down Tom Colicchio’s famous spit-out in the desert sand.
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| C’est la vie (Ep 4 Recap) | 25 Aug 2020 | 00:54:26 | |
Kevin and Tom break down a French powerhouse episode and debate the benefits of kitchen technology.
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| Mess Kitchen: Ep 3 Recap | 17 Aug 2020 | 00:45:01 | |
Tom and Kevin break down Episode 3 of Season 6 Las Vegas and serve up some praise on the challenges. Tom rants about greek salad and offers a mea culpa to Kevin. We look forward to Episode 4, where the real fun begins.
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| Let's BroGo: Ep 2 Recap | 03 Aug 2020 | 00:54:28 | |
Kevin and Tom get their bachelor party on and break down an episode full of cringe. Kevin and Tom bid farewell to a cheftestant and debate Top Chef's ability to identify and groom successful chefs. Also, Kevin pitches his new bachelor party consulting biz.
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| What Happens In Vegas (S6:E1 Recap) | 27 Jul 2020 | 00:43:53 | |
Kevin and Tom hop into a time machine and rewatch the season premiere of Season 6 Top Chef Las Vegas, starting a new chapter of Pack Your Knives. The hosts break down how all the surprising ways that the show has changed and take in a heavy dose of Top Chef nostalgia. Which chefs stand out?
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| Season 6 Rewatch Teaser | 23 Jul 2020 | 00:22:06 | |
Kevin and Tom preview their upcoming rewatch of Season 6 Las Vegas and discuss their memories of the star-studded season. @packknives on Twitter packyourknives on Instagram www.countthedings.com
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| Track Your Knives Ep 1 | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:40:45 | |
This season, PYK is bringing you a second weekly Top Chef podcast.
Carly and Kendra will be summarizing and analyzing YOUR power rankings and fantasy leagues!
If you haven’t yet, head over to find-topchef.com to sign up and become a subscriber on https://www.packyourknives.com/ to get additional data-driven insights on Top Chef.
00:00 Hello and welcome!
04:55 First episode, first impressions
08:18 Carly and Kendra’s Power Rankings
11:00 Orientation to Power Ranking results
11:42 Shout-outs to listeners/players doing well!
13:50 Power Rankings analysis
27:26 Thoughts on Power Rankings going into episode 2
35:35 Reminder to submit rankings and join Fantasy Leagues
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: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| Top Chef's Magical Elves | 01 Jul 2020 | 00:56:19 | |
Kevin and Tom bring in Magical Elves executive producers Doneen Arquines and Tara Seiner to take us behind the scenes on Top Chef. Plus, Kevin and Tom's big announcement about PYK's next chapter.
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| Finalists Roundtable | 23 Jun 2020 | 00:39:28 | |
Tom and Kevin are joined by Top Chef Season 17 All-Star finalists Melissa King, Stephanie Cmar and Bryan Voltaggio to review the epic season, get the inside scoop on their music video and learn about their future endeavors.
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| Cooking GOAT | 19 Jun 2020 | 00:58:25 | |
Kevin and Tom recap the Season 17 All-Star finale and debate the winner's placing in all-time Top Chef ranks.
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© My Podcast Data · Independent project · Data from Apple & Spotify