In this special episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with legendary chef Jacques Pépin in front of a live audience. We delved into his incredible life and illustrious career, from his time working alongside Julia Child to his experiences as the personal chef for three French presidents. Jacques also shared his perspective on becoming the first true celebrity chef, shaping the culinary world as we know it today. His stories, wisdom, and charm captivated the audience, offering a rare glimpse into the life of one of the most influential figures in the culinary arts.

I had the pleasure of meeting with master pastry chef François Payard, where we discussed his remarkable journey from growing up in his father's patisserie in Nice to working with culinary legends like Daniel Boulud before launching his own renowned Payard Patisserie. Now, Chef Payard brings his expertise to Southold Social, where he’s crafting an exclusive line of pies for Southold General just in time for Thanksgiving.

I sat down with Chef Eric Ripert, the celebrated chef and co-owner of New York’s iconic Le Bernardin. We dove into the journey of Le Bernardin being named the number one restaurant in the world and what it means to receive such a prestigious title. Chef Ripert shared insights from his cookbook Seafood Simple and he walked me through his secrets to making the perfect ceviche!

I joined renowned Chef Rocco DiSpirito at his newest culinary venture, Il Pellicano, located in the heart of Southampton. During our conversation, we delved into his secrets for cooking the perfect pasta dish, from choosing the freshest local ingredients to mastering the marriage of texture and flavor. Rocco also shared where he finds inspiration when crafting Il Pellicano’s menu, drawing on the rich culinary traditions of the Hamptons and his passion for elevating classic Italian dishes like linguine vongole and shrimp crudo with a modern twist.