What does legacy taste like? For Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps, it’s bold, layered, unapologetic—and deeply personal.

In this episode of Eat Your Content, I sit down with the chef who not only dominated the competition with the most wins in the season’s history but used every plate as a platform. Chef Tristen breaks down his philosophy of "uncolonizing cuisine," and how he’s flipping the script on what fine dining should look like.

We dive deep into:

• The cultural power behind his signature oxtail Milanese dish and why it brought Afro-Caribbean, Southern, and European flavors full circle
• The emotional toll of Restaurant Wars and how his teammates helped carry him through tragedy
• The late-night lightbulb moment that turned a dreaded foraging challenge into a winning dish
• Why he believes it’s time to redefine "mother sauces" and push culinary history past the French narrative
• His plans to open Buboy, a Houston-based tasting menu restaurant rooted in his family’s story, and the legacy he hopes to build for future chefs
• This is more than a Top Chef recap—this is a conversation about reclaiming culture, telling the truth through food, and building something that lasts far beyond one season.

🔗 Whether you’re a foodie, chef, or just someone who believes food is more than what’s on the plate, this one’s for you.

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Follow Chef Tristen Epps: @cheftristenepps
https://www.eppsandflows.com/

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Thanks for listening to Eat Your Content. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the podcast through our merch store on Tee Public. Get great quality items like T-shirts, hats, mugs, and more all sporting the vibrant Eat Your Content logo. Go to teepublic.com/user/eatyourcontent for more great items. Thank you for your support!

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Top Chef finalist Savannah Miller is back with me for one more week—this time to help unpack the chaos that is Yes, Chef!, NBC’s new cooking competition show that wants to “reform” toxic kitchen personalities. The premise? A group of hot-headed chefs are nominated by friends and family to confront their egos and bad behavior on national television… for $250,000.

But here’s the thing: it’s a mess.

The format is confusing. The food is mid. The redemption arc? Nonexistent. We’re not sure if this is a social experiment, a reality competition, or Hell’s Kitchen Lite. And don’t even get us started on Katsuji.

We break down episode one—from wild elimination twists to Martha Stewart and José Andrés just kind of… standing there—and try to figure out who this show is actually for.

🎧 Hit play and let us know: is Yes, Chef! a bold new take on food TV, or just another dish best left unserved?

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Thanks for listening to Eat Your Content. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the podcast through our merch store on Tee Public. Get great quality items like T-shirts, hats, mugs, and more all sporting the vibrant Eat Your Content logo. Go to teepublic.com/user/eatyourcontent for more great items. Thank you for your support!

Support the show

Want to be a guest on Eat Your Content? Send Rich Herrera a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/eatyourcontent

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Massimo Piedimonte Wants Redemption—and He’s Coming for Top Chef All-Stars!

Chef Massimo Piedimonte came into Top Chef Season 22 like a lightning bolt—loud, passionate, and impossible to ignore. He represented Canada with swagger, plated food with purpose, and gave us one of the most memorable front-of-house performances in Restaurant Wars history. But just one step before the finale in Milan, it all ended. A bannock cracker—disconnected, they said—sent him home.

In this candid interview, Massimo opens up about what that moment really felt like. He talks about being haunted by “almosts” in his career, why that final judges’ table still stings, and what redemption looks like for a chef who gave everything to the competition. You’ll hear his unfiltered take on cooking under pressure, the tension with Tristen Epps, and the meal he was planning to cook in Italy—one that might’ve changed everything.

But most of all, you’ll hear a chef who isn’t done yet.

👉 Whether you're a Top Chef superfan or just love a good redemption arc, this one’s for you.
🎧 Hit play now, follow Eat Your Content, and leave a 5-star review if you think Massimo deserves a second shot.

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Thanks for listening to Eat Your Content. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting the podcast through our merch store on Tee Public. Get great quality items like T-shirts, hats, mugs, and more all sporting the vibrant Eat Your Content logo. Go to teepublic.com/user/eatyourcontent for more great items. Thank you for your support!

Support the show

Want to be a guest on Eat Your Content? Send Rich Herrera a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/eatyourcontent

Follow EYC on Socials
TikTok: @eatyourcontent (https://www.tiktok.com/@eatyourcontent)
YouTube: @EatYourContent (https://youtube.com/@EatYourContent?si=wYA-OAgpX4D51otX)
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richherrera1250
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