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Artwork for Culinary Characters Unlocked

Culinary Characters Unlocked

Culinary Characters Unlocked
James Beard Award
Fine Dining
Restaurant Industry
Culinary Arts
Michelin Star
Michelin Stars
Indian Cuisine
Culinary School
New Orleans
California Cuisine
Hawaiian Cuisine
New Orleans Cuisine
Food Trends
Culinary Institute Of America
Mexican Cuisine
Restaurant Critique
LA Restaurant Scene
French Cuisine
Local Ingredients
Culinary Innovation

Emmy Winner, International Acclaimed Journalist, Executive Producer, Food & Travel Lover, and Creator of the Beloved show “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” David Page takes us deep into the world of chefs, restaurateurs, and everything “foodie” from the nationally and internationally awarded to the locally loved on Culinary Characters Unlocked. New episode every Tuesday.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes112Founded2 years ago
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FoodArts

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Artwork for Culinary Characters Unlocked

Latest Episodes

Chef Star Maye has had a remarkable rise through the culinary world. Born in a small Alabama town, this self-described “black, queer

single mother” went from a small Alabama town to the U.S. Navy, to prison, where she found a mentor who pointed her t... more

Chef Andrew Black got his first cooking job in his native Jamaica in his teens. That began a stellar career that took him to the Ritz in Paris and the Peabody in Memphis. When he was offered a job in Oklahoma City he sneered, “Where the hell is that?... more

As a child, Chef Renee Erickson would go salmon fishing with her father. And fruits and vegetables came from the family garden. She’s taken that grounding in the fabulous foods of the Pacific Northwest and built a celebrated group of Seattle restaura... more

Chef Zak Baker cooks what he calls Midwest Italian and it's unlike anything most folks have ever had before. It began when he first went to Italy and was thrilled by the food, but also surprised. He'd never had anything like it at any Italian restaur... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Black
Chef; James Beard Award winner (Best Chef Southwest, 2023)
Grey Sweater, Black Walnut, Labigate, Dougla
Episode: Chef Andrew Black on the journey from his grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica, to the Ritz in Paris, to winning a James Beard award in Oklahoma City
Renee Erickson
Seattle chef and restaurateur, founder of multiple concepts including Walrus and the Carpenter and Whale Winds
Chef and Restaurateur
Episode: Chef Renee Erickson built a restaurant empire from the bounty of the Pacific Northwest
Zak Baker
Chef, Ca'Lucchenzo founder, former Bartolotta sous chef
Ca'Lucchenzo (Milwaukee)
Episode: Chef Zak Baker on cooking in Milwaukee the way they really do in Italy
Kathy Fang
Chef and owner of Fang; former House of Nanking alum
Fang (Restaurant)
Episode: Chef Kathy Fang on innovating Chinese cuisine and keeping a family legacy alive
Zach Midgett
Chef, formerly at The French Laundry; now cooking in Lincoln, Nebraska
Casa Bovina (Nebraska)
Episode: Chef Zach Midgett on why he left the legendary French Laundry to cook in Lincoln, Nebraska
Sarah Thompson
Chef at Casa Playa Las Vegas, previously with Kalaya and other restaurants
Casa Playa, Kalaya
Episode: BONUS EPISODE—2026 James Beard Award Winning Chefs Sarah Thompson, Dave Baren, and Nok Suntaranon
Dave Baren
Chef, former Alinea chef, founder of Kalaya (Philadelphia)
Kalaya (Philadelphia)
Episode: BONUS EPISODE—2026 James Beard Award Winning Chefs Sarah Thompson, Dave Baren, and Nok Suntaranon
Nok Suntaranon
Founder/chef of Kalaya, Philadelphia
Kalaya
Episode: BONUS EPISODE—2026 James Beard Award Winning Chefs Sarah Thompson, Dave Baren, and Nok Suntaranon
Loni Murdock
Chef and restaurateur, founder of Miss Licklemore's and Isla
Miss Licklemore's; Isla
Episode: Chef Lonie Murdock on reimagining Caribbean cooking with dishes like Oxtail Wagyu and feeding the Obamas

Host

David Page
Host of Culinary Characters Unlocked. Emmy-winning journalist and executive producer with a focus on food and travel storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#179
United States/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chef Andrew Black on the journey from his grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica, to the Ritz in Paris, to winning a James Beard award in Oklahoma City
Q: What makes Grey Sweater different from other fine dining concepts?
Grey Sweater emphasizes an ever-evolving, menu-less experience focused on storytelling and guest immersion, with a two-minute pre-dining interview to tailor the experience and seven to ten courses that are unique to each guest.
Chef Andrew Black on the journey from his grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica, to the Ritz in Paris, to winning a James Beard award in Oklahoma City
Q: How did your time in Paris influence your cooking style when you returned to the States?
The Paris stint sharpened his precision and the continuous pursuit of excellence, but he also learned to embrace experimentation and storytelling in dishes, which he later infused into his own restaurants.
Chef Andrew Black on the journey from his grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica, to the Ritz in Paris, to winning a James Beard award in Oklahoma City
Q: What was the turning point that led you to Oklahoma City from the Peabody in Memphis?
A combination of mentorship, a personal invitation, and the belief that Oklahoma City offered a unique opportunity to build something new. He moved with an initial one-year trial, then stayed for nearly two decades due to the people and the growing dining scene.
Chef Kathy Fang on innovating Chinese cuisine and keeping a family legacy alive
Q: What prompted the shift from House of Nanking to Fang, and how do you run two family places together?
We wanted a space that felt like an extension of home with a larger footprint for events and growth. The two places are run by both of us, with clear division of duties—recipes and cooking largely mine, while management and growth lean more on me—yet we overlap to keep the family essence intact.
Chef Kathy Fang on innovating Chinese cuisine and keeping a family legacy alive
Q: You grew up literally in the restaurant, correct?
Yes, I started out helping in various roles from a young age, learning the ropes and absorbing how a family restaurant operates before pursuing formal culinary education and eventually helping to open Fang with my dad.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Culinary Characters Unlocked

What is Culinary Characters Unlocked about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, entrepreneur-focused food podcast that brings together chefs, restaurateurs, and leaders shaping modern food culture. Through long-form conversations, episodes explore career journeys, kitchen leadership, menu strategy, sourcing, and the evolving business side of hospitality. Notable threads include immigrant and family-business perspectives, high-stakes kitchens, and the balance between tradition and innovation across fine-dining and casual concepts. The show often surfaces practical insights on staff development, branding, and community impact, making it useful for aspiring guests, operators, and brands seeking nuanced, experiential storytelling in the food world.

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Which podcasts are similar to Culinary Characters Unlocked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Culinary Characters Unlocked:

1. Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy
2. This Is TASTE
3. In the Test Kitchen
4. Special Sauce with Ed Levine
5. Gastropod

How many episodes of Culinary Characters Unlocked are there?

Culinary Characters Unlocked launched 2 years ago and published 112 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Culinary Characters Unlocked?

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What guests have appeared on Culinary Characters Unlocked?

Recent guests on Culinary Characters Unlocked include:

1. Andrew Black
2. Renee Erickson
3. Zak Baker
4. Kathy Fang
5. Zach Midgett
6. Sarah Thompson
7. Dave Baren
8. Nok Suntaranon

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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