Culinary Characters Unlocked

Pizza

California Cuisine

Artisanal Bread

Spago

Culinary Arts

James Beard Award

Bacchanalia

Tony's Pizza Napoletana

Wolfgang Puck

Drew Nieporent

Sustainable Seafood

Los Angeles

Michelin Star

Pizzerias

Mom and Pop Restaurants

Southeast Asian Cuisine

Girl and the Goat

Culinary School

Chicago

Restaurant Industry

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.

6 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	78	Founded	a year ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	FoodArts

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Guests Host Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Master Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini on the hottest drink trends, the explosion in mocktails, and her time as a “Tequila Goddess”

Mariena Mercer Boarini invents 300 cocktails a year as Master Mixologist for Wynn Resorts, North America. She supervises the drinks programs at nearly 40 venues at Wynn’s flagship in Las Vegas, treating drinks as culinary creations, collaborating wit... more

23 Dec 2025 • 35 min

Chef Darian Bryan on pioneering Jamaican fine dining in the US, becoming a personal chef for Buffalo Bills MVP quarterback Josh Allen, and proving the doubters wrong

Born in Jamaica, now living in Buffalo, NY, Chef Darian Bryan has elevated

Jamaican cuisine to the fine dining level at his restaurant, and through his

work as a private chef. He has also amassed a roster of Buffalo Bills NFL

players including MVP Qq... more

16 Dec 2025 • 38 min

Eater Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Wu on the newest trends in American food, what’s ahead, the Eater 38, and what it’s like being the person so many Americans rely on to decide where – and what – to eat

Eater Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Wu is probably the most influential

person in American food. She was raised in the Taiwan capital of Taipei, one of the world’s great food cities. After college in New York, she began a meteoric magazine career that no... more

9 Dec 2025 • 48 min

Food and Wine Best New Chef Jordan Rubin on the unique sushi restaurant he started as a food cart and combining sushi tradition with bold and unexpected flavors

Chef Jordan Rubin got into sushi by accident when the sushi chef’s

assistant didn’t show up for work at the restaurant where he was making salads. From there, he’s worked his way up to owning his own sushi restaurant, Mr. Tuna and being named a 2025 ... more

2 Dec 2025 • 40 min

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Recent Guests

Mariena Mercer Boarini

Master Mixologist of Wynn Resorts and Tequila Goddess

Wynn Resorts

Episode: Master Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini on the hottest drink trends, the explosion in mocktails, and her time as a “Tequila Goddess”

Stephanie Wu

Editor-in-Chief of Eater, the online culinary powerhouse

Eater

Episode: Eater Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Wu on the newest trends in American food, what’s ahead, the Eater 38, and what it’s like being the person so many Americans rely on to decide where – and what – to eat

Amy Mehrtens

Executive Chef at Copper Vine, a restaurant in New Orleans

Copper Vine

Episode: Chef Amy Mehrtens on cooking at a New Orleans legend, then moving on to run a NOLA kitchen of her own and getting creative with that city’s classics

Kyle Knall

Chef and owner of Birch in Milwaukee

Birch

Episode: Chef Kyle Knall on training at legendary restaurants, then opening his own place and helping turn a spotlight on an unexpectedly hot dining city.

Kelly Jacques

Renowned baker at IU Bake House, recognized as one of America's best new chefs

IU Bake House

Episode: Baker Kelly Jacques on being named a 2025 Food and Wine Best New Chef, and on her unique baked takes on New Orleans favorites

Casey Wall

Chef with extensive experience in New York and Australia, currently owning a restaurant in Austin

Owner of Le Calamar

Episode: Le Cirque and Spotted Pig alum, Chef Casey Wall on opening a hot new French/Texan hybrid in Austin after fifteen years as a successful restaurateur in Australia.

Kelly Franz

Culinary director of Magnolias and the first woman to head the restaurant in its history.

Magnolias Restaurant

Episode: Chef Kelly Franz on the challenge of coming home to a legendary Charleston restaurant to take it into the future without discarding its storied past

Cathy Whims

Chef and restaurateur known for her influence in Portland's culinary scene and for teaching authentic Italian cooking techniques

Nostrana

Episode: Portland Chef Cathy Whims on the secrets to cooking in Italy, being tutored by the legendary Marcella Hazan, and helping turn Portland, Oregon into a culinary force

Tyler Akin

Chef and restaurateur whose culinary repertoire ranges from Corsican to Israeli to Vietnamese cuisines.

Bastia

Episode: Chef and restaurateur Tyler Akin on re-opening his family’s favorite restaurant from his childhood and cooking a world of cuisines

Host

David Page

Host of Culinary Characters Unlocked, and an Emmy award-winning journalist and executive producer known for his work in food media.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#124	Italy/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts	#143	Philippines/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts	#228	Hong Kong/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts	#250	Mexico/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Master Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini on the hottest drink trends, the explosion in mocktails, and her time as a “Tequila Goddess”

Q: Can a mocktail achieve similar flavors to cocktails?

Mariena believes that while the category is evolving, it's possible to create flavorful non-alcoholic drinks using creative methods.

Master Mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini on the hottest drink trends, the explosion in mocktails, and her time as a “Tequila Goddess”

Q: What is the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?

Mariena explains that at heart she's a bartender, but her role as a mixologist involves a higher level of creativity and oversight in cocktail development.

Chef Darian Bryan on pioneering Jamaican fine dining in the US, becoming a personal chef for Buffalo Bills MVP quarterback Josh Allen, and proving the doubters wrong

Q: At what point did it click? At what point did they realize, did you realize, I got the chops?

When I was at Denny's, I see the way I was making breakfast food and people say, oh, it's the best, Hegze, I'm like, we're making the same heads. But it's just the passion I put into it and the plating. I'm like, I like this.

Eater Editor-In-Chief Stephanie Wu on the newest trends in American food, what’s ahead, the Eater 38, and what it’s like being the person so many Americans rely on to decide where – and what – to eat

Q: What's your mission? What is Eater trying to do?

At its core, we want to help you find your next great meal, providing context and understanding of food culture.

Food and Wine Best New Chef Jordan Rubin on the unique sushi restaurant he started as a food cart and combining sushi tradition with bold and unexpected flavors

Q: What are the unique dishes you offer?

Mr. Tuna features a tuna tasting with various cuts, dressed up sashimi, and inventive flavors reflecting a mix of influences, including Peruvian and Southeast Asian cuisine.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Culinary Characters Unlocked

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

Focusing on the vibrant world of the culinary arts, this show explores the experiences and insights of chefs and restaurateurs from diverse backgrounds. Through engaging interviews, listeners are taken on a journey through unique dining concepts, innovative cuisine, and the personal narratives that shape the culinary landscape. Notable themes include challenges faced in the restaurant industry, the intersection of food and culture, and noteworthy achievements such as James Beard Awards and Michelin stars. The podcast stands out by featuring both well-known figures and local heroes in the food scene, providing a rich tapestry of stories that resonate with food enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

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How many listeners does Culinary Characters Unlocked get?

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How many subscribers and views does Culinary Characters Unlocked have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Culinary Characters Unlocked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Culinary Characters Unlocked:

1. Proof
2. The Sporkful
3. Good Food
4. The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters
5. Home Cooking

How many episodes of Culinary Characters Unlocked are there?

Culinary Characters Unlocked launched a year ago and published 78 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. Mariena Mercer Boarini
2. Stephanie Wu
3. Amy Mehrtens
4. Kyle Knall
5. Kelly Jacques
6. Casey Wall
7. Kelly Franz
8. Cathy Whims

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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