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Fugitive Chefs

Furqan Meerza
Unilever
Givaudan
Corporate Chef
Basque Culinary Center
Eat Wasted
School Nutrition
UNOX
Filipino Cuisine
R&D Chef
Innovation Chef
Activation Chef
Bread
Pasta
Military
Nutrition
Culinary Education
Remy
Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Philippines
Menu Development Chef

I’m Furqan Meerza, a chef who worked in some of the world’s top kitchens, including Mugaritz and Noma. Like a lot of chefs, I hit burnout. And I realized I needed a different way to stay connected to food; one that didn’t cost me my health or identity. Fugitive Chefs is a podcast for chefs and food creatives who still love this craft, but need change. Each episode features honest conversations wit... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes64Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFood

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Fugitive Chefs

Latest Episodes

Many chefs think the hardest part of leaving restaurants is getting into the food industry.

I increasingly think the harder challenge begins after they arrive.

In this solo episode of Fugitive Chefs, I explore why so many experienced chefs start do... more

Most chefs are trained to think in dishes.

But what happens when culinary thinking becomes a product, a company, and eventually an entire system?

In this episode of Fugitive Chefs, I speak with Leif Friedmann and Jorge Aguilar from Eat Wasted — a s... more

Most chefs think their impact stops at the plate.

But what happens when a chef starts influencing systems, supply chains, and how thousands of people are fed every day?

In this episode of Fugitive Chefs, I speak with Chef Matthew Beaudin — a chef w... more

Why do kitchens feel chaotic in ways that go beyond long hours or physical pressure?

In this solo episode, Furqan explores how many of the frustrations chefs experience daily are not just caused by intensity, but by badly designed systems.

From unc... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Matthew Boudin
Chef focused on conservation, sustainability, and education; led culinary operations at the Monterey Bay Aquarium; works in higher education
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Educational Institutions
Episode: From Fine Dining to Food Systems — How Chefs Can Influence the World | Matthew Beaudin
Fabian Vilsruis de Chavez
Kitchen professional turned researcher and startup founder
Remy (startup)
Episode: Kitchens Aren’t Just Stressful. They’re Poorly Designed Systems.
Andrea Zick
Professional sustainability skills coach and former chef
Independent; PhD researcher in food systems
Episode: From Chef to Food Systems: Why Kitchens Need to Think Beyond the Plate
Chris Spear
Host of Chefs Without Restaurants, podcast and community
Chefs Without Restaurants
Episode: Chefs Without Restaurants: Building a Career Beyond the Kitchen | Chris Spear
Kevin Jenkins
Executive chef and culinary supervisor for Garland ISD in Dallas, former Navy culinary specialist
Garland Independent School District
Episode: From US Navy to School Kitchens: Feeding 56,000 Kids a Day
Justin Khanna
Chef turned entrepreneur, founder of Repertoire and advocate for improved kitchen performance
Repertoire, Total Station Nomination
Episode: From The French Laundry to Building Better Kitchens — Justin Khanna on Chef Performance
Marilen Ingco
Corporate chef with 20+ years in restaurants, hotels, and multinational food companies
UNOX, former senior development chef at Givaudan, former Unilever professional
Episode: Corporate Chef: Selling Out or Scaling Up? | Marilen Ingco
Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
A Michelin-trained chef who led kitchens across Asia, South America, and Europe; later focused on food innovation, policy, and strategic consulting.
Independent consultant / Mycelium / Basque Culinary Center projects
Episode: Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk

Host

Furqan Meerza
Host of Fugitive Chefs; brings background from elite kitchens and roles in food innovation and community-building.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • IMPRESIONANTE TRABAJO!

    Gracias por acercar mas aun la gastronomia al mundo

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nashinmc
    Chile3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great for understanding how to scale creative food ventures and influence food systems.
Offers real-world lessons from career pivots, not just theory.
Thoughtful, practical, and inspiring for chefs exploring nontraditional paths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#87
Ireland/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#181
Denmark/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Q: What advice would you give to chefs who want to use their craft to influence larger issues?
Estefanía encourages generosity, collaboration, and building networks that connect chefs to broader societal goals. She suggests identifying where chefs' talents can fill gaps in the industry and emphasizes the importance of knowing the money flows and the economic levers behind food systems.
Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Q: How do you view education as a driver for change in the culinary world?
She argues education should be exploratory and curiosity-driven rather than a conveyor belt, stressing that true learning comes from human interactions and problem-solving, not just degrees. She critiques current programs for over-promising outcomes and emphasizes experiential, networked learning.
Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Q: What pushed you to leave kitchens and pursue projects like Mycelium and a broader role in food systems?
A combination of a life-changing injury, a realization of bodily limits, and a desire to understand how money and power flow in the food system led her to seek roles in innovation and networks that could scale impact beyond a single restaurant.
Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Q: What was your experience doing a master's in Innovation Management, and how did it fit with your practical experience?
She explains that the online master's at HEC Paris was transformative, offering structured, systemic thinking and access to senior peers, which complemented years of hands-on hustle and provided new language for discussing money, value, and innovation in food.
Can Chefs Influence Global Food Systems? — Estefanía Simon-Sasyk
Q: Tell us about your path from Venezuela to Europe and how that shaped your view of education and opportunity.
Estefanía describes her mixed upbringing, the push from family for formal degrees, and how cooking became an escape and a path out of a collapsing society. She highlights that culinary training opened doors to Europe and allowed her to see systems at scale, influencing her later work in innovation and policy.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fugitive Chefs

What is Fugitive Chefs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on chefs and food creatives who have stepped away from traditional kitchens to pursue nontraditional paths, such as R&D, sustainability, education, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Across episodes, listeners hear candid journeys—from upcycling and waste-conscious brands to corporate roles, school nutrition, and community-building initiatives—often anchored by a strong emphasis on systems-level thinking, humane leadership, and practical guidance for navigating career pivots. A recurring strength is turning personal burnout and identity questions into constructive pathways, with emphasis on community support through dedicated networks and circles for ongoing collaboration.

A standout angle is the focus on Fugitive Chefs ... more

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How many listeners does Fugitive Chefs get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Fugitive Chefs has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Fugitive Chefs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fugitive Chefs:

1. The Chef's Cut
2. Criminal

How many episodes of Fugitive Chefs are there?

Fugitive Chefs launched 3 years ago and published 64 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 Fugitive Chefs?

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What guests have appeared on Fugitive Chefs?

Recent guests on Fugitive Chefs include:

1. Matthew Boudin
2. Fabian Vilsruis de Chavez
3. Andrea Zick
4. Chris Spear
5. Kevin Jenkins
6. Justin Khanna
7. Marilen Ingco
8. Estefanía Simon-Sasyk

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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