Beyond the Plate

Adam Mesnick is the “Chairman of the Board” and founder behind Deli Board in San Francisco - a place that’s built a cult following with chefs, tech execs, and loyal regulars alike. With a career that started in mortgage banking, Adam made the leap to professional cooking in his mid-30s, fueled by a lifelong passion for food and a deep respect for hospitality. In this episode, he shares how Deli Bo...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment. Links and handles mentioned in this episode: hani's bakery + café | Miro Uskokovic | Shilpa Uskokovic | Daniel Alvarez | Jake Cohen BtP episode Bionaturae Sourdough Pasta | Rachael Ray Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian | Chef Matt Eckfeld | Cornerstone Restaurant Group Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods | Janie’s ig La Boîte × Éclat Chocolat...

Kevin Armstrong is a celebrated bartender, bar owner, educator, and author based in East London. His neighborhood bar has become a global destination - thanks in part to its daily-changing cocktail menu and one of the most thoughtfully trained teams in the business. In this episode, Kevin shares why he believes great bars are built on great experiences, not just great drinks, and how he empowers h...

Jake Cohen is a two-time bestselling cookbook author, culinary content creator, and unapologetic dinner party enthusiast. In this episode, he shares how a childhood curiosity for hosting dinner parties and Shabbat dinners became a lifelong passion for bringing people together around the table. From CIA to food media, Jake opens up about his path through fine dining, his strategic career shifts, an...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Vitamix Immersion Blender and Attachments | IG Instant Pot Pressure Cooker | mine Beyond the Drink x Alexis Soler Mac Knives | Professional Series Chef Joel Gamoran | Homemade | ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit Follow Beyond the Plate on Facebook and X . Follow Kappy on Instagram an...

Alexis Soler made the leap from Miami’s high-energy bar world to a Nashville that looked very different from the city we know today. In this conversation, she shares how that move shaped her creatively and opened the door to building some of Nashville’s most thoughtful and dynamic hospitality experiences. We explore her process for developing cocktails, her growing passion for design, and her love...

Vaughn Vreeland is a writer, recipe developer, and video series host for NYT Cooking - and the co-creator behind the wildly popular Cookie Week. We sat down for a live conversation at The Book Cellar in Chicago to talk about his journey from bakery counter to bylines, and how he brings joy and intention to everything he creates. Vaughn shares the inspiration behind COOKIES , the new book he curate...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Motorino London | Stevie Parle | Luke Ahearne Chef Liv’s Soy Sauce | HEYDOH Soy Sauce Cookies book | Vaughn Vreeland Chicago Chefs Cook Palate Palette | The Taste Curators | Lish Steiling | Abbey Cook Hedley & Bennett corduroy collection | Ellen Bennett Follow Beyond the Plate on...

Simon Ford is one of the most respected voices in the spirits and cocktails industry - and a true steward of gin culture. In this episode, he returns to the pod and shares the story behind the second-ever release of Fords Sloe Gin, a centuries-old English tradition made by steeping wild sloes in gin. We cover some exciting things happening around the world in bars, including the martini (or rather...

Leah Cohen is the chef, author, and Top Chef alum behind NYC’s Pig & Khao. From delivering pizzas as a teen to training in Michelin-starred kitchens around the world, she carved her path the old-school way - through hustle, honesty, and a whole lot of rice. In this episode, Leah opens up about how traveling through Southeast Asia became the turning point that shaped the food she makes today. S...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Acamaya | Chef Ana Castro | Lydia Castro BeaterBlade Clean Plate Club Share Our Strength | Feeding America | Hunger Free America | Food Bank Finder | Hunger Hotline | Volunteer Info The Blue Food Cookbook | Andrew Zimmern | Barton Seaver | Iain McPherson BtD Episode From Roy Panetton...

Iain McPherson is one of the most respected people in the bar world today - and his story starts in a lucid dream. He was recently named Best International Bar Mentor, while his bar took home awards for Best International Bar Team and World’s Best Cocktail Menu at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Iain has reimagined what’s possible behind the bar, pioneering...

Kevin Boehm is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Boka Restaurant Group, which has opened more than 46 restaurants over the past 30 years. In this episode, Kevin opens up about the journey behind his deeply personal new memoir, The Bottomless Cup - a story rooted in resilience, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity. We discuss his path from growing up in Springfield, IL, to living in his car in Flor...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Capon’s Chop House | Josh Capon IG   Pink Door Cookies | Matt Rice IG stevescookssomething smash dumplings IG post   Boogie Down Bronx Honey IG | Ceres Food Film Festival | Ceres IG   Kevin Boehm IG | The Bottomless Cup book  Fly Fish Club | Fly Fish IG | Papa d’A...

Ryan Chetiyawardana, known globally as Mr. Lyan, is not your average bartender - he’s a boundary-pushing innovator whose work continues to reshape how we think about food, drink, and connection. From his early days in kitchens to launching award-winning bars around the world, Ryan shares how curiosity, collaboration, and care are at the heart of everything he does. We talk about what it means to b...

Asma Khan is the chef and changemaker behind Darjeeling Express, the London restaurant powered by an all-female kitchen of home cooks. Born into Indian royalty but made to feel invisible, she rose from an uncelebrated daughter to become one of the most powerful voices in food - earning a spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and captivating millions through her Chef’s Table episode. In this e...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Abrah Bakery & Daily Bistro IG | Soloway Coffee IG Martie IG Rachael Ray IG | NYC Wine & Food Festival IG | Burger Bash One Love Community Fridge IG Siti | Franklin Barbecue | Rockman | Desnudo | KG BBQ Fritos Follow Beyond the Plate on Facebook and X . Follow Kappy on Instag...

Abe Vucekovich is one of Chicago’s most imaginative bartenders, known for bringing storytelling and creativity to his cocktails. After nearly a decade at The Violet Hour, Abe now leads the bar programs at The Meadowlark and Friends of Friends - where each menu tells a story. In this episode, he shares how his background in writing influences his approach to drink design, why collaboration fuels hi...

Gavin Kaysen is a two-time James Beard Award winner, a former Bocuse d'Or competitor, and a true force behind Minneapolis’ rising culinary scene - but his story is about far more than accolades. In this episode, Gavin opens up about his early childhood influences and how a sandwich shop taught him the power of hospitality. He shares the story of a bold cold-call to Gordon Ramsay, and lessons he le...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Rival Bros Coffee | Rival Bros ig | Jonathan Adams Maine Garum Co | Dave Arnold Beyond the Drink episode Filipino Meatball Recipe | Sarima Cafe St. Benevolence Rum IG | Innovating Health International Jake Cohen | Dinner Party Animal book Christian Petroni | Parm to Table book Beyond...

In this season's first Beyond the Drink episode, Kappy sits down with Dave Arnold - an inventor, bar owner, author, and one of the most influential figures in the modern bar world. Known for challenging conventional thinking, Dave reflects on the early days of modernist techniques and how they’ve become common practice behind bars today. From shaping how bartenders think about drinks to his role a...

Enrique Olvera is the internationally renowned chef behind Pujol, one of the world’s top restaurants. He’s widely credited with transforming the global perception of Mexican cuisine. In this episode, he shares where his love for cooking began, why simplicity in food matters, and how a conversation with a culinary historian pushed him to embrace his roots even more boldly. From engineering a mole t...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Noche Woodfired Grill & Agave Bar | Noche ig Mill Vegan Peanut Soup The Chefs’ Manifesto | Food For Climate League | hungry book | Eve Turow-Paul Beyond the Plate Season 12 Premiere with Chef Enrique Olvera (coming 9/17) F&W 2025 Best New Chefs | NY Times America’s Best Resta...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Siti | Chef Laila Bazahm WIld Blueberries ChatGPT Granola (recipe below) Have A Plant®️ | National Fruits & Veggies Month Family Style Food Festival Best Buttered Noodles Ever! ChatGPT Granola (Lemon-Blueberry) 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats ½ - 1 cup chopped nuts (almond, peca...

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment.  Links and handles mentioned in this episode: Hall Pass | Lawrence Longo | Amirah Kassem Ground Up Nut Butters Food Republic Article | Massimo Bottura’s Milk Soup Billy Zureikat | Muscular Dystrophy Association   Stoked Beekeeping Co. On the Alley Follow Beyond the Plate on Facebook and X . Follow Kappy on Instagram and X ....