Food Network Obsessed

Chef JJ Johnson shares how his family nurtured his passion for food and why he decided to pursue culinary school. JJ talks about his time studying in Ghana and falling in love with West African cuisine. He shares his affection for rice and why you can explore most every culture through their rice dishes. JJ explains why he wants to become the Michael Jordan of the culinary world and what it means...

Chef Rocco DiSpirito reminisces on his time as an executive chef in the early nineties and how reviews and critics could make or break an establishment. Rocco talks about how social media has leveled the restaurant review playing field and how the New York City food landscape has evolved over the past few decades. He talks about his early food memories and the honest, hardworking upbringing with h...

Michelin-trained chef turned TikTok sensation, Poppy O’Toole opens up about her rise to viral fame and how her decision to move back in with her parents during the pandemic inspired her to pivot career paths. The “Potato Queen” details her decade-long culinary ascension from making tea in a retirement home to working in a pub, that eventually led her to become a junior sous chef at a Michelin star...

NFL retiree Vince Wilfork talks about why he loves retirement and how he spends most of his time lately. He reveals what it was like to work with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and the surreal moment he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. As a Floridian, Vince sets the record straight of whether Florida should be considered “southern” and the meals he loves to cook for his family. Vince aff...

Two-time Chopped champion, chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur Kathy Fang reveals all of her thoughts behind her new reality show, Chef Dynasty: House of Fang. The quiet competitor unpacks why growing up in her family’s booming San Francisco restaurant left her hungry for a different lifestyle, driving her brief pursuit of 9 to 5 office jobs. She explains how her love for connecting with people th...

It's chocolate day at the lodge and Ree has challenged herself to shake up three great knock-it-out-of-the-park, impressive chocolate recipes for the blog. The kids can't wait to turn taste testers; it's a cook's kid's best perk. Below are the recipes used in today’s episode: Chocolate Cookies with Dipping Bar: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chocolate-cookies-with-dipping-bar-rec...

While Food Network Obsessed is off for the holidays, we're leaving you with an episode of The Pioneer Woman with Ree Drummond.  This episode called Christmas is Coming. Follow The Pioneer Woman wherever you get your podcasts.  Everyone's invited to the ranch as the Drummonds count down to Christmas. Ree Drummond's whipping up Rigatoni and Meatballs to eat while they trim the tree, then making her...

Actor Tiya Sircar shares stories from her recent travels in Peru, what she checked off of her bucket list and the most incredible food she experienced. Tiya talks about her family’s uplifting Diwali celebrations and how her Indian heritage shaped her perspective as a kid growing up in Texas. She describes her journey to becoming a performer and how Indian representation in the entertainment indust...

Chef Leah Cohen shares the heartwarming story of how Bobby Flay helped jumpstart her cookbook. She talks about how her parent’s diverse backgrounds influenced her initial food passions and her deep dive into Italian cuisine. Leah talks about what it means to find your authentic path in the culinary world and why she decided to move to Southeast Asia and falling in love with Thai culture and food....

Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo shares how her family reacted to her skyrocketing to international fame and her advice for how to respond to naysayers in your life. She reveals the famous fellow gym member who helped jumpstart her family reality show and what element of her family life is the scariest to share. Olivia talks about being the middle child and how the one bumper sticker on her mom’s...

Former professional athlete and television host Jesse Palmer reminisces with Jaymee about their days together on ESPN and what his work schedule looks like nowadays. He talks about why The Bachelor is still a pop culture phenomenon and what is most surprising about the process of filming the reality show. Jesse talks about his obsession with football from an early age and what it felt like to hear...

HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier share their thoughts on how food makes a place feel like home and some of their favorite household meals. They talk about the most important thing to keep in mind when they are renovating kitchens on their show Home Town and some clever kitchen updates they absolutely love. Ben and Erin dive into the reason they bought a farmhouse outside of the city of Laurel and wh...

Host of Man v. Food, Casey Webb, shares what it was like to live and work on the Jersey Shore and how that slice of the country tends to get misrepresented. Casey talks about the quintessential Jersey foods he loves, how he found himself in a position to audition for the iconic Man v. Food show and how he actually secured the gig. He reveals what the shooting schedule on the show is like and how h...

Television veteran and host of Halloween Baking Championship, John Henson, talks about how being the youngest of a family of boys shaped his path to comedy and the origin story of his nickname, “Skunk Boy.” He shares some moments that have defined his career over the past three decades and his perspective on his responsibilities as a host. John talks about the immersive environment of the Hallowee...

Chef Michael Voltaggio reveals what foods he flew in for his most recent birthday celebration and what his forties have looked like so far. He talks about what he learned having to support himself in high school while working at a Holiday Inn and why he always perceives challenges as opportunities. After three decades, Michael reveals why he fell in love with the industry and how he continues to s...

Professional sculptor and judge of Outrageous Pumpkins, Paul Dever, shares how his passion for sculpting began and what landed him on Outrageous Pumpkins as a contestant. Paul talks about what it felt like to win the show after being a fan and his thoughts on coming back as a judge. He reveals what other vegetables he practices on when pumpkins aren’t in season and how he prepared for competition....

Celebrity chef and Food Network fixture Bobby Flay catches up with Jaymee as they reminisce on how they first met during an episode of SportsCenter and how Bobby supported Jaymee during her transition to food media. Bobby gives the latest update on his two beloved cats, Nacho and Stella, and who started the Maine Coon trend among the Food Network stars. Bobby shares the memories of when he first h...

Chef and influencer Tway Nguyen reveals the unlikely inspiration behind her handle, @TwayDaBae, and gives her best advice for getting training in the industry. Tway talks about the Vietnamese foods that should get more of the spotlight before sharing her experience moving to the United States at just 8 years old. She reveals the television shows that helped her learn conversational English and why...

Chef Tiffany Derry shares her lively upbringing with over 50 cousins and how this abundant family dynamic shaped who she is. Tiffany reminisces on her childhood on a farm and the passion for cooking and preparing food that her grandmother instilled in her. She talks about how being up close and personal with growing her own food provided her with a unique perspective on food waste and shares the v...

Ned and Zach from The Try Guys talk about how their wildly popular channel began and the process of creating entertaining content that explores other peoples’ passions and experiences. They discuss trial, failure and getting comfortable with the unknown and reveal the videos that genuinely changed their perspective. Ned and Zach share what baking show inspired their Without a Recipe series and the...

Content creator Vivan Aronson, also known as @CookingBomb, talks about the first twenty-seven years of her life in Chengdu, China and the most memorable dishes she cooked with her grandmother who raised her. She talks about adjusting to life in the states and what soapy show she watched to learn conversational English. Vivian shares the reason she posted her first cooking video and how she manages...

Pastry chef Zoë François reveals what it was like to grow up on a commune in the sixties and how formative the experience was to her personal food philosophy. She shares the lie her parents told her about raisins and the packaged snack that opened her eyes to a world of sweet possibilities. Zoë affectionately talks about the value of knowing where food comes from and the effort it takes to make it...

Tabitha Brown talks about why she wanted to be considered “America’s Mom” and what the title means to her. She talks about how striving to manage health issues and chronic pain led her to pursue a vegan lifestyle and the ways it has improved her quality of life and perspective. Tabitha reveals her family’s favorite plant-based dinner and some of her go-to vegan substitutes. She talks about her new...

Internet sensation Dan Pelosi shares the story behind his digital identity, GrossyPelosi, and his journey from the fashion industry to full-time food influencer and blogger. Dan shares how he brings his unique perspective and family traditions to the table with his annual holiday cookie party and why his 2019 gathering was so pivotal. He describes why the pandemic and renewed focus on home cooking...

Creator of the New York City and South Beach Wine and Food Festivals, Lee Schrager, shares the humble beginnings of the festival, which started as a fundraiser, and his favorite festival event today. He talks about his commitment to producing a quality event and showcasing promising, upcoming talent within the food space. Lee shares what separates his events from the rest and how the philanthropic...