Over Seasoned

Saigon, Day Three... and it's all coming together. This episode of Over Seasoned comes to you straight from the incredible Saigon Podcast Studio, where Xavier and Tony unpack their first real deep dive into Vietnam’s food culture — from tiny plastic stools and alleyway pho shops to an ambitious Michelin-star tasting menu that somehow bleeds into a full-blown waxing poetic about herbs. There’s...

This week, The Over Seasoned Crew dives headfirst into the rise, influence, and eventual backlash surrounding some of the most important restaurants in modern culinary history... from Ferran Adrià’s legendary El Bulli to René Redzepi’s global empire of fermentation and foraging at Noma. What started as innovation eventually became imitation, and the guys unpack how molecular gastronomy, Nordic cui...

We're tuning in from Saigon after two bowls of pho, one too many iced coffees, and a full-on battle with Vietnam heat and humidity. What starts as a conversation about linen shirts and hotel laundry somehow turns into an unexpectedly deep dive into sardine fasts, shrimp tail psychology, proper s’mores etiquette, and the strange comfort of eating the same thing every day. Along the way you'...

Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio, this OverSeasoned Podcast episode starts in Los Angeles and ends somewhere between jet lag, Vietnamese coffee, and figuring out how many bowls of pho is too many. It kicks off with a $500 dinner at Capo in Santa Monica (think: porterhouse, grilled calamari, Burgundy by the glass) and turns into a bigger conversation about what actually makes a restaurant worth it...

If we’ve learned one thing from our first day in Saigon… it’s that you don’t ease into Saigon.  You land, you blink, and suddenly you’re eating pho for breakfast, moving amongst the fluid dynamics of motorbikes, and watching someone casually break down a pig’s snout in an alley like it’s just another Tuesday. This is our first 24 hours in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), recorded straight out of Saigon...

Winter’s fading, grills are coming out of hibernation, and we are officially back in our element. In this episode of the OverSeasoned Podcast, we bounce from snowstorm war stories and restaurant hangover survival tactics to the real topic at hand: gearing up for grilling season. What starts as a conversation about charcoal vs. gas quickly turns into a deep dive on fire-starting techniques, wood ch...

In this episode of the Over Seasoned podcast, the crew records at Icon Studios in Atlanta and dives into wild food travel stories from Thailand and Mexico. From spice levels that hit way harder than expected, to dispensary-fueled eating sprees, bathroom survival strategies, and what not to order on travel days, this episode is a brutally honest look at the risks of culinary adventure. The guys als...

In this episode of OverSeasoned, the crew dives headfirst into a full-blown pho obsession after discovering unforgettable Vietnamese soup in Manila and Thailand. What starts as travel food fatigue turns into a deep appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine, broth culture, and the subtle differences between Northern pho vs Southern pho. They debate the Michelin Guide’s impact on restaurants, why Bib Gour...

In this festive episode of the Overseasoned podcast, we broadcast from Manila (where Christmas starts in September) and break down our ultimate holiday gift guide for chefs, food lovers, and every pain-in-the-ass restaurant person in your life. From handcrafted Feder Knives, to Spanish olive oils and high-end coffee grinders, we run through the kitchen gear, pantry staples, and big-ticket splurges...

This week on the OverSeasoned Podcast, we turn a derailed Vietnam trip into a full-blown deep dive into one of America’s greatest culinary treasures: beef jerky. We exchange our visa drama saltiness for the saltiness that REALLY matters. Join us as we revel in the treasures of the upstate NY gem, Barb’s Butchery, where Xavier recounts his near-spiritual experience. Add in homemade childhood jerky...

This week, the OverSeasoned Podcast crew goes all-in on the one thing the food world won’t shut up about: Michelin stars. From Manila’s first-ever Michelin Guide debut to Philadelphia finally getting recognized (after Tampa… seriously?), we break down how the star system actually works (and why the hype so often misses the mark). Why can’t a “special journey” can’t just mean driving two hours for...

This week on the OverSeasoned Podcast, we dive headfirst into the real heart of Thanksgiving cooking: from whipping up the perfect mashed potatoes (butter AND milk?!) to navigating the never-ending debate over stuffing. The OS Crew breaks down essential recipes and reveals the culinary tips that make hosting (even for just two people) feel doable (maybe save the stuffing for Christmas?). Tune in f...

Fresh off an Argentina meat marathon, Xavier lands in Sarasota craving seafood and heads straight to Walt’s for a stone-crab-powered homecoming. From condiment debates to Manila’s Farmer Sanchez adding unexpected pizzazz to pizza, the OverSeasoned guys riff on food, culture, and identity… plus the gospel of Wednesday/Sunday asados, hunting for the perfect strawberry, and why fruterías, giant charc...

Join the OverSeasoned crew this week as we cover the dynamics of tourist trap dining, FOH diplomacy & youthful diners, and the growing disparity between quality of experience and price of the meal.

This week on the OverSeasoned Podcast, we turn a derailed Vietnam trip into a full-blown deep dive into one of America’s greatest culinary treasures: beef jerky. We exchange our visa drama saltiness for the saltiness that REALLY matters. Join us as we revel in the treasures of the upstate NY gem, Barb’s Butchery, where Xavier recounts his near-spiritual experience. Add in homemade childhood jerky...

X takes us on a humorous journey through beef temp diplomacy at his recent visit to Madre Rojas in Buenos Aires. What do you do when the Chef says “no” to your order request? To you succumb? Do you pivot? Do you stand your ground? Join the convo this week on the OverSeasoned Podcast!

Join the OverSeasoned crew as we dive into the gray area between culinary inspiration and straight-up recipe theft. From Sarasota shrimp cocktails that feel a little TOO familiar to a restaurant boldly serving “Nobu’s” new style sashimi that Nobu himself wouldn’t recognize... we unpack where homage ends and imitation begins. (It's the sincerest form of flattery, right?) These are our hot takes on...

Welcome to a special episode with our first Overseasoned Podcast guest since the pandemic, Geoff Feder of Feder Knives. Yes, we talk knives... but it's so much more than that. You can expect a entertaining rundown of the Triple P's: Patina, Pineapple, Paella. You won't want to miss this one. There may or may not be a special giveaway involved...

A hot topic at the most recent NRA (National Restaurant Association) in Chicago was the future of robotics in the service industry. Where are they acceptable? How feasible is it to incorporate into everyday service? Does this detract from the human aspect we cherish about hospitality? Tune in as we discuss and debate all things robotics!

We had the incredible pleasure of not only dining at Carmen in Medellin, but meeting with Carmen the brilliant restaurateur herself. Stick with us as we delve into the beauty of Colombian food, culture, and hospitality... made all the more dynamic because of our experience at Carmen, with Carmen.

Restaurant Openings are a true labor of love (or maybe it's straight up masochistic behavior?). Regardless, it's something that will happen again and again... and there will always be something to treasure about birthing a new establishment, a new concept... join us as we revel in the trials and tribulations of restaurant inception. 

It might be just a tube in the sky, but why not still have a focal point of pride with the hospitality? This week, we delve into what's wow-ed us in terms of airline hospitality—everything from the "wow! there are multiple champagne options with real glassware!" to the "wow! these corn nuts expired 3 years ago but I guess I am grateful to be offered anything at all!" We hop...

Join us as we deep dive into the dishes we hold near and dear to our hearts... because they are prepared with a mother's love. Some may surprise, some might really hit home. Either way, it's a fun one! We love you, Moms!

Join us as we explore the almost-liminal space when shifting into the early spring season—the menu changes, the beverage choices, and the overall spirit that goes into the primavera attitude of the culinary world. 

POV: You wake up in a Zombie AI Apocalypse and have to go back to the most recent job you had in hospitality––what decisions do you make?