The Chef JKP Podcast

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two of the world’s most creative chefs meet in the halls of the Louvre? They’ve cooked for royals, redefined fine dining, and now - they’re reimagining chocolate. Join in the conversation with two luminaries of the culinary world: Chef Carmen Rueda Hernandez, recently honored as MENA's Best Pastry Chef 2025 by the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Bes...

Send us Fan Mail Host James Knight-Paccheco takes listeners on a rich, multi-sensory journey into the world of fine chocolate in partnership with Valrhona and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The episode spotlights Le Fil Rouge, a one-of-a-kind event uniting over 250 chefs, artists, and visionaries from around the globe! This episode’s guest Olivier Morel, Chief Business Officer at Valrhona, shares insights...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when chocolate, culture, and craftsmanship come together? In this special edition of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco shares the 2nd episode of a special series with Valrhona, one of the world’s most prestigious chocolate makers. This episode highlights a collaboration between Valrhona and Louvre Abu Dhabi, exploring how fine chocolate is both an art f...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a special edition of the Chef JKP Podcast! In this special edition of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Chef Brice Konan-Ferrand, a renowned chocolatier and pastry chef who has worked around the globe. Chef Brice shares his inspiring culinary journey, from training in France and working in various kitchens worldwide to specialising in choco...

Send us Fan Mail What if success isn’t something you chase, but something you prepare from within? Before the coaching empire, wellness retreats, and global stages, Regan Hillyer was stuck in burnout, fear, debt, and disconnection. In this season finale of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco unpacks Regan’s journey from breakdown to breakthrough, and how she built a worldwide business...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two visionaries join forces ? In this extraordinary episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco welcomes Chef Torsten Vildgaard (formerly of Noma) and iconic Chef Björn Frantzén, both globally acclaimed for redefining modern gastronomy. Now leading the charge at FZN at Atlantis, The Palm, they’re reshaping fine dining in the Middle East. The conve...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead a world-class kitchen rooted in fire and flavour? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Chef Jack Jarrott, the driving force behind Sand and Koal at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Jack takes us on a raw and honest journey through his career - from growing up in Australia to mastering open-fire cooking in London...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build a cult-favourite pizza bakery from scratch? We’re already at the Episode 9 from Season 9 of the show, and this time James Knight-Paccheco welcomes the passionate and resilient Raj Dagstani, founder of multi winning Marmellata Pizzeria. Raj shares his remarkable journey from early food memories to creating one of the United Arab Emirates most beloved pizz...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when comfort food meets the desert? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with the inspiring and outspoken Chef Troy Payne for a deep, personal, and unfiltered conversation. From his Melbourne food roots to launching Craft by Side Hustle, the first brewery concept in the MENA region, Troy opens up about the highs and lows of his...

Send us Fan Mail Can hospitality thrive without mental wellness? In this very special live episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Scott Armstrong, journalist-turned-mental-health-advocate and founder of MENTL, to have an unfiltered, honest conversation about the state of mental health in the workplace - particularly in high-pressure industries like hospitality. This...

Send us Fan Mail Is your lifestyle helping or hurting your performance in the kitchen? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco welcomes Michael Canas, a transformation coach with a passion for helping people in demanding careers - like hospitality - take back control of their health. From sleep and cravings to nutrition, alcohol, stress, and the power of small, consiste...

Send us Fan Mail How do you turn a single restaurant into a globally recognised dining group? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Natasha Sideris, founder and CEO of the Tashas Group, for an inspiring and candid conversation about her journey from family-run kitchens to launching standout brands like Flamingo Room, Galaxy Bar, and her latest concept, Nala....

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to write about food in one of the world’s most dynamic culinary cities? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Pallavi Sangtani, acclaimed food and travel writer, to explore the ever-evolving dining landscape of Dubai and beyond. From fine dining to street eats, Pallavi shares her unique perspective on what makes the ci...

Send us Fan Mail Is the hospitality industry facing a mental health crisis? 🧠 In this powerful episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with clinical psychologists Dr Bisi Laniyan and Dr Gurveen Ranger of Sage Clinics to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the industry - mental health. From stress and anxiety to burnout and depression, this episode provides practical t...

Send us Fan Mail What really goes into ranking the world’s best restaurants? James Knight-Paccheco sits down with William Drew, Director of Content for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, to pull back the curtain on the prestigious list that shapes the global dining scene. From the secrecy behind the voting process to the evolution of kitchen culture, William shares insider insights on what makes a r...

Send us Fan Mail Season 9 is here! 🎉 And this time, we’re diving deep into wellbeing in the hospitality industry, as we all know it can be a tough place to be. James Knight-Paccheco returns with a season dedicated to the real struggles and challenges faced by chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals, featuring raw, honest conversations with inspiring guests. This season isn’t just abou...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨The Season 8 Finale is here! And we’re closing it out with an absolute legend in the world of gastronomy - Chef Pierre Koffmann. In this special episode, James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Pierre and his brother-in-law Simon for an unforgettable conversation that dives deep into the career of one of the most influential chefs of our time. From shaping the golden age of fine dini...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨The Season 8 Finale is here!  And we’re closing it out with an absolute legend in the world of gastronomy - Chef Pierre Koffmann.  In this special episode, James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Pierre and his brother-in-law Simon for an unforgettable conversation that dives deep into the career of one of the most influential chefs of our time. From shaping the golden age of fine di...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco chats with Neha Mishra, the trailblazing chef and founder of Kinoya, one of Dubai’s most celebrated culinary destinations.  Neha opens up about her unique journey - from an independent upbringing and diverse career paths to discovering her passion for ramen and transforming it into an international phenomenon. Tune in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco chats with Neha Mishra, the trailblazing chef and founder of Kinoya, one of Dubai’s most celebrated culinary destinations. Neha opens up about her unique journey - from an independent upbringing and diverse career paths to discovering her passion for ramen and transforming it into an international phenomenon. Tune in t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Pacheco welcomes Doxis Bekris, Vice President of Culinary Shared Services and Concept Development at Emirates Flight Catering, for an in-depth conversation about the fascinating world of in-flight culinary operations.  From his childhood in Greece to leading one of the world’s largest catering services, Doxis shares his journey...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Pacheco welcomes Doxis Bekris, Vice President of Culinary Shared Services and Concept Development at Emirates Flight Catering, for an in-depth conversation about the fascinating world of in-flight culinary operations. From his childhood in Greece to leading one of the world’s largest catering services, Doxis shares his journey...

Send us Fan Mail In this milestone 100th episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight Paccheco reflects on the incredible journey since the podcast's inception in May 2020! JKP explores memorable moments from past episodes with renowned chefs, CEOs, and media personalities. The episode is a celebration of the culinary industry's vibrant stories and a look forward to many more episo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Fay Economides, Executive Managing Director of M Management Company, to discuss her extraordinary journey from the world of finance to becoming a leading restaurateur in Dubai.  Fay shares her inspiring story, from growing up in Athens with a love for food to opening two of Dubai’s most celebrated restau...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Carmen Landsberg, Global Executive Chef of Brunch & Cake, to explore her extraordinary culinary journey. From helping her mom in the kitchen as a child in South Africa to navigating the high-stakes world of casino kitchens and leading an internationally recognized brand, Carmen shares the highs, lows...