The Chef JKP Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco welcomes Emma Banks, Vice President of Food and Beverage Strategy and Development for Hilton EMEA. Emma shares her incredible journey from her early days in Asia to becoming a driving force in one of the world's leading hospitality companies. Here’s what we covered: 👨‍🍳Hospitality leadership: Insights into Emma’...

Send us Fan Mail It’s a special festive episode of the Chef JKP Podcast! James Knight-Paccheco spreads the holiday cheer as we celebrate the podcast’s new availability on YouTube and welcome special guests Courtney Brandt and Liam Collens for a lively discussion about what’s next in the culinary world.  With gifts exchanged, festive vibes in the air, and plenty of laughter, this episode dives into...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Sandy Muirhead, Director of No More Bottles, to discuss the pressing issue of plastic waste and its impact on sustainability.  From Sandy’s roots in Scotland to leading a mission for conscious water consumption in the Middle East, this episode dives into how No More Bottles is revolutionizing the way we...

Send us Fan Mail In the new episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco welcomes the power duo behind Bangkok’s legendary Bo. Lan, Chef Bo and Chef Dylan Jones. Together, they share their extraordinary culinary journey, from their humble beginnings to becoming trailblazers in safeguarding Thai culinary traditions. Tune in to hear about: 👨‍🍳Meeting under David Thompson: How their...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Daniel Birk, Executive Chef of Row on 45 and City Social, to explore his extraordinary culinary journey. From early food memories to leading Michelin-starred kitchens in Dubai, Daniel shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career. We talk about: 👨‍🍳 Humble beginnings: Daniel recalls his childh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the ChefJKP Podcast for an exciting Season 8!  This season, host James Knight-Paccheco continues to serve up culinary inspiration, featuring remarkable guests who share their food journeys, career highs and lows, and advice for thriving in the food industry. What’s new this season? 👨‍🍳New studio: Season 8 kicks off from a brand-new studio setting, bringing a refr...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the ChefJKP Podcast for an exciting Season 8! This season, host James Knight-Paccheco continues to serve up culinary inspiration, featuring remarkable guests who share their food journeys, career highs and lows, and advice for thriving in the food industry. What’s new this season?👨‍🍳New studio: Season 8 kicks off from a brand-new studio setting, bringing a refres...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of the ChefJKP Podcast season 7, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Reim El Houni - a veteran in the world of television and media.  Reem shares her fascinating journey, from discovering her passion for television at a young age to founding her own successful production company, TI22 Films.  Throughout the discussion, Reim emphasises the importance of...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of the ChefJKP Podcast season 7, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Reim El Houni - a veteran in the world of television and media. Reem shares her fascinating journey, from discovering her passion for television at a young age to founding her own successful production company, TI22 Films. Throughout the discussion, Reim emphasises the importance of pe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, Shaw Lash, the chef and founder of Lila Taqueria, shares her culinary journey, starting from her childhood memories of Mexican cuisine to her professional experiences working with renowned chefs.  Throughout the episode, Shaw discusses the intricacies of Mexican cuisine, dives into her transition from being a chef to a culinary producer and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, Shaw Lash, the chef and founder of Lila Taqueria, shares her culinary journey, starting from her childhood memories of Mexican cuisine to her professional experiences working with renowned chefs. Throughout the episode, Shaw discusses the intricacies of Mexican cuisine, dives into her transition from being a chef to a culinary producer and t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, founder of Aroma Di Olio Magdalena Orzechowska, shares her incredible journey from a corporate career to becoming a health advocate and olive oil expert after a life-changing cancer diagnosis.  She discusses the intricacies of running an olive oil business, provides tips on choosing the best extra virgin olive oils, and shares her passion fo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, founder of Aroma Di Olio Magdalena Orzechowska, shares her incredible journey from a corporate career to becoming a health advocate and olive oil expert after a life-changing cancer diagnosis. She discusses the intricacies of running an olive oil business, provides tips on choosing the best extra virgin olive oils, and shares her passion for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Alex Augusti, the food blogger and influencer behind the popular Instagram account JustFoodDXB.  Alex shares his journey from working in restaurants as a teenager to building a successful food content business in Dubai.  Key Topics Discussed: Alex's childhood food memories growing up in Cyprus w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, we delve into the inspiring and challenging journey of Prachi Kulkarni, a highly trained and qualified chef who has overcome cancer.  The episode begins with Prachi sharing her childhood food memories and her transition into the culinary world.  She recounts her experience working in various kitchens, including a detailed exploration of her...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Chef Kyung Soo Moon shares with the podcast his incredible journey from wanting to be a policeman as a child to becoming one of the top chefs in the Middle East.  He discusses his early passion for food, learning Japanese cuisine, and the challenges he faced breaking into the industry. Chef Moon also talks about his experiences working in iconic hotels like the Bu...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply heartfelt episode, Chef James Knight Pachecco celebrates the life and legacy of the late Chef Greg Malouf, a true pioneer in modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Over the weekend, the culinary world lost an icon, and in this special tribute, Chef James reflects on the incredible impact Greg had on chefs and food lovers around the globe. From his co-authorship of eight inf...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply heartfelt episode, Chef James Knight Pachecco celebrates the life and legacy of the late Chef Greg Malouf, a true pioneer in modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Over the weekend, the culinary world lost an icon, and in this special tribute, Chef James reflects on the incredible impact Greg had on chefs and food lovers around the globe. From his co-authorship of eight inf...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Michelle Johnson, the co-founder and managing partner of the award-winning Pitfire Pizza brand.  Michelle shares the incredible journey of how she and her husband Bill turned their pizza passion into a thriving business, overcoming challenges and building a beloved brand in the Middle East. Key Topics Discussed: Growing up i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, David Tapley, the Editor-in-Chief of Fact Magazine, shares about his urban lifestyle magazine covering food, art, culture, and travel across the GCC region.  Prior to his role at Fact, David had an unconventional path into media, starting out working in professional kitchens before transitioning into journalism and content creation.  Key Top...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco interviews Chef Marwan Sardouk, a culinary expert with experience working for renowned chefs like Alain Ducasse and Heinz Beck.  Marwan shares his journey from working in the streets of Lebanon at a young age to becoming a corporate chef in Dubai.  Key Topics Discussed: Cooking and working at a young age to support...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco interviews Luigi Vespero, an award-winning hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in culinary and hospitality. Luigi shares his journey from Naples to working in top Michelin-starred kitchens in London, including Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's and The Wolseley. He discusses his passion for cook...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the ChefJKP Podcast, Mihai Florescu, the co-founder of Truffle House Dubai, delves into the world of truffles, exploring the intricacies of sourcing, quality, and the unique experience Truffle House offers to its customers.  Mihai shared his journey from the aviation industry to the world of truffles, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit and passion that driv...

Send us Fan Mail In this season premiere of the ChefJKP podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco welcomes a stellar lineup of culinary talents and gastronomic masterminds from the Middle East region.  The guests share their personal and professional journeys, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of working in the hospitality industry. As always, it is customary for James to kick off  the...

Send us Fan Mail In the final episode of season 6 of the Chef JKP podcast, we talk to one of the leading sustainability figures in the region!  Omar Shihab discusses the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. The conversation covers running a restaurant on 100% renewable energy, modern Spanish cuisine, and innovative food sourcing.  Topics discussed: ·    Sustainability Practice...