Shows
Houston News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!Houston's 2025: Top Stories, Debates & TriumphsHoustonia Magazines Top Stories of 2025: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and CreativityThe year 2025 was a mix of growth, challenges, and creativity for Houston, as highlighted by Houstonia magazines most-read pieces. The debate over what to call the bustling Asian business strip along Bellaire Boulevard was a hot topic, with readers weighing in on whether its Chinatown, Asiatown, or something else. Houston chef Tristen Epps made headlines by winning Top Chef after starting out at McDonalds and Applebees.Literacy was a significant issue, with one in three adults in Harris County struggling with reading. Groups like Book Cycle and Class Bookstore...
2025-12-3101 min
What's Eric EatingEpisode 496 - Top Chef Winner Tristen Epps of BuboyToday on the podcast Eric is joined by Tristen Epps of Buboy. Tristen speaks with Eric about how scrambled eggs and Japanese TV set him on a path towards being a chef, his initial stint in Houston, why he decided on Houston for his big city experience, meeting/working with Marcus Samuelsson, pushing the idea of what really is fine dining cuisine, winning Top Chef: Destination Canada, why now was the right time for him to go on Top Chef, how the show has evolved to showcasing your food within the parameters of the different challenges, why the cooking is...
2025-09-1842 min
Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram7: Go to the Grocery Store: On Creativity, Trust, and AuthenticityIn this episode of Wrecked by Art, I share how chef Tristen Epps’ win on Top Chef Canada became a powerful metaphor for the creative process. We talk about what it means to create from authenticity, how to keep going when you don’t know what you’re making yet, and why knowing yourself is the foundation of creative expression. Whether you’re blocked, burnt out, or just craving more depth in your art, this episode is for you.What I Talk About in This Episode:Why I love competition shows where people create with passion...
2025-09-1228 min
All in the Industry"On the Road" at the 2025 James Beard Awards, ChicagoToday on our episode #418 of All in the Industry, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show from the 2025 James Beard Restaurant & Chef Awards, which took place on Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in Chicago, IL. This was Shari's 5th year covering the awards on the red carpet, & she has exclusive interviews with presenters, nominees & winners, along with video coverage, including David Bowen, Toni Tipton-Martin (Lifetime Achievement Award), Junghyun “JP” Park & Ellia Park (Outstanding Hospitality), CEO Clare Reichenbach, Nyesha Arrington, Rick Bayless, Amanda Shulman, Dale DeGroff, Sarah Thompson, Dan Richer, Tristen Epps, Chad Williams, Sherry Yard, Ma...
2025-09-041h 40
City Cast HoustonWhere To Go for Houston’s Best Caribbean FoodHouston’s Caribbean population is small, but is making a huge impact on the culinary scene. On today’s show, host Raheel Ramzanali is talking to James Beard Award-winning food and travel journalist and Senior Editor at eater, Kayla Stewart about where to go to get the best Caribbean food in H-Town. From classics like jerk chicken to fusion dishes blending Houston influences with island vibes, these spots are definitely worth checking out.
Places we talked about on today’s show:
Taste of the Caribbean
Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill
Jamaica Pon di Road
Val’s Jerk Pan
700 I...
2025-08-2725 min
Biscuits & JamTexas Chef Tristen Epps Wants His Guests to Have an "Aha" MomentChef Tristen Epps, who just won Season 22 of Bravo’s Top Chef, grew up the son of a single mom who was a JAG, a lawyer with the military. That meant he moved about 16 times before the end of high school—from Guam to the Philippines—and was exposed to a wide range of cuisines from a young age. His travel background, along with family roots in Trinidad, led to a deep appreciation for food and cooking, and also a desire to both celebrate and elevate Afro-Caribbean cuisine. Now, on the tail of his high profile Top Chef win, he’s o...
2025-08-1240 min
Pack Your KnivesTop Chef Reigning Champion Tristen EppsMaking his highly-anticipated debut on Pack Your Knives, Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps talks to Tom Haberstroh about his epic performance on Top Chef and why the Afro-Caribbean chef is jealous about the upcoming Top Chef Carolinas.
The globetrotter explains what Top Chef greatness looks like, sets the record straight on the supposed Massimo beef (?) and what he envisions for his new restaurant Buboy in Houston.
The Charlotte Johnson & Wales graduate also reveals the one former Top Chef that he wants to challenge on a Top Chef All-Stars season and trashes Tom and Eric A...
2025-08-081h 18
Tinfoil SwansTristen Epps and the Scrambled Egg RevelationGrowing up in a military family, Tristen Epps moved around a lot. But no matter where he was living, Friday nights were sacred. He got to dress up, go to a restaurant, not order from a kids menu, and feel like he was getting to know the place he was living — for now. At home, when his mom taught him to scramble an egg, he was mesmerized by the alchemy; one simple ingredient could transform into so many things. It's that wonder and curiosity that transformed him into the leader, visionary, and Top Chef winner he is today. He jo...
2025-07-2956 minPack Your KnivesSeason 23 Location Announcement!Tom Haberstroh is over the moon upon discovering that Top Chef Season 23 will be filmed in his own backyard!
On Wednesday, it was announced that “Top Chef Carolinas” will have Charlotte, NC as the hub city. Tom sheds light on Charlotte ties to Top Chef alums Tristen Epps, Sara Bradley, Jamie Lynch, Sam Talbot and Eric Adjepong.
Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/
Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube!
Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives
COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2025-07-2319 min
Eat Your Content090. Top Chef Season 22 Bonus: Interview with Chef Tristen EppsWhat does legacy taste like? For Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps, it’s bold, layered, unapologetic—and deeply personal.In this episode of Eat Your Content, I sit down with the chef who not only dominated the competition with the most wins in the season’s history but used every plate as a platform. Chef Tristen breaks down his philosophy of "uncolonizing cuisine," and how he’s flipping the script on what fine dining should look like.We dive deep into:The cultural power behind his signature oxtail Milanese dish and why it brought...
2025-07-0731 minWhat's Eric EatingEpisode 474 - King SteakEric's back! Today he's joined by Chelsea Thomas to go through the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The duo discuss chef Thomas Bille winning Best Chef Texas at this year's James Beard Awards, Tristen Epps winning Top Chef, and Austin based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group coming to Houston after claiming a space in Autry Park. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, King Steak is featured.
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:
I...
2025-07-0152 minEat Your Content088. Top Chef Season 22 Bonus: Interview with Chef Massimo PiedimonteMassimo Piedimonte Wants Redemption—and He’s Coming for Top Chef All-Stars!Chef Massimo Piedimonte came into Top Chef Season 22 like a lightning bolt—loud, passionate, and impossible to ignore. He represented Canada with swagger, plated food with purpose, and gave us one of the most memorable front-of-house performances in Restaurant Wars history. But just one step before the finale in Milan, it all ended. A bannock cracker—disconnected, they said—sent him home.In this candid interview, Massimo opens up about what that moment really felt like. He talks about being haunted by “almost...
2025-06-2352 min
Compliments to the ChefSecond Helping Week 14 - w/ Season 22 WINNER!Top Chef Season 22 Winner Tristen Epps-Long joins the pod for a well-earned victory lap! Tune in to this post-finale catch up with the newest member of the Top Chef winner's circle.
2025-06-1314 min
Chefs Without RestaurantsTristen Epps Talks Top Chef, Cultural Cuisine and Finding His Culinary VoiceWant the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter.Today on Chefs Without Restaurants, I speak with Chef Tristen Epps, a Season 22 finalist on Top Chef and a James Beard–recognized chef. From his Trinidadian heritage to a globe-trotting childhood in Guam, Japan, and the Philippines, Tristen’s culinary path was built on a foundation of cultural diversity and bold flavor. He’s a Johnson & Wales graduate, completed the rigorous Greenbrier apprenticeship under Chef Richard Rosendale, and worked closely with Marcus Samuelsson, who became both a professional and personal mentor. Our c...
2025-06-131h 02
Audio #Content ReportA Brief Chat with This Season's Top Chef FinalistsThis past week I was offered the opportunity to speak with this season’s Top Chef finalists — Bailey Sullivan, Shuai Wang, and Tristen Epps. This being The #Content Report, I’m always loathe to turn down an opportunity for #content, so I said yes. I don’t generally love interviewing more than one person at a time, which makes it harder to have a natural conversation, but I figured it would be nice to have some additional Top Chef material leading up to this week’s finale. The #Content Report, By Vince Mancini is a reader-s...
2025-06-1210 min
Compliments to the ChefBonus Interview - Bailey Sullivan, Shuai Wang, Tristen EppsHappy Top Chef finale day to those who celebrate!!! We have all three finalists on the pod today for a quick pregame for tonight's episode. Tune in to hear Bailey, Tristen and Shuai talk about their headspace going into the last cook of the season.
2025-06-1110 minPack Your KnivesS22 Ep 9: Cooking on the Edge with Buddha LoBuddha, Kevin and Tom oh my! Back for more, Kevin Arnovitz returns to the stage with Tom Haberstroh to flex their mussels and talk Top Chef post-Restaurant Wars.With no more immunity on the table, they discuss the reintroduction of last year’s rule that Quickfires are now part of judges table.Plus, Buddha Lo joins the show to share insights from his high seat at judge’s table in Toronto. After gushing about a flawless salmon Wellington, the two-time champ is asked to compare his game to Tristen Epps and the shared experience of losing a fath...
2025-05-091h 29Pack Your KnivesS22 Ep 8: Restaurant WarsRestaurant Wars is here and so is Kevin Arnovitz!
With Eric Adjepong on film leave, Arnovitz steps back into the chair to break down an emotional and tragic Restaurant Wars episode and offer his big-picture thoughts on the Destination Canada season as a whole.
Where is Tristen Epps in the pantheon? When did the losing team squander their moment? What's the best way to eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch? And which Atlanta Braves pitcher does Lana remind us of? All that and more on a PYK reunion episode.
Subscribe to the...
2025-05-021h 36What's Eric EatingEpisode 445 - Mexican Sugar and Killen's SteakhouseThe Swanky Maven returns! Felice Sloan joins Eric to discuss the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Money Cat and chef Tristen Epps' ongoing pop-up series at Jūn as part of the opening of BuBoy. In the Restaurants of the Week section, Mexican Sugar and Killen's Steakhouse are featured. Plus, Felice gives what would have been her date night draft selections since she was unable to be part of this year's date night draft.
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@cul...
2025-02-1834 min
Master Keys Real Estate PodcastS2 Ep.11 | Brad and Tristen Join | Producing Master Keys | Social Media Management | Questions from ListenersIn this episode, Brad Epps and Tristen Ross join as guests. Brad and Tristen joined the Master Keys team a few months ago and have been helping the brand grow on social media. Neal and Chandler go through the news then answer some of the questions Brad and Tristen have around the podcast subject including "How much do I need to buy my first home" and "What does re-finanacing mean?". Tune in now! Time Stamps 00:56 - What's New with Chandler and Neal 11:55 - Intro to Brad and Tristen 15:55 - Why...
2022-03-2154 min
Exchange Street ConversationsTristen Epps, Red Rooster OvertownThis weeks episode is a special treat for you listeners. Ant and Kate dive into the culinary world as they converse with Ant's long time chef friend from college, Tristen Epps of Red Rooster Overtown. Tristen has made a name for himself in the culinary industry working alongside world renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller, Richard Rosendale and more recently Marcus Samuelsson. He has appeared on the Food Network show "Chopped" and ABC's cooking competition show "The Taste". Tristen shares his story on his introduction to food and how he developed his creativeness and style of cooking.
2020-05-191h 24