Send us Fan Mail Chef JKP sits down with Ariana Bundy, chef, author, television presenter, and founder of Ariana's Persian Kitchen at Atlantis The Royal Dubai. Ariana shares her journey through Iran, Switzerland, New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, and Dubai. From childhood food memories with her grandmother, to studying at Le Cordon Bleu, running pastry kitchens in Hollywood, writing cookbooks, filming across Iran, and opening a restaurant rooted in Persian heritage. They talk about food memories, Persian cuisine, television, motherhood, health, hospitality, and the responsibility of preserving culture through food. This is a conversation about identity, resilience, storytelling, and how food can carry memory across generations. WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE • Ariana's childhood food memories and her grandmother's kitchen • Growing up between Iran, Switzerland, New York, London, and Paris • How Le Cordon Bleu made her feel like she finally belonged • Running a pastry kitchen in Hollywood straight after cooking school • Writing cookbooks and rebuilding recipes without gluten or dairy • Filming her National Geographic series across Iran • The story behind opening Ariana's Persian Kitchen in Dubai • Persian tea, wellness, food memories, and advice for young chefs CHAPTERS 00:00 Childhood Food Memories And Growing Up Between Countries 07:00 Studying Business While Dreaming Of A Creative Life 11:20 The IHOP Conversation That Changed Everything 13:20 Finding Her Place At Le Cordon Bleu 17:00 Running A Hollywood Pastry Kitchen In Her Twenties 24:00 Burnout, Food Intolerances And Writing Her First Cookbook 30:05 Why She Bet Everything On Persian Food And National Geographic 40:05 The Phone Call From Dubai That Changed Her Life 50:20 Building Ariana's Persian Kitchen At Atlantis The Royal 59:55 Persian Food, Saffron, Wellness And Ancient Food Wisdom 01:12:10 Why Persian Cuisine Deserves A Bigger Place On The Global Stage 01:27:00 Advice For Young Chefs, Entrepreneurship And Life Lessons FOLLOW THE GUEST Ariana Bundy Instagram https://www.instagram.com/arianabundy/ Ariana's Persian Kitchen https://www.instagram.com/arianaspersiankitchen/ FOLLOW CHEF JKP Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpaccheco PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONA Valrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry. Website: https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-india SUPPORT THE SHOW Stay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask. Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpN Food is memories. 🍸 Support the show Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
