In the Weeds Podcast with Chef Spike Mendelsohn

Celebrity Chef Spike Mendelsohn
  • 5.0 (12)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

New Episodes Drop Each Tuesday! Step into the high-pressure world of culinary chaos with Chef Spike Mendelsohn, the relentless renegade of the kitchen, as he serves up a no-holds-barred exploration of the restaurant industry. In this gripping podcast, Spike sits down with fellow chefs, restaurateurs, and industry insiders to dish out the raw chaos and brutal challenges of the industry. From the relentless rush of a dinner service to the intense moments of being "in the weeds," each episode explores the triumphs, challenges, and downright madness of life in the kitchen. With candid conversations and captivating stories, listeners are invited to pull up a seat and savor the flavors of this exhilarating journey through the heart of the culinary world. Get ready to indulge in the ultimate behind-the-line experience as Spike serves up insight, inspiration, and plenty of food for thought. Welcome to the In The Weeds Podcast, where the heat is always on and the conversation is always piping hot.

  1. Chef Marcus Samuelsson: A Life Seasoned With Grit & Grace

    1D AGO

    Chef Marcus Samuelsson: A Life Seasoned With Grit & Grace

    In this episode of In The Weeds Podcast, Spike goes deep with Chef Marcus Samuelsson — James Beard Award winner, author, activist, and the force behind Red Rooster, Hav & Mar, Streetbird, and Marcus DC. What you’ll hear in this episode: Marcus on walking into DC Central Kitchen and why programs like this are the future of food justice.His journey from being born in Ethiopia and adopted into a Swedish family — and the goosebump story of the nurse who changed his life.Experiencing snow for the first time as a kid and adjusting to life in Sweden.Learning flavor from his grandmother’s Swedish meatballs and how food became his language.The brutal but brilliant lessons of French kitchens — from scallop mishaps to finding mentors.Taking over Aquavit at just 23 years old after the tragic death of its chef, and the fear that fueled his rise.Why the future of fine dining isn’t only in France anymore — it’s global, from Peru to Colombia.Marcus’s story is about more than cooking. It’s about resilience, second chances, and shaping the soul of American food while staying rooted in community. 👉 Don’t miss more conversations like this — follow In The Weeds Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 19m
  2. Chef Kat Petonito: Take Your Ego Off The Plate

    SEP 23

    Chef Kat Petonito: Take Your Ego Off The Plate

    This week on In The Weeds Podcast, Spike sits down with Chef Katarina Petonito—the force behind The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, and The Wells. Kat gets real about: Growing up in Germantown, Maryland with a Filipino mom and Italian dad, and how food was always part of the family hustle. The path from CIA to Nantucket summers, DC kitchens, and finally running her own teams. Why she believes in taking ego off the plate and leading with collaboration. Renovating a fixer-upper while raising a toddler (yes, she admits to plenty of McDonald’s runs). Her journey from industry burnout to finding balance with a women-led collective. Along the way, Spike and Kat swap war stories about first jobs, pepperoni sauce, school lunches, dolphin trainer dreams, and why Southern hospitality really is that nice. Pull up a chair—this episode is a reminder that behind every menu is a chef who fought hard to rewrite the rules. 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review In The Weeds Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Join us on our other channels: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 32m
  3. Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos: Humility, Hustle & Healing Through Food

    SEP 16

    Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos: Humility, Hustle & Healing Through Food

    Spike sits down with Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos–better known as Juanma—to trace his wild rise from running a hot dog cart kitchen to leading Elcielo, the first Colombian restaurant to earn a Michelin star. Juanma opens up about hustling through failures and all-night shifts, the lessons in humility he picked up scrubbing kitchens in Argentina, and how that grind shaped his global culinary empire. But the story goes deeper: through his foundation (the El Cielo Foundation), he’s training former guerrilla fighters, paramilitaries, and victims of Colombia’s conflict to cook, rebuild, and feed their families. Food here isn’t just art—it’s second chances, peacebuilding, and proof that the kitchen can heal as much as it inspires. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 27m
  4. Chef Roy Yamaguchi: Cooking With Aloha (and a side of crunchy noodles)

    SEP 9

    Chef Roy Yamaguchi: Cooking With Aloha (and a side of crunchy noodles)

    What do fried pepperoni with rice, crunchy instant noodles “cooked” on a dorm-room hot plate, and accidentally eating a whole artichoke leaf have in common? They’re all part of Chef Roy Yamaguchi’s origin story. In this episode, Spike Mendelsohn sits down with the godfather of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine to talk about growing up on a military base in Japan, finding his way to the CIA, getting fired (a lot), and eventually building a global empire of restaurants flavored with aloha. Expect sauce talk that borders on therapy, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that even legends start out in the weeds. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 30m
  5. John Mooney: A Chef's Chef & Industry Legend

    MAR 18

    John Mooney: A Chef's Chef & Industry Legend

    On episode 17 of  In the Weeds Podcast with Chef Spike Mendelsohn, we’re joined by Chef John Mooney—a true chef’s chef who has worked alongside some of the most renowned names in the restaurant world. From the streets of Chicago to working the line in top kitchens, Mooney has built an extraordinary career opening restaurants for luxury brands across the globe. As the chef-owner of Bell Book & Candle in NYC and Bidwell in Washington, DC, he’s been at the forefront of sustainability and farm-to-table dining. Tune in as two culinary greats go deep on food, hard work, and the ever-evolving world of hospitality. Chef John Mooney is an acclaimed American chef known for his commitment to sustainability and innovative culinary techniques. A Kendall Culinary School graduate, he has worked at renowned establishments like Ambria, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Red Sage, Raku, and Heartbeat in NYC, where he embraced seasonal, organic ingredients. In 2004, he launched India's first organic restaurant with the Taj Hotel Group and later led The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Back in the U.S., he co-founded Bell Book & Candle in NYC and Bidwell in Washington, D.C., both featuring aeroponic rooftop gardens. His sustainable approach earned him a StarChefs Rising Star Sustainability Chef award in 2011. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    2h 8m
  6. From Music Dreams to Food Equity: Chef Michel Nischan’s Unexpected Path

    MAR 14

    From Music Dreams to Food Equity: Chef Michel Nischan’s Unexpected Path

    On episode 16, chef and food equity advocate, Michel Nischan gets In The Weeds with Spike Mendelsohn. From truck stop cook to James Beard Award-winning chef, Michel Nischan’s journey to the kitchen was anything but planned. He sits down with Spike Mendelsohn to talk about his unexpected path, cooking for the Dalai Lama, partnering with Paul Newman, and his dedication to food equity. Tune in as he shares inspiring stories and discusses his advocacy work, including his efforts to create lasting change in food policy. Michel Nischan is a chef and long-standing leader in the local, organic, sustainable food movement. He is Founder and President of Wholesome Crave, a food company selling responsibly sourced, plant-forward soups to large-scale dining facilities, and now available direct-to-consumer. A portion of the gross sales from Wholesome Crave products benefit Wholesome Wave, the non-profit food equity organization for which Michel serves as Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. A lifetime Ashoka Fellow, he serves as a Founding Director on the board of the Jacques Pepin Foundation; and on the advisory boards of Chef’s Collaborative, Modern Farmer, Good Food Media Network, and The Culinary Institute of America. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 12m
  7. Chef Grace Ramirez: From Behind the Camera to Center Stage in Food, Culture & Impact

    MAR 11

    Chef Grace Ramirez: From Behind the Camera to Center Stage in Food, Culture & Impact

    On episode 15 of In The Weeds, Chef Grace Ramirez takes us on a journey—from working behind the camera at Nickelodeon to interviewing celebrities for TRL, to quitting her directing job on Bobby Flay’s show to pursuing culinary school and creating her own recipe for success as a celebrated chef, author, and advocate for women. Tune in for some good laughs, fun stories and to learn how Chef Grace uses food as a bridge to culture, community, and impact.  Grace Ramirez is a celebrated chef, dedicated humanitarian, and empowering educator, known for her strong communication skills, empathy, and upscale glam. Her journey began with directing and producing TV shows at the Food Network, evolving into her volunteer work with World Central Kitchen during humanitarian, climate, and community disasters like Hurricane Maria and the Venezuelan & Colombian Migrant Crisis — a career change with impactful results. Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 48m
  8. Andrew Zimmern: Sobriety, Storytelling, and the Power of Food

    MAR 3

    Andrew Zimmern: Sobriety, Storytelling, and the Power of Food

    On episode 14 of In The Weeds, we sit down with the legendary Andrew Zimmern—chef, storyteller, and the man who introduced the world to bizarre foods. But this conversation goes much deeper than what’s on the plate. Andrew opens up about his battle with addiction, his journey to sobriety, and how those struggles shaped his career. He reflects on his friendship with Anthony Bourdain, sharing personal stories and insights about the man behind the legend. We also dive into his passion for storytelling and why food is one of the most powerful tools for connection and change. From the state of the industry to sustainability, from resilience to redemption, this episode is packed with the kind of real talk that defines In The Weeds. Whether you're in the trenches of service or just love a good story, you won’t want to miss this one. Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and passionate global citizen. As the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’sDriven by Food, MSNBC’s What’s Eating America, the Emmy-nominated Family Dinner, Outdoor Channel’s Wild Game Kitchen and Field to Fire, and the Emmy-winning The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food.   Listen & Connect With Us Here: https://linktr.ee/intheweeds.pod  🎙️🎙️ In The Weeds Podcast is proudly sponsored by:  Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District and a key player in making some of DC’s most exciting events and experiences happen. From world-class sports to cultural festivals and everything in between, they help power the energy of the city. Visit eventsdc.com to see what they are cooking up! DC Central Kitchen is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more, please visit dccentralkitchen.org

    1h 34m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

New Episodes Drop Each Tuesday! Step into the high-pressure world of culinary chaos with Chef Spike Mendelsohn, the relentless renegade of the kitchen, as he serves up a no-holds-barred exploration of the restaurant industry. In this gripping podcast, Spike sits down with fellow chefs, restaurateurs, and industry insiders to dish out the raw chaos and brutal challenges of the industry. From the relentless rush of a dinner service to the intense moments of being "in the weeds," each episode explores the triumphs, challenges, and downright madness of life in the kitchen. With candid conversations and captivating stories, listeners are invited to pull up a seat and savor the flavors of this exhilarating journey through the heart of the culinary world. Get ready to indulge in the ultimate behind-the-line experience as Spike serves up insight, inspiration, and plenty of food for thought. Welcome to the In The Weeds Podcast, where the heat is always on and the conversation is always piping hot.

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