The Dave Chang Show The Ringer

I am not a hater. I devoutly admire and follow Dave Chang, as countless foodies and wannabe chefs do. But after a year of listening to the cyclical, beat-you-over-the-head catharsis of this podcast, I am hoping Chang and the producers can appreciate that the life advice is now nauseatingly overwrought, homogenous and not a matter of wisdom but a thoroughly beaten one-note talking point. There is no more insight offered. It’s a tired never-ending confessional with a therapy chair and a mic.

Anyone who’s heard more than one episode the last year understands the theme of these interviews — Chang repeats it so frequently it must be his impulse. “Cooking is f—ing hard, right?”

Right.

His intention to reveal the “why” behind chefs is teasing a listenership craving the “what.” What about their food is tasty? What about their food is thoughtful? What makes dinners return? What dishes make them excited? It is the “what” that make chefs experts, teachers and innovators, not Chang’s favorite question: “But why do you do it? It’s so f—ing hard.”

I don’t need 50 podcasts to tell me that cooking for a living is soul-enriching, soul-searching, soul-wrenching...for god’s sake please talk about food.

Food is the thing we want from Chang most. We always will get his engaging personality. But the guy is a killer chef, who makes some of the tastiest and most interested dishes in the country. Would it kill him to spend a podcast explaining the keys to a great ramen shop? Would it kill him to half-jokingly explain his biggest pet peeves as a dinner? Tell us about the grossest kitchen you’ve ever been in. Paint a picture of the superior Spanish produce you dream about. Where’s the best place to eat after midnight in LA, NOLA, MIA and DC? What’s the most overrated kitchen appliance home cooks can’t stop buying? Teach us how to properly slice fish, or precisely when to add the pasta water to the sauce, or what NOT to order at the airport bar.

Make food the star more — not yourself.

Hard to listen to sometimes...too much redundancy...as relates to being a chef..As a chef of 40 years it gets a bit tedious...Would love to hear more about food..techniques...etc..Did enjoy Joe Beef podcast!

Was my favorite episode. First time mom of a 5 month old and i completely resonated with all of it. Loved the honesty and vulnerability. And loved hearing the perspective of David’s better half. Beautiful! Congrats on the baby boy~~~