This Back to the Archives podcast episode features the legendary Chef Paul Liebrandt, who is now based in New York but was born in London, England.

Ever since he was a teenager, Chef Liebrandt was immersed in the art of cooking in various kitchens. From the Marco Pierre White, Raymond Blanc to Jean-Georges Vongerichten, he has worked alongside these great chefs early on his career in United Kingdom.

After moving to Paris, he met his most influential mentor in Pierre Gagnaire, whose work continues to inspire Chef Liebrandt.

In 1999, his life changed dramatically when he went on a three weeks vacation in New York. He loved it so much that he moved there and became a culinary superstar.

First started working briefly at the Bouley Bakery, he then opened Atlas restaurant at the young age of 24. A string of illustrious eateries followed - including Papillion, Gilt, Corton and The Elm. With each place bringing more accolades like youngest chef ever awarded New York Times' three stars, James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant in the United States, New York Magazine's four out of five stars, Time Out New York's six out of six stars, Esquire Magazine's best new restaurant in the USA and more.

A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt, the documentary that followed his career over the course of a decade, premiered on HBO on June 13, 2011. Directed by Sally Rowe, it was a cutting-edge project. One that influenced many in the hospitality industry and predicted the future of food-focused content-creation.

In 2015 he founded the Crumpet Management group which consults and manages on multiple projects globally.

In this episode, Chef Liebrandt talked about the history of great chefs, what he thinks of "molecular gastronomy," how he approaches cooking as he matures and more.

Don't miss these Stoveside Stories - and bon appetit!

A native of the province of Ontario, Canada, Chef Jeremy Austin started his culinary journey at the Culinary Arts Italian program at Toronto's George Brown College. He continued his career in various establishments within the province, further afield in Canada, as well as in Italy and China.

After globetrotting to hone his craft, he returned to Canada and opened The Pine with his wife Cassie in Collingwood, a smaller town little more than two hours north of Toronto. It opened in 2020 during the pandemic and offered a multi-course Canadian-driven tasting menu. They have since relocated to a larger space in nearby Creemore, while still offering creative Chinese-inspired cooking informed by local ingredients.

The Pine has been going from strength to strength in its existence. From climbing up the Canada's 100 Best Restaurants every year since 2022, to winning a Michelin one-star in 2024 - it has been steadily progressing in the culinary world.

In this episode, Chef Austin talked about how he thinks about using luxurious ingredients, what reminds him of growing up at his grandparents' farm while working in Italy, why anyone would start a restaurant during a global pandemic and more.

Don't miss these Stoveside Stories - and bon appetit!

Chef Allison Leroux, an Ontario native who runs Crowded Table Pizza, is born to be in the business.

She grew up working in Amadio’s - her family’s pizzeria - to learn first-hand about the industry, and spent time outdoors with gardens and animals. She went on to study Animal Biology and Agriculture at the University of Guelph, while working on farms, urban agriculture and community gardens.

During university, Chef Leroux founded Crowded Table Pizza, a mobile, farm-to-table pizza project highlighting Ontario producers and seasonal ingredients, and has been growing ever since.

She also spends her time volunteering for non-profit organizations and festivals with a focus on culture and reconciliation.

In this episode, she talked about her journey to become a pizza maker, her love of local ingredients, the challenges she faces as a woman in the industry and more.

Don't miss these Stoveside Stories - and bon appetit!