The Mind of a Chef Season 5 Episodes

Episode 0

Potluck Music Special

Thu, Dec 1, 2016

Episode 1

Eggs

Sat, Oct 1, 201623 mins

From the NYC classic egg on a roll to Faroe Island fulmar egg and curry, re-fall in love with the best egg dishes from our archives. Crack it open, and let the fun begin

Episode 2

Legends

Sat, Oct 8, 201623 mins

Everyone knows that it takes a great chef to make a great chef. This episode is all about paying homage to the greatest culinary minds in the world. Fergus Henderson, Eric Ripert, Pascal Barbot and more spend some quality time cooking with our alumni

Episode 3

Fried

Sat, Oct 15, 201623 mins

When it comes to preparations, few could be as delightful and decadent as a good, old-fashioned deep fry. We dip the Mind of a Chef basket in hot oil, serving up everything from oyster poboys to pig's head, from alligator filets to sardine spines.

Episode 4

LudoBird

Sat, Oct 22, 201623 mins

How does a chef trained in the finest kitchens of France translate his haute cuisine to fast food? Ludo's obsession with a perfectly cooked bird can be traced back to France, where he learned to roast chicken, and his love for the American classic was solidified when he ate at KFC for the first time.

Episode 5

Strip Malls

Sat, Oct 29, 201623 mins

Trois Mec and Petit Trois can be found side-by-side in a Hollywood strip mall, nestled between a dry cleaners and a Yum Yum donut. Ludo's restaurants and the dishes he creates for them embody the cultural mash-up and high/low flair that is the strip mall philosophy.

Episode 6

La Mer

Sat, Nov 5, 201623 mins

Ludo came up under mentors like Alain Passard and Mark Meneau, chefs with an almost pathological obsession with ingredients. His eyes light up when he describes the Lobsters of Brittany, the Oysters from Cancale, and the myriad of other extraordinary culinary jewels in the oceanic bounty of France.

Episode 7

La Végétale

Sat, Nov 12, 201623 mins

Today's chef reveres his gardener as much as his butcher. Ludo explores the vegetables, gardens, and memories he uses to cook some of his dishes.

Episode 8

Joie de Vivre

Sat, Nov 19, 201623 mins

The demands of a celebrity chef, especially one that runs three vibrant restaurants and a fried chicken franchise, are rigorous. When Ludo needs to escape the chaos, he heads to the lilting and poetic world of Paris in the spring, where the emphasis is placed on the joy and fun of life.

Episode 9

Tous au Bistro

Sat, Nov 26, 201623 mins

A bistro is typically defined by its modesty - they are relatively small, affordable and humble. With Petit Trois, Ludo's has brought the spirit of the bistro to Los Angeles. In this episode, Ludo brings us back to Paris to introduce us to some of the people and places that first inspired him to begin a culinary career.

Episode 10

Instinct vs. Discipline

Sun, Dec 4, 201623 mins

Ludo explains how it took a move to L.A., starting a family and a rough restaurant review for him to realize what he really wanted to do. Included: the ties between artists and their education; and how childlike wonder can translate into a career.

Episode 11

LudoBites

Sun, Dec 11, 201623 mins

Ludo began his US career cooking at Los Angeles restaurant Bastide, but after it closed for renovations he opted not to return and instead chose to do things his way. Borrowing a friend's bakery space, Ludo created a unique dining experience in the form of small, reservations-only, "chef's choice" dinners that became known as LudoBites.

Episode 12

Dessert

Fri, Jan 6, 2017

We take a long, hard look at the cherry on top of a dining experience. On the menu is burnt miso apple pie, the English classic banoffee pie, and sorghum ice cream, so grab a spoon.

Episode 13

Birds

Fri, Jan 13, 2017

We open the birdcage on some of our familiar (and some not so familiar) poultry dishes. Chinese chicken noodle soup, and chicken and dumplings make an appearance, but also stuffed Faroe Island puffin and duck-on-a-string.

Episode 14

Surf N Turf

Sat, Jan 14, 2017

Explore the wet and dry side of our culinary world as Magnus Nilsson dry-ages a steak in kidney fat as long as he possibly can, April Bloomfield hallucinates while at a butcher shop, and Ed Lee makes a ribeye with eel puree.