Food Network Obsessed

Duff Goldman returns to the pod for his third appearance, officially earning Food Network Obsessed royalty status. He catches up with Jaymee on life at home, getting ready to become a dad of two, and why he’s embraced his unexpected role on the internet as the guy giving calm, rational dad advice.  

Duff also dives into his newest Food Network series Ultimate Baking Championship, where sixteen elite pastry chefs compete in one of the most technically demanding baking competitions the network has ever done. Plus, after years of strong opinions, Duff finally sets the record straight on cupcakes… and whether he actually hates them as much as he says he does. 

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Lorenzo Espada, known online as Eat With Zo, joins the pod to talk about landing on Food Network’s 2026 Hot List and the full-circle moment of being recognized by the network he grew up watching. He shares how cooking with his grandmothers shaped his love of food, and how selling food out of his college dorm helped spark the idea that eventually became his “Somethin’ Outta Nothin’” philosophy. 

Lorenzo also dives into the viral crab cake biscuit video that changed everything, how social media helped transform his private dining hustle into a full-time career, and why making cooking fun and approachable is the heart of his content. 

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Michael Tchao joins the pod to talk about how his unexpected landing on Food Network’s 2026 Hot List was a true full-circle moment. He shares how teaching a total kitchen “noob” helped him find his voice as an educator, and why experimenting in public is at the heart of his content. 

Michael also dives into his recent trip to Japan, where he documented a family preserving a centuries-old charcoal craft that burns hotter, cleaner, and more intentionally than standard briquettes. From patience in the kiln to patience in content creation, he reflects on slowing down, focusing on quality over quantity, and building a brand rooted in curiosity, clarity, and value. 

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• Follow Michael Tchao on Instagram: HERE 
• Learn More about Food Network Hot List: HERE

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Alessandra Ciuffo joins the pod to talk about being on Food Network’s “Hot List” and winning Guy’s Grocery Games at just 15 years old. She opens up about why social media wasn’t always part of the plan, and how documenting every single day of culinary school helped her truly “find her culinary voice”. She also shares why teaching people how to cook matters, how she balances classical training with nonna intuition, and why midnight pasta might just be the ultimate comfort food. 

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Learn More about Food Network Hot List: HERE

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Chef Mei Lin returns to the pod to talk about her Beverly Hills restaurant 88 Club, where nostalgic Chinese flavors meet a moody dining room and serious vibes. She shares how dishes like shrimp toast and Namu chicken connect to her childhood and why this chapter of her cooking feels more personal and unapologetic than ever. 

Mei also dives into festival cooking, Lunar New Year collaborations, and the energy of live food events before opening up about her newest role as a judge on Tournament of Champions. She talks blind judging, missing the adrenaline of competing, and how social media trends are starting to show up on competition plates. 

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Learn More about TOC: HERE

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