Drew Nieporent: One of America's Most Respected and Celebrated Restaurateurs
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Release Date: 12/23/2025
Drew Nieporent: One of America's Most Respected and Celebrated Restaurateurs
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Get ready for what we're calling the most exciting and anticipated Kitchen Chat episode of the year! Host Margaret McSweeney traveled straight to the heart of the culinary world in New York City to sit down with a true legend: celebrated restaurateur , the founder and inspiration behind the Myriad Restaurant Group. The reason for this dynamic, can't-miss conversation is the release of his insightful and candid new memoir, written with This episode, like the book, is an intimate, compelling look at one of the world's most impactful...
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ENCORE: Biscuit Time! Holiday Baking with Carla Hall
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
It’s time for a holiday kitchen confession… I grew up in the South, yet somehow never learned how to make biscuits! Thankfully, my dear friend Chef Carla Hall—along with the wonderful Chadwick Boyd—brought Biscuit Time to this special encore edition of Kitchen Chat. We rolled up our sleeves at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, where Chef Jaime Laurita joined us for a fun, flour-dusted biscuit lesson. One bite of a warm, fresh biscuit instantly transported me back to my childhood and the flavors my father used to make with such love. This is an episode you’ll want to cherish. With...
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The Bottomless Cup: A Memoir of Secrets, Restaurants and Forgiveness by Kevin Boehm
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Congratulations to on the launch of his compelling book In this Kitchen Chat, Kevin shares the highs and lows of his personal life along with key components of success in his professional life. He also discusses the importance of mental health. You will be inspired by his story and strength. Link to the book (Launching November 4, 2025) Margaret McSweeney and Kevin Boehm first met in 2016 at in Chicago after their first Kitchen Chat. Kevin is the co-owner and co-founder of the highly acclaimed and award winning which he started with . In 2019, Kevin and Rob were the recipients...
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Estelle Manor: A Taste of Luxury, History and Hospitality
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Host takes us to the Oxfordshire countryside to Estelle Manor, one of the "hottest" destinations in England. Originally built in 1780 in Georgian style and rebuilt in 1908 in Jacobean style, Estelle Manor sits on 85 acres and is surrounded by 3,000 acres of parklands and gardens. In 2023, Ennismore opened this beautiful property as a private club and hotel. The kitchen gardens provide a bountiful and beautiful harvest of greens for the salads at the Glass House, one of the hotel's restaurants. Margaret enjoyed chatting with one of the chefs who was collecting the day's harvest from...
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Gleneagles: The Glorious Playground of Scotland
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
“Scotland is a land of mountains, glens, and islands, a land of myth and legend” - Walter Scott. Join Kitchen Chat host as she celebrates the 100th anniversary of , located at the base of the Scottish Southern Highlands. After its grand opening in 1924, media proclaimed that Gleneagles was the "8th Wonder of the World" and called it "The Glorious Playground." Learn more at Tee and Tea are hallmark experiences at this timeless resort. With three championship courses and a nine-hole course, golfers can test their skills amidst the lush landscape. In 1921 (before the hotel opened),...
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Cromlix: A Luxury Country House Hotel in Scotland
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Welcome to a very special episode of Kitchen Chat: A Taste of Luxury, History & Hospitality. Today, we're traveling to a storybook setting in Scotland. Let's visit Cromlix (https://www.cromlix.com/), the breathtaking Victorian mansion and five-star luxury country house hotel near Dunblane, owned by tennis legend, Sir Andy Murray and his wife, Kim (https://www.cromlix.com/about-us/our-history/) #AndyMurray #ScottishLuxury #LuxuryTravel Cromlix welcomes guests with both timeless Scottish heritage and contemporary luxury with resplendent interiors designed by renowned designer . This is a...
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Brown's Hotel and the Mayfair Bun
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Welcome to a special edition of Kitchen Chat: A Taste of Luxury, History, and Hospitality. Host Margaret McSweeney takes you to the heart of London's Mayfair, a place synonymous with timeless elegance, to visit the incomparable , Brown's is more than just a hotel; it's a living piece of history, where the past whispers from every corner. Founded in 1837, this is London’s very first hotel, and its legacy is rich with stories. It's where Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book, and where Alexander Graham Bell made Britain's first-ever telephone call. Today, this historic landmark has been...
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The Meathead Method: The Art, Soul and Science of Outdoor Cooking
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
"I like to think that whatever you cook indoors. you can cook it even better outdoors" Meathead Goldwyn. On this special episode of Kitchen Chat, host visits the living legend of grilling in his kitchen for an insightful conversation and a Masterclass on one of America’s most revered traditions. She is joined by the celebrated pitmaster, culinary scientist, and seminal voice in outdoor cooking, , author of the landmark book, This episode presents an inspiring approach to the craft, intricate science and storied history of American barbecue. In a conversation that brings...
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Fashion Icon Nigel Barker Launches an Espresso Martini
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
Step onto the runway of flavor and fashion in this special episode of Kitchen Chat: A Taste of Luxury, History and Hospitality. Host Margaret McSweeney joins world-renowned fashion photographer and TV personality Nigel Barker at a Chicago philanthropic fashion show benefiting WINGS Program Inc. Discover how Nigel turned his creative eye from couture to cocktails, crafting what’s been called “the most fashionable cocktail in the world.” It’s a conversation where glamour meets giving—and style is served in a glass. Margaret was especially delighted to meet Nigel as both she and...
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The Market at Pepper Place: A Culinary Renaissance
Kitchen Chat® – Margaret McSweeney
On this very special episode of Kitchen Chat: A Taste of Luxury, History and Hospitality, host takes us on a sweet, very personal journey home. Broadcasting from the vibrant culinary heart of her beloved hometown, Birmingham, Alabama, Margaret has a Kitchen Chat with the dynamic Executive Director of . Margaret and Leigh are both members of and first met during the I conference in Birmingham. Margaret serves on the board for IACP. The Market at Pepper Place is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is a thriving farmer's market place which serves as the city's epicurean epicenter. The Market...
info_outlineGet ready for what we're calling the most exciting and anticipated Kitchen Chat episode of the year! Host Margaret McSweeney traveled straight to the heart of the culinary world in New York City to sit down with a true legend: celebrated restaurateur Drew Nieporent, the founder and inspiration behind the Myriad Restaurant Group. The reason for this dynamic, can't-miss conversation is the release of his insightful and candid new memoir, "I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches" written with Jamie Feldmar.
This episode, like the book, is an intimate, compelling look at one of the world's most impactful hosts and multi-talented men in the hospitality industry. From establishing iconic eateries to shaping the entire modern dining landscape through the preservation of the legacy hospitality style, Nieporent's influence is unparalleled. Join Margaret as she invites Drew to share the stories behind the man—a titan of service, a visionary entrepreneur, and, as you'll quickly discover, a genuine genius who is one of the kindest people in the industry. (Photo below is when Margaret met Drew in 2015 at the International Association of Culinary Professionals celebration of Chef Jacques Pepin's 80th birthday).
As Ruth Reichl says, "If you go out to eat, you need this book." Here is a link to the must read "I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches" by Drew Nieporent.
Savor the day!