Pack Your Knives

That's right, a blind draft. In person! Top Chef has taken their talents to Tom's home city of Charlotte, which presents a new draft twist. With the possibility that Tom (and Sara) might be attending some challenge tapings in the fall, they got their hands on the contestant list early and drafted immediately to maintain integrity of the show. Yes, for the first time ever, the PYK draft was held before watching the first episode. In the comforts of Tom's home, Tom and Sara break down the wild contestant list (twins! a married couple!), share how they created their rankings and debate their most controversial picks. As a two-time Top Chef finalist, Sara reveals the qualities she looks for in a contestant. Tom explains his bold first pick with research that even Sara didn't uncover and asks the pros and cons of being the hometown chef. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a trailer! We have a cast! We have a premiere date! Tom and new co-host Sara Bradley are joined by PYK contributors Carly Levitz and Kendra McClanahan to break it all down and make some big announcements about PYK coverage this season (fantasy leagues and power rankings!). We talk about the twins and the married couple on this season and how those relationships may play out on Top Chef. We read the tea leaves from the trailer and look ahead to the March 3 premiere. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Top Chef Carolinas on tap, we have a big announcement to make. In this special offseason episode, we welcome Top Chef finalist Sara Bradley to the team and preview Season 23 by taking turns predicting challenges in Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC. Bradley sheds light about her time living in Charlotte and cutting her teeth at Johnson & Wales. Tom reveals childhood culinary trauma and Sara reveals what she's MOST excited about for the upcoming season. What Charlotte-themed challenges do you want to see? Chime in below. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making his highly-anticipated debut on Pack Your Knives, Top Chef Season 22 winner Tristen Epps talks to Tom Haberstroh about his epic performance on Top Chef and why the Afro-Caribbean chef is jealous about the upcoming Top Chef Carolinas. The globetrotter explains what Top Chef greatness looks like, sets the record straight on the supposed Massimo beef (?) and what he envisions for his new restaurant Buboy in Houston. The Charlotte Johnson & Wales graduate also reveals the one former Top Chef that he wants to challenge on a Top Chef All-Stars season and trashes Tom and Eric Adjepong for letting him fall so far on Draft night. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh is over the moon upon discovering that Top Chef Season 23 will be filmed in his own backyard! On Wednesday, it was announced that “Top Chef Carolinas” will have Charlotte, NC as the hub city. Tom sheds light on Charlotte ties to Top Chef alums Tristen Epps, Sara Bradley, Jamie Lynch, Sam Talbot and Eric Adjepong. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Tom and Eric watch the season finale at his restaurant in DC, they host the podcast recap in front of a live audience, a joyous crowd that included the winner’s brother and Season 22 contestant Corwin Hemming.Tom and Eric discuss the significance of the winner’s impressive victory and take stock in the winner’s entire season. Eric shares his personal thoughts on the legacy of the winner’s achievement. After ranking this Top Chef season among the greats, Tom decides to put together his Mount Rushmore of Top Chefs with input from Eric and the audience. We hear from the winner’s brother and Corwin, who shared some behind-the-scenes experiences. Finally, Tom and Eric break down each dish and score each round with their commentary.At the end, Tom and Eric take questions from the audience and then wrap an incredible season of Top Chef.Thank you all for your support on Season 22! Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva Finale. With one episode to go, Tom (now an honorary Ghanaian citizen) and Eric break down the Milan Finale Part 1 with the help of Carly Levitz who shares her analysis on the history of risotto on Top Chef. Is the curse of risotto overrated, underrated or properly rated? One chef's out-of-box thinking gets the best of them and the finale will decide which fantasy team wins: Team Eric or Team Tom. The margins are so slim. That's why it feels so big. See you in DC next week at Eric's restaurant Elmina. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of their Season Finale Watch Party announcement (June 12th at Elmina! Get your tickets now!), Tom and Eric wax poetic about the Quarry Lake episode. This hour of Top Chef had it all. Tom and Eric recap what they consider one of the greatest episodes of the series' history. While getting choked up on air, Eric explains why he got so emotional watching the Quarry Lake episode and especially the heart-breaking judge's table. The integrity of the show, Tom argues, is what makes Top Chef TOP CHEF and that integral guiding post is what helped paint such a beautiful episode. Did the chef deserve to go home? What does it say about the show? And the fantasy standings? Tom and Eric have a lot to say. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And then there were five. With one episode left before the two-part finale, Eric Adjepong and Tom Haberstroh break down the Calgary episode (Yahoo!). As the contestants wrangle with beef and berries, Tom and Eric weigh in on the most underrated cut of the cow and the best preparation at a steakhouse. How exactly we did Massimo make that fancy Fruit Roll-up? A rivalry emerges and three chefs separate themselves from the pack. The race seems more undecided than ever. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last Chance Kitchen is over. Eric Adjepong is back. And the show wraps up Toronto. A returnee comes back into the competition and gets revenge on the competitors. Adjepong shares his thoughts on Tristen at Restaurant Wars and what he took from the last two weeks while he was off air. Tom and Eric can’t help but laugh at the “hot garbage” quickfire while we wonder how sustainable Tristen’s lead might be with Massimo closing fast. The Top Chef fantasy race is getting hot. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buddha, Kevin and Tom oh my! Back for more, Kevin Arnovitz returns to the stage with Tom Haberstroh to flex their mussels and talk Top Chef post-Restaurant Wars.With no more immunity on the table, they discuss the reintroduction of last year’s rule that Quickfires are now part of judges table.Plus, Buddha Lo joins the show to share insights from his high seat at judge’s table in Toronto. After gushing about a flawless salmon Wellington, the two-time champ is asked to compare his game to Tristen Epps and the shared experience of losing a father while pursuing dreams of becoming Top Chef. He also shares what it’s like to cook for Padma Lakshmi at his HUSO restaurant in Tribeca. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠ or⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠⁠YouTube!⁠⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠⁠ @packknives⁠⁠ & Instagram:⁠⁠ @packyourknives⁠⁠ ⁠⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Restaurant Wars is here and so is Kevin Arnovitz! With Eric Adjepong on film leave, Arnovitz steps back into the chair to break down an emotional and tragic Restaurant Wars episode and offer his big-picture thoughts on the Destination Canada season as a whole. Where is Tristen Epps in the pantheon? When did the losing team squander their moment? What's the best way to eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch? And which Atlanta Braves pitcher does Lana remind us of? All that and more on a PYK reunion episode. Subscribe to the PYK Substack!⁠ https://www.packyourknives.com/⁠ Rate PYK 5 Stars on⁠ Apple⁠ or⁠ Spotify⁠, or watch PYK on ⁠YouTube!⁠ Follow PYK on Twitter:⁠ @packknives⁠ & Instagram:⁠ @packyourknives⁠ ⁠COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE⁠ - Check it out here:⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OK, it’s time to talk about a certain chef in this competition. With the dominant stretch in the middle of Destination Canada, Tom and Eric discuss where the elimination-challenge winner places statistically and stylistically among the all-time greats. Names like Buddha Lo, Kristen Kish and Brooke Williamson are conjured up. Eric reveals the one chef that made him stand in awe during one of his competitions and explains the brilliance of Wylie “WD50” Dufresne and his DC pal Spike Mendelsohn. Plus, Tom and Eric share their favorite pizza style and finally agree on an intro food take. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Adjepong starts his victory lap trot after another disastrous week for Team Tom. Everyone at PYK is on Team Pickle. Haberstroh and Adjepong unpack the mistake-ridden episode of Top Chef while simultaneously bowing down to the greatness of two of Adjepong's chefs (Tristen and César). Eric also sheds light on the fashion do's-and-don'ts of Top Chef and the food TV world. After his trip to NYC, Tom shares his review of Time and Tide, the new restaurant from last season's Top Chef champ Danny Garcia. Eric takes stock of his visit to Tom's neck of the woods in Charlotte. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh and Eric Adjepong are joined by ESPN’s Mina Kimes to recap this week’s episode which saw a double elimination. Did we like the staging at different restaurants? Are we surprised by the judge’s choices? Did the episode fall short? As the three weigh in, a surprise guest crashes the party: the guest judge Sara Bradley! Go behind the scenes with Sara, Eric, Tom and Mina as we break down this very controversial episode of Top Chef. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom reviews the latest two episodes of Last Chance Kitchen, including a LCK bombshell in the Hat Trick episode as well as a surprising two-part LCK 1 Finale. A lot happened, we'll just leave it at that. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh and Eric Adjepong break down the episode with a really fun trivia QF and marvel at Chef Tristen’s hoop knowledge. Eric reveals the ins and outs of a proper duck cook while Tom shares the points standings of all the contestants from the season (It’s about time we got to, you know, see Canada!). As far as guest judges go, this episode did not disappoint. We got two Jeopardy contestants Amy Schneider and Mattea Roach for the Quickfire Challenge joining Michael Cera of Superbad, Arrested Development, This Is The End, Juno etc. fame. Looks like we’re headed for an epic Last Chance Kitchen. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three episodes in, a clear favorite emerges from the pack of Top Chef: Destination Canada. Tom and Eric skate their way through the Jamaican patty and hockey episode that saw the judges sadly send home one of the more talented chefs of the group. Eric shares his favorite beef patty stories from childhood and provides a BTS insight about what the producers say on set that gave him some a pang of pseudo-PTSD. Tom recaps last week’s Last Chance Kitchen with a request for Tom C. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As expected, the poutine episode has arrived! Eric Adjepong and Tom Haberstroh marvel at Anya's secret ingredient that she brought from Russia; when you've melted the minds of Tom, Eric AND Daniel Boulud, you know you're a serious Top Chef force. Tom and Eric debate the merits of a two-team challenge this early in the game and both have strong thoughts about the Whole Foods curveball. Eric gives insights into the challenges of doing chawanmushi or soufflé on competition shows. Plus, Tom has thoughts about the Last Chance Kitchen twist. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To take a closer look at the season premiere, Tom Haberstroh is joined by PYK Substack contributor and data whiz Carly Levitz to break down the episode's trends and storylines. What does the data say about Massimo and the history of "home" chefs? Do the numbers say Richard Blais is the GOAT Top Chef? Carly also picks her favorite underdog chef and reveals what trends she's keeping an eye on as we progress through Season 22: Destination Canada. Subscribe to the PYK Substack! https://www.packyourknives.com/ Rate PYK 5 Stars on Apple or Spotify, or watch PYK on YouTube! Follow PYK on Twitter: @packknives & Instagram: @packyourknives COUNT THE DINGS MERCH STORE - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices