flavors unknown podcast

flavors unknown podcast


NYC Chef Panel on Bold Flavors and Reinvention

April 22, 2025

Recorded live at Phoenix Palace during NYC StarChefs Rising Stars. Sponsored by Symrise.

In this special episode of Flavors Unknown, we head to New York City for a dynamic roundtable with four of the most exciting names in the city’s food and beverage scene:

  • Chef Zhan Chen – Executive Chef at Phoenix Palace, redefining Cantonese dining in Chinatown.

  • Chef Neel Kajale – Chef de Cuisine at Dhamaka, championing bold Indian regional cuisine at Essex Market.

  • Chef Luis Herrera – The talent behind Ensenada, bringing coastal Mexican flavors to Brooklyn and Miami.

  • Richie Millwater – Mixologist and Bar Manager at Clemente Bar, upstairs at Eleven Madison Park, where nostalgic classics meet boundary-pushing cocktails.

Together, they unpack the evolution of New York’s dining and drinking scene post-pandemic—from the craving for authenticity and simplicity to the new generation’s reimagining of luxury, balance, and creativity behind the pass and the bar.

What you’ll learn from this panel discussion


I’d like to share a potential educational resource, “Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door”, my new book that features dialogues with accomplished culinary leaders from various backgrounds and cultures. It delves into the future of culinary creativity and the hospitality industry, drawing from insights of a restaurant-industry-focused podcast, ‘flavors unknown”. It includes perspectives from renowned chefs and local professionals, making it a valuable resource for those interested in building a career in the culinary industry.

Get the book here! Links to other episodes with the chefs

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from these talented chefs and gain insight into the world of culinary techniques.

Panel Discussion Charleston

Panel Discussion Boston

Panel Discussion LA

Panel Discussion Philadelphia

Panel Discussion Austin

Panel Discussion Providence, RI

Panel Discussion Portland, OR

Panel Discussion New York

Links to most downloaded episodes (click on any picture to listen to the episode)
Chef Sheldon Simeon
Chef Andy Doubrava
Chef Chris Kajioka
Chef Suzanne Goin Social media

Chef Zhan Chen


Instagram

Social media

Chef Neel Kajale


Instagram

Social media

Chef Luis Herrera


Instagram

Social media

Richie Millwater


Instagram

Links mentioned in this episode

Phoenix Palace

Dhamaka

Ensenada

Clemente Bar