Andrew Talks to Chefs

Just in time for Father’s Day, friend of the pod has come out with his excellent first cookbook, DAD, WHAT’S FOR DINNER? David joins us on this episode to discuss how he & his team ( & ) fashioned a stylish books that’s just as useful for cooking for and/or with kids, as it is as an everyday kitchen bible for anybody. Give a listen, then buy the book!

Earlier this year, we lost one of the greatest and most influential chefs ever to ply his trade in the United States, when André Soltner passed away at age 92. On the day the culinary community pay their respects at a celebration of his life in New York City, we wanted to share this previously unaired conversation with Chef Soltner, recorded in 2016 as part of Andrew’s research for his book Chefs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. André Soltner was of course best known for his restaurant Lutèce, where he was the chef (and for 22 years, also the owner) from 1961 – 1994.

This conversation took place in Chef Soltner’s apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on December 5, 2016, just five weeks after the death of his wife Simone. It covers his first interest in the culinary arts, his feelings about nouvelle cuisine, the brutality of old-school kitchens, his disposition toward the young American chefs who rose up during Lutèce’s heyday, the pain of a negative review, and whether or not the legend of his only taking five nights off in the restaurant’s lifespan was true. (He also does a quick but memorable impression of Julia Child.) Chef Soltner’s kindness, generosity, and good humor shine through in this conversation. We hope it offers those who never had the opportunity to know him a sense of his personality, and those who did know him a welcome remembrance.

Listen via the Andrew Talks to Chefs feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Photo courtesy

In case you missed it, we wrapped up the year on Andrew Talks to Chefs with a new-episode marathon. Pictured here are the last (but by NO means least) 11 guests we welcomed during the holidays. Catch up with these conversations before our new season kicks off in just a few days!

The marathon is/was brought to you by the newly published PAPERBACK edition of THE DISH, Andrew’s most recent book—swipe to 2nd image here for a look at the awesome new B&W cover.