Pack Your Knives - podcast cover

Pack Your Knives

Count The Dings
Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh bring their die-hard fanaticism of the hit TV show Top Chef and combine it with their NBA analytical instincts to draft “fantasy” teams, interview contestants and talk about America’s food and restaurant trends. Follow along weekly as the top cooking competition meets top-shelf analysis. In Season 23, Chef Sara Bradley replaces Kevin as host to provide insight from the mind of former competitor and current kitchen guru.
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Episodes

The Forgotten Crudo

Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh take you behind the scenes at Restaurant Wars and reveal what it’s like to attend Top Chef’s signature event. Special guest Hershy Ash re-joins the show to analyze this season’s three-restaurant twist and assess the performance of Third Coast, North East and Thistle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 07, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 20

The First Restaurant War of 2018-19

Tom and Kevin are joined by restaurant consultant Hershy Ash to break down the first of a 2-part special, 12-contestant Restaurant Wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 20181 hr 6 minEp. 19

Naughty and Nice

Tom explains to Kevin the workings of Quick Fire White Elephant Gift Exchange, and the hosts debate whether Nini or David should be the early favorite and wonder if Natalie has the goods to run the table in Last Chance Kitchen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 24, 20181 hr 2 minEp. 18

Ask For More Lemons

Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh break down a stunning exit, the infamous $500 lamb tab and handicap the frontrunners for Season 16 Kentucky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 20181 hr 2 minEp. 17

With The 1st Pick ...

Kevin and Tom recap the Season 16: Kentucky premiere while conducting a live draft of all 18 contestants, including the Last Chance Kitchen field. Who will go No. 1? Who is the villain? Which contestants have the biggest trade value? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 07, 20181 hr 16 minEp. 16

Top Chef Season 16 Preview!

Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh are back for Season 16 of Top Chef. Gearing up for this week's season premiere, Arnovitz and Haberstroh preview season 16, scout the bios of the 15 contestants and share their favorite Kentucky spots and cuisine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 04, 201834 minEp. 15

The Finale

Tom and Kevin break down the exciting finale of Top Chef Season 15, and are joined by the finalists, Adrienne Cheatham and Joe Flamm to recap the season, what went into their dishes, and what's next in their journeys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 20181 hr 15 minEp. 14

Gone Fishing

The episode before the finale. Tom and Kevin break down the penultimate episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 07, 201846 minEp. 13

The Final Four

Tom and Kevin break down the final four episode of Top Chef 15, including the rocky mountain oysters quickfire and family recipe elimination challenge, then visit with chef "Mustache" Joe Sasto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 20181 hr 6 minEp. 12

High End

Tom and Kevin are joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes to welcome back the Last Chance Kitchen winner, break down Episode 11 and scout the remaining Top Chefs as we approach the final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 201846 minEp. 11

Return of the Curse

Tom and Kevin break down Episode 10 of Top Chef with the help of special guest and father of Baby Jude, Bruce Kalman. Kalman goes behind-the-scenes to explain why he went on Top Chef and why he ate candy bars out of a baby diaper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 201857 minEp. 10

The Risotto Curse Returns

Kevin and Tom recap the Super Bowl episode, mourn Team Kevin and geek out about Top Chef myths with Lynn from the essential TopChefStats.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 05, 20181 hr 2 minEp. 9

Restaurant Wars

Tom and Kevin recap Restaurant Wars with the help of restaurant fixer-upper Hershy Ash and check in with Top Chef’s Fatima Ali about her cancer battle, being a Baby Bear and cooking Pakistani cuisine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 20181 hr 24 minEp. 8

The "Olympics" Competition

Tom and Kevin break down Top Chef's high-intensity, super-tense "Olympics" competition, and debate whether cliquey-ness is a good thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 201854 minEp. 7

Cilantro vs. Claudette

Tom and Kevin break down the High German elimination challenge and negotiate a blockbuster trade of chef-testants. Then they chat with Chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins about the dynamics on show, regional Mexican cooking, and their hate of cilantro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 20181 hr 11 minEp. 6

Ep 6: Chef Amish Soul Food

Kevin and Tom recap Episode 5 with the help of Top Chef contestant and proprietor of Amish soul food Chris Scott. Warning: strong language and stronger recipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 06, 20181 hr 5 minEp. 5

Ep 5: Bye-Bye Bear, Hello Blais!

Kevin and Tom recap a shocking Episode 4 of Top Chef and talk to special guest Richard Blais of Top Chef fame and the Starving For Attention podcast about possibly starting a Top Chef camp and other behind-the-scenes topics too fire for TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 02, 20181 hr 18 minEp. 4

Ep 4: The Chilito

Top Chef contestant Tyler Anderson joins Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh on the pod, taking us behind the scenes at Top Chef and breaking down the food truck episode with details you can't get anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 20171 hr 14 minEp. 3

Ep 3: The Bear Den

Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh break down Episode 2 of Top Chef and re-visit their draft picks after a surprising elimination. Draft.com (Promo Code: Healthy) 1:10- Intro 1:45- Quickfire Challenge 9:55- Team Challenges 10:35- The Farm 12:20- Menu Creation 14:25- Elimination Challenge 20:45- Kevin’s Tyler Anderson Experience SeatGeek (Promo Code: Healthy) 27:15- Elimination Challenge contd. 31:00- Last Chance Kitchen 34:00- Elimination Challenge contd. 40:45- Draft lookback 44:40- Pack your Kn...

Dec 16, 201759 minEp. 2

Ep 2: The Draft

Kevin and Tom draft their fantasy teams and dive into the Season 15 premiere. Who went No. 1? And should you help a fellow Top Chef if it isn’t team play? Is this season too nice? 01:00- Rock, Paper, Scissors for 1st pick 02:00- Pick 1 09:00- Elimination Challenge Winners statistics 10:15- Confidence impact on Top Chef competitors 11:20- Pick 2 announced by David Stern 12:30- Ballsiness in dish choice 13:40- Helping other Competitors 17:00- Pick 3 18:40- Pick 4 19:50- Why do people do Top Chef a...

Dec 08, 20171 hrEp. 1

Ep 1: Welcome to Pack Your Knives

NBA writers Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh profess their love for Top Chef, name their favorite seasons and preview Season 15's contestants with analytics and scouting. 0:00- Intro/How this podcast got it's start 1:30- Top Chef fantasy quick rundown 2:30- QuickFire appreciation 5:10- Favorite Seasons 20:00- All Time Favorite Chefs 26:05- Season 15 Cheftestants 37:30- Choosing a Chef based on bio 42:30- NBA Restaraunts 48:25- Bojangles Nutritional Trivia of the week 50:25- The Big Number(Top C...

Dec 05, 201758 min
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