This season of The Mind of a Chef dives into the expansive imagination of Danny Bowien, chef and owner of New York's Mission Chinese Food. Danny’s Origin story informs much of his playful and constantly evolving cuisine: Born in Korea, adopted & raised by a devoutly Christian white family in Oklahoma. After his mother passed away when he was in his late teens, Danny's perspective shifted and he decided to head to San Francisco for culinary school. His twenties, like most people's, were a series of highs and lows - culinary school, stints at fine dining restaurants in NY and SF, abusive chefs, falling in love and reconnecting with his Korean roots, and stumbling into what became a food movement, the original Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco.

Season 5 Episode 6 - La Mer

Ludo came up under mentors like Alain Passard and Mark Meneau, chefs with an almost pathological obsession with ingredients. His eyes light up when he describes the Lobsters of Brittany, the Oysters from Cancale, and the myriad of other extraordinary culinary jewels in the oceanic bounty of France. Air Date : 5th-Nov-2016

Season 5 Episode 1 - Eggs

From the NYC classic egg on a roll to Faroe Island fulmar egg and curry, re-fall in love with the best egg dishes from our archives. Crack it open, and let the fun begin. Air Date : 1st-Oct-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 2 - Legends

It takes a great chef to make a great chef. This episode is all about paying homage to the greatest culinary minds in the world. Fergus Henderson, Eric Ripert, Pascal Barbot and more spend some quality time cooking with our alumni. Air Date : 8th-Oct-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 3 - Fried

When it comes to preparations, few could be as delightful and decadent as a good, old-fashioned deep fry. We dip THE MIND OF A CHEF basket in hot oil, serving up everything from oyster poboys to pig’s head, from alligator filets to sardine spines. Air Date : 15th-Oct-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 4 - LudoBird

How does a chef trained in the finest kitchens of France translate his haute cuisine to fast food? Ludo’s obsession with a perfectly cooked bird can be traced back to France, where he learned to roast chicken, and his love for the American classic was solidified when he ate at KFC for the first time. Air Date : 22nd-Oct-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 5 - Strip Malls

Trois Mec and Petit Trois can be found side-by-side in a Hollywood strip mall, nestled between a dry cleaners and a Yum Yum donut. Ludo’s restaurants and the dishes he creates for them embody the cultural mash-up and high/low flair that is the strip mall philosophy. Air Date : 29th-Oct-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 6 - La Mer

Ludo came up under mentors like Alain Passard and Mark Meneau, chefs with an almost pathological obsession with ingredients. His eyes light up when he describes the Lobsters of Brittany, the Oysters from Cancale, and the myriad of other extraordinary culinary jewels in the oceanic bounty of France. Air Date : 5th-Nov-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 7 - Le Végétale

Today’s chef reveres his gardener as much as his butcher. Ludo explores the vegetables, gardens, and memories he uses to cook some of his dishes. Air Date : 12th-Nov-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 8 - Joie De Vivre

The demands of a celebrity chef, especially one that runs three vibrant restaurants and a fried chicken franchise, are rigorous. When Ludo needs to escape the chaos, he heads to the lilting and poetic world of Paris in the spring, where the emphasis is placed on the joy and fun of life. Air Date : 19th-Nov-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 9 - Tous Au Bistro

A bistro is typically defined by its modesty – they are relatively small, affordable and humble. With Petit Trois, Ludo’s has brought the spirit of the bistro to Los Angeles. In this episode, Ludo brings us back to Paris to introduce us to some of the people and places that first inspired him to begin a culinary career. Air Date : 26th-Nov-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 10 - Instinct vs. Discipline

Does an artist follow instinct, training or intuition…or perhaps all three? This episode examines the ties between artists and their education, and how childlike wonder can, in fact, translate into a career. Air Date : 4th-Dec-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 11 - LudoBites

Ludo began his US career cooking at Los Angeles restaurant Bastide, but after it closed for renovations he opted not to return and instead chose to do things his way. Borrowing a friend’s bakery space, Ludo created a unique dining experience in the form of small, reservations-only, “chef’s choice” dinners that became known as LudoBites. Air Date : 11th-Dec-2016  Read More

Season 5 Episode 12 - Surf N Turf

Explore the wet and dry side of our culinary world as Magnus Nilsson dry-ages a steak in kidney fat as long as he possibly can, April Bloomfield hallucinates while at a butcher shop, and Ed Lee makes a ribeye with eel puree. Air Date : 1st-Jan-1970  Read More

Season 5 Episode 13 - Dessert

We take a long, hard look at the cherry on top of a dining experience. On the menu is burnt miso apple pie, the English classic banoffee pie, and sorghum ice cream, so grab a spoon. Air Date : 1st-Jan-1970  Read More

Season 5 Episode 14 - Birds

We open the birdcage on some of our familiar (and some not so familiar) poultry dishes. Chinese chicken noodle soup, and chicken and dumplings make an appearance, but also stuffed Faroe Island puffin and duck-on-a-string. Air Date : 1st-Jan-1970  Read More