Episode 151: Rick Bayless Reflects on Our COVID Year

The great Chicago chef Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, et. al.) recently wrote a deeply personal essay for Medium about the roller coaster of personal and professional milestones that comprise his year of coping with the human and economic costs of COVID. On this week's show, Rick expands on the universal themes and observations of the piece in an unscripted, unguarded conversation with Andrew. We think this will be a very cathartic listen, whether or not you are in the industry.Here's the YouTube channel Rick talks about on the pod.Please consider supporting Andrew Talks to Chefs via our Patreon page–we have just eliminated tiered contributor levels and invite one and all to support us at a minimum of just $2 per month. Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information. THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!