Episode 224: Nick DiGiovanni (author, Knife Drop)

At just 27 years of age, Nick DiGiovanni has parlayed a love of cooking and a  run to the finals on television's Master Chef into a successful career as an internet culinary personality (he boasts more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube and 11 million on TikTok), food entertainer and educator, and now cookbook author. On the occasion of the publication of his first cookbook, Knife Drop: Creative Recipes Anyone Can Cook, Nick sat down with Andrew in New York City this week to discuss his uniquely modern path, what drove him to take a break from college to compete with pro cooks on Master Chef, and how he's navigated his unconventional career so far.Our thanks to Greywind restaurant and Spygold cocktail bar for hosting us for this interview.This episode is brought to you in part by meez, the recipe operating system for culinary professionals. Try out their free basic version today.Andrew’s next book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food is now available for preorder! Please consider purchasing your copy/copies in advance and help the book have a great lift-off.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 news. 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!