Mason Hereford | Ya Gotta Eat #4

Описание: Mason Hereford — chef, author, and owner of Turkey and the Wolf — joins Robert St. John and Drew Wooton for Episode 4 of Ya Gotta Eat.

Mason is one of the most original voices in American food today. His counter-service sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf, has been named one of the most important restaurants of the decade by Food & Wine and Esquire, and was crowned Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant in America. He’s also a New York Times bestselling cookbook author — but titles only tell part of the story.

In this episode, the conversation goes far beyond the kitchen. We talk about the realities of running restaurants, personal responsibility, and how culture, place, and work ethic shape the way we live and eat. From quirky gas stations and unexpected food finds to bigger ideas about America, creativity, and timing — this is a thoughtful, honest conversation with someone who sees the world a little differently.

Ya Gotta Eat is built on one idea:
Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.

Watch or listen to Episode 4 — because… Ya Gotta Eat!

FOLLOW US
Instagram:   / yagottaeatshow  
Facebook:   / yagottaeatshow  
TikTok:   / yagottaeatshow  
Business Inquiries: [email protected]

LINKS
▶️ Last Episode:    • Eric Cook | Part 2 | Ya Gotta Eat #3  
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdy...
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya...

CHAPTERS
0:00 – Intro
6:58 – Mason Joins the Table (Free Union, VA → New Orleans)
9:29 – First NOLA Job: Fat Harry’s (Door Guy → Cook)
12:15 – Robert’s Opening Night Chaos
14:56 – “Chopped” Challenges & Early Cooking Breakthroughs
17:47 – Coquette: From Line Cook to CDC
20:08 – Road Trip, Staging, and Movie Set Catering
21:11 – Opening Turkey and the Wolf: The Name & Origins
26:55 – Design Philosophy: Building from “Seeds,” Not Perfection
30:07 – Staying Genuine When the Hype Hits
32:03 – The Jefferson, Go-To Orders, & Mississippi Food Memories
36:38 – Independent Restaurant Coalition (COVID Era)
40:48 – Breakfast Love & Brinner
41:45 – Fame Shock: National Attention & “Best New Restaurant”
47:06 – “Overrated” Backlash & Handling the Haters
51:50 – Dan Stein & the Deli Bromance
54:56 – New Orleans Speed Round (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
58:07 – Grateful Dead, Music & Kitchen Parallels
1:02:03 – Cookbook Love: Flavor Tripping Is 100% Mason
1:03:54 – The Cookbook That Went in the Ocean (Wild Story)
1:08:47 – Vegas Expansion, Risk & Pressure
1:12:27 – Why High Hat: History, People, & Southern Flair
1:14:14 – Buc-ee’s, Beaver Nuggets, & America Explained
1:17:36 – The 12-Year-Old Birthday Dinner Question
1:20:54 – Final Thoughts
1:22:23 – Outro

#foodpodcast #restaurantlife #foodculture #neworleansfood #cheflife #creativeprocess