The BEST episodes of The Mind of a Chef season 1

Every episode of The Mind of a Chef season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Mind of a Chef season 1!

The Mind of a Chef combines travel, cooking, history, science, and humor into an unforgettable journey. Producer and narrator Anthony Bourdain explores the creative processes of international celebrity chefs to learn what fuels their culinary artistry.

Last Updated: 4/5/2024Network: PBSStatus: Ended

7.93

29 votes

#1 - Japan

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/2012

Chang travels from Tokyo to Kyoto to meet and eat with friends. He visits a street market in Tokyo and Michelin three-star restaurant Kikunoi in Kyoto.

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7.84

56 votes

#2 - Noodlin'

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/9/2012

Author and Chef David Chang visits a noodle factory in Japan; eats the best bowl of ramen in his life; and, cooks two incredible dishes with the instant ramen variety. Food scientist Harold McGee explains how alkaline salts make ramen noodles unique.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.71

31 votes

#3 - Rotten

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/16/2012

There is something rotten in David Chang’s kitchen and that’s a good thing. Rotten is delicious; katsuibushi in Japan, XO sauce, rotten bananas with Chef Christina Tosi, and Kimchi.

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7.68

25 votes

#4 - Soy

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/30/2012

This episode is all soy; Chang visits tofu and miso factories in Japan, Chef Christina Tosi makes Burnt Miso.

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7.68

28 votes

#5 - Smoke

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/2013

Chang profiles regional BBQ in North Carolina, Texas, and Kansas City plus the other-worldly smoky bacon from Allen Benton in Tennessee.

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7.63

27 votes

#6 - New York

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/2012

This episode is all New York with the Torrisi boys, oysters, carrot dashi, and farming. Plus Chang visits native New Yorker Ivan Ramen in Tokyo where he is making ramen that is taking the city by storm.

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7.63

24 votes

#7 - Fresh

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/30/2012

This episode explores the idea of fresh in the kitchen; instant broth, pea agnollini, fresh and aged steak with Chef Tien and Ike Jime with Dave Arnold and Chef Murata in Kyoto.

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7.63

24 votes

#8 - Buddies

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/11/2013

Chang cooks and goofs around with his friends; Peter Meehan in Japan, Laurant Gras, Set Bains, and Rene Redzepi in Copenhagen.

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7.62

26 votes

#9 - Simplicity

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/23/2012

Dishes in this episode are deceivingly simple; Chang travels to Japan for some Yakitori and high-end sushi, and his pal Daniel Patterson makes beets.

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7.60

35 votes

#10 - Spain

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/9/2012

This episode is all about Spain’s influence on Chang’s career. He visits with some of his idols- Juan Mari Arzak and Andoni Aduriz, makes fideos, salt cod omelet and a sponge cake from chef Albert Adria.

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7.60

25 votes

#11 - René

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/2012

Chang hangs out with one of his best friends- who happens to be the world’s top chef- Rene Redzepi.

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7.54

24 votes

#12 - Gluttony

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/2012

It’s gluttonous goodness in this episode; over the top indulgence with Joe Beef chefs Federic Morin and David McMillian’s fois gras sandwich, a whiskey tasting Mayhem with Chef Sean Brock at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky and the classic dish Hot Brown served up three ways.

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7.54

26 votes

#13 - Chef

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2012

Chang prepares eggs with his chef pals; Wylie Dufresne, Daniel Patterson, Rene Redzepi, and makes his Ko egg.

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7.38

39 votes

#14 - Squeal Like a Pig

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/9/2012

This episode explores Chang’s relationship to the pig. He travels to San Sebastian to discuss pork bushi. He makes pork belly, and tonkotsu and travels to Montreal with his pal Aziz Ansari for a fried bologna sandwich. In the kitchen, David makes a "red-eye mayo;" his pastry chef shows how to make a salty sugary late night snack--the corn cookie ham and cheese.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.32

38 votes

#15 - Memory Lane

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/9/2012

Author and Chef David Chang revisits a ramen shop in Japan, where he ate while apprenticing at a restaurant in Tokyo. He also visits the Callaway Golf factory where, for the first time in the 14 years since he threw his clubs off a cliff, he hits a golf ball. Later, he prepares a cold Korean soup, naeng myung, that his mother prepared for him and his father when they went golfing.

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7.31

26 votes

#16 - Sweet Spot

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/30/2012

Chang’s protégé Christina Tosi makes corn cookies three ways and her three layered Arnold Palmer Cake, Chef Burns makes ice cream and Chang goes strawberry picking.

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