World of Mouth podcast

Sara Aqel is a Palestinian chef born and raised in Jordan. She trained at the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and went on to cook at La Capitale at the Four Seasons Amman and Al Muntaha and Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito in Dubai. She later became global executive chef of Fi'lia, the region's first female-led restaurant. Today, she is back in Amman as chef and co-founder of Dara Dining by Sara Aqel, a sustainability-driven restaurant that pairs Jordanian produce and Levantine dishes with Mediterranean flavors. Her restaurant won the Highest New Entry Award at MENA's 50 Best Restaurants in 2025 and in 2026 Aqel was named MENA's Best Female Chef. In her podcast, we will hear Sara Aqel tell about her Palestinian roots and upbringing in Jordan, her connection to Jordanian produce, and the creative process behind the menu at Dara Dining. She will also reveal some of her favourite places in Amman and the rest of the world. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Nancy Silverton is a chef, baker, restaurateur, cookbook author and co-owner of the Mozza Restaurant Group in Los Angeles. Since starting her chef’s career in LA in 1982, she has opened numerous restaurants, most recently Max & Helen's in LA together with Phil Rosenthal. She has received the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award, and been featured in both Netflix's Chef's Table and Masterclass. She has also written eleven cookbooks and is an active fundraiser. In her podcast, we will hear Nancy Silverton tell about how she fell in love with cooking and what it actually takes to be a good restaurateur. She will also reveal some of her favourite places in Los Angeles and the rest of the world. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Khanh Nguyen is the chef behind Ashe, a Southeast Asian grill in Sydney's CBD, where he mixes flavours and techniques from across Vietnamese, Malay and Thai cooking. Nguyen also oversees the menu at sibling venue King Clarence, named Best New Restaurant in 2024. Before returning to Sydney, he co-founded restaurants Aru and Sunda in Melbourne, where he worked for five years. In his podcast, we will hear Khanh Nguyen tell about his Vietnamese-Australian heritage, his connection to Australian ingredients, and the creative process behind the fire-driven Southeast Asian menu at Ashe. He will also reveal some of his favourite places in Sydney, Melbourne and the rest of the world - and reveal the secrets of a perfect Pho soup and Bánh mì sandwich. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Pierre Thiam is a chef and cookbook author born in Dakar, Senegal. He lives in California and is the executive chef of Teranga, a New York-based fast-casual concept serving West African food and also the executive chef of Nok by Alara in Lagos, Nigeria — bridging fine dining with West African ingredients and culture. He also founded Yolélé, a food company creating economic opportunity for West African farmers through climate-smart agriculture. In his podcast, we will hear Pierre Thiam tell about his journey from Dakar in Senegal to bringing West African cuisine to the global stage and about his mission to champion ancient grains like fonio to scale resilient African crops, and how he has used food as an act of diplomacy. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Daniel Patterson is the chef and co-founder of newly opened Jacaranda in Los Angeles. He’s best known for his innovative cooking at two Michelin-starred Coi in San Francisco, which he opened in 2006. He was the co-founder and partner of Alta Adams in Los Angeles with chef Keith Corbin, and a co-founder of the fast food venture LocoL. He has also co-founded two non-profit organizations: The Cooking Project, that empowers youth through cooking, and LocoL Community, in the Watts neighborhood in LA. In his podcast, we will hear Daniel Patterson tell about his love for California, the local produce and the creative process of creating a dish. He will also reveal some of his favourite places in California and the rest of the world. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/  

Gabriela Cámara is the chef and owner of Contramar, the Mexico City seafood restaurant she opened in 1998 in Colonia Roma, known for its tuna tostadas and pescado a la talla. She was born in Chihuahua, and raised in Mexico City. In 2015, Cámara opened Cala in San Francisco, a restaurant known for employing formerly incarcerated people, and since that, she has opened more than 20 restaurants. In her podcast, Gabriela Cámara shares her journey building a Mexico City institution, her thoughts on sourcing great Mexican produce, hospitality, and of course she will reveal her favorite taquerias and other restaurants in Mexico City. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Hussain Shahzad is the Executive Chef of Hunger Inc. Hospitality in Mumbai, the group behind Papa's, The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro and Veronica's. He grew up in Chennai, and after training with The Oberoi Hotel Group in Mumbai, he moved to New York in early 2014 to join Eleven Madison Park. There he met Indian chef Floyd Cardoz and in 2015 joined as sous chef of The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai. He has since led the The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro and Veronica's, and in February 2024 opened Papa's, a 12-seater chef's-counter restaurant. In his podcast, Hussain Shahzad will share his thoughts on contemporary Indian cuisine, and he will also reveal the secrets of a great Bombay Duck, which has nothing to do with duck. He will also guide us to the best eating in Mumbai and the rest of India. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/

Jess Shadbolt is the chef and co-founder of King, Jupiter and Deans in New York. She grew up in the UK, and joined The River Cafe as the assistant to Chefs Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers in 2009, before returning as a chef after having graduated from the Ballymaloe Cookery School in 2012. In 2018, she was named Best New Chef by Food and Wine Magazine. In March 2026, Jess Shadbolt opened Dean's in New York with co-partner Annie Shi as an ode to the great British pub, the traditions of British coastal cooking, nostalgic dishes and warm hospitality, inspired by Jess's upbringing in Suffolk. In her podcast, Jess Shadbolt will share her thoughts on the rise of British produce and gastronomy. She will also reveal some of her favourite places in New York, the UK and the rest of the world. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/