Our New York Table

When Benyam Ethiopian Cuisine first opened in Harlem, people weren’t always sure whether they’d walked into a restaurant or an art gallery. And in some ways, that was exactly how owner Beniam Asfaw and his siblings wanted it.
In this episode, I sit down with owner Beniam Asfaw to talk about his journey to New York City, berbere basics, and how food, art, and atmosphere come together to create a place meant for lingering.
Read more about what we ate!

When Fares Zedeia left Palestine as a teenager, he believed he’d return. Instead, he had to watch from afar as his homeland was torn apart. For years, he searched for his place in the world — a search that eventually led him to a food cart on a New York City sidewalk.
In this episode, I sit down with Fares “Freddy” Zedeia, the King of Falafel and Shawarma himself. Over a platter of his signature falafel, juicy shawarma, and tender kebab, we talk about his journey from cab driver to king — and how food becomes identity and a way to survive when home is far away.
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When friends John Nguyen and Chef Nhu Ton first jumped into the restaurant world, they were in over their heads. Way over. Today, they run one of the hottest Vietnamese spots in New York City.
In this episode, I sit down with John and Nhu, the team behind Manhattan’s Bánh Anh Em. Over bánh mì and bún chả, we talk about their journey from hole-in-the-wall beginnings to the Michelin Guide — and the craftsmanship that transforms simple ingredients into unforgettable dishes.
See what we ate!

Patrick Lin calls Hu Tieu “the noodle soup of his ancestors.” So when Ly Nguyen made a version that was better than his mom’s, he knew she was the one.
In this episode, I sit down with Patrick and Ly — owners of Brooklyn's Em Vietnamese — to talk about how they fell in love with each other and with Vietnamese cooking. Over a feast of Ly’s best dishes, we explore the ingredients, stories, and traditions that give this cuisine its incredible freshness and depth.
Check out everything we ate!
 

We're back with season 2 of Our New York Table, the podcast about food, the people who make it, and what brings all of us to the table.
In this season, we'll hear from chefs and restaurant owners about the experiences that shaped them, the dreams they brought to New York City, and the risks they took to make them happen.
New season coming December 2025.