*** This episode originally aired on our former host network; Andrew Talks to Chefs is now an independent podcast please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.***Empellón's Alex Stupak pulled a remarkable 180 when he transitioned from pastry chef of such landmark modernist restaurants as Alinea and wd-50 to chef-owner of his Empellón Mexican restaurants in New York City. In our first episode, this quick-witted chef takes us through his career, from his formative days in Boston and Chicago, through his time working with Grant Achatz and Wylie Dufresne, and into his ongoing evolution as a chef-owner. Along the way, we touch on whether or not food is or can be an art, the thorny issue of cultural appropriation, ambition, and what might be next for this endlessly curious talent.Please consider supporting Andrew Talks to Chefs via our Patreon page–pledge $10 or more per month and gain access to bonus, patron-only episodes, blog posts, polls, and more.