So many first-time ingredients to spice up the episode we've whipped up this week: Our FIRST guest from the CULINARY arts... Our FIRST guest co-host who is also an artist in the art form o' the day... and our FIRST guest who has brought along his MOM! A melange of new flavors baked into this week's conversation with 2024 Top Chef-testant CHEF VALENTINE HOWELL, JR, and his mother, STEPHANIE JOACINE, at whose side Val first came to know and love the art and science of food. And because there are never truly too many cooks in the kitchen, we are thrilled to be joined by guest co-host LINDSAY CHRISTIANS, a full-time food editor and arts writer at The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. Bon appetit!

BIOS:
Born and raised in Boston, VALENTINE HOWELL, JR. was drawn to the magic of hospitality and food as far back as he can remember. Officially starting his culinary education at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and graduating from Newbury College with a B.S. in hotel, restaurant and hospitality management, he continues to be inspired by food, art, and his love for culture, travel and the people around him. With over two decades of experience working behind the line in some of Boston’s most notable kitchens, Valentine’s path has led to experiences working alongside culinary royalty such as Lydia Shire, shaping how he approaches cooking and expanding his culinary acumen. A James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef in the Northeast in 2023, every kitchen has imparted diverse knowledge to Valentine’s repertoire. Highlighting local produce and other various cultural and local ingredients, Valentine is currently focusing on hosting pop-ups to promote his international food concept, Black Cat Eatery, which consists of tacos, shared plates of Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and Latin street foods, and dishes with his creative take. Chef Val is currently the head chef at Lingo, the in-headquarter restaurant and bar at EF Education First in Cambridge, MA, which is enjoyed by EF employees and guests.

Chef Valentine's official Instagram handle is: @_valentino_86
Bravo's Top Chef official Instagram handle is: @bravotopchef

LINDSAY CHRISTIANS (she/hers) is a full-time food editor and arts writer at The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. She is the host and producer of The Corner Table, a podcast about food and drink in Madison, and a monthly video series called Cooking with the Cap Times featuring local chefs. She is the author of “Madison Chefs: Stories of Food, Farms and People” (UW Press, 2021) and "The Osteria Papavero Cookbook" (Little Creek Press, 2023) with Francesco Mangano.

Lindsay earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in theatre research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She served as a judge for Wisconsin's high school musical theater awards program, The Jerry Awards, for 14 years. She also founded the Student Critics Program at Overture Center for the Arts and ran it every season from 2009-2020. Lindsay is a member of the American Theatre Critics and Journalists Association and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. lindsaychristians.com