About this episode
Michael Symon goes full Greek mode in this Mediterranean-inspired episode, frying up tender beef keftedes — mini Greek meatballs spiced with coriander, cumin and cinnamon — while his guest, the unstoppable Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja of Shuka and Shukette, whips feta into a silky dream. As they cook, Ayesha shares her incredible story — from getting rejected three times at Lidia Bastianich’s restaurant to sneaking in with a broom and earning her spot as Sous Chef four years later. The crew dives into mentorship, the power of persistence, and why you should never call a sweet-potato purée “hummus.” There’s frying in olive oil, garlic candles, talk of TV Titans and Brooklyn accents — plus plenty of laughs and the now-legendary “Rip and Dip.” It’s a masterclass in flavor and friendship with a side of comedy and chaos — aka classic Chewed Up . 👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: www.chewedupshow.com/recipes Keywords Michael Symon, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Greek meatballs, whipped feta, meze, keftedes, olive oil frying, Food Network Titans, mentorship, Brooklyn chef, Trader Joe’s ingredients, Marble Ridge Farms, Blues Hog BBQ, Frontgate, All-Clad, Hedley & Bennett, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Chewed Up podcast Timestamps (YouTube / Spotify) 00:00 – Intro chaos & banter 01:30 – Michael explains meze and his mom’s Greek roots 02:45 – Guest intro: Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja joins the kitchen 05:30 – Ayesha shares her wild culinary origin story 10:00 – Sponsor shout-outs: Blues Hog, Marble Ridge, Trader Joe’s 12:00 – Cooking the beef keftedes (step-by-step) 16:00 – Ayesha’s whipped feta recipe and kitchen tips 20:00 – The Great Hummus Debate erupts 25:00 – Rip & Dip taste test + dill love-fest 29:00 – Titan talk & fan giveaway winner (Ally in Austin, TX) 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Blues Hog → Award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs that bring championship flavor to any dish. blueshog.com Marble Ridge Farms → Fourth-generation Missouri farm raising premium Wagyu cattle in a low-stress, happy environment. marbleridgefarms.com Trader Joe’s → Your friendly neighborhood market for unique seasonal finds and affordable adventures. traderjoes.com Frontgate → Luxury entertaining and home essentials that make every spread look spectacular. frontgate.com All-Clad → The gold standard of cookware, crafted in the USA since the 1970s. all-clad.com Hedley & Bennett → Professional-grade aprons and kitchen gear built for durability, function and style. hedleyandbennett.com Kitchen Designed by Anthony Carrino → anthonycarrino.com Produced by Simple Alien → www.simplealien.com Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → tvboynyc.com For more on Ayesha and her restaurants: on instagram → @ayesha_rare Shukette Shuka About Chewed Up Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon serve up comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation three times a week — Monday (Appetizers), Wednesday (Mains), and Friday (Desserts). Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a bite. Want to Watch? → Spotify → YouTube Want to Listen? → Spotify → Apple Podcasts → Amazon Music → RedCircle Fan Giveaway This week’s giveaway: Blues Hog Barbecue Sauce Kit 👉 Enter for future giveaways at chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy