630: Is Akhtar Nawab New York City’s Most Respected Chef?

Akhtar Nawab is today’s guest, and we dig into his influential career in New York City dining. He’s the chef-owner of the terrific restaurants Wayward Fare and Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and he previously ran the kitchen at La Esquina. Akhtar moved to New York in 1998 and worked under chef Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern for several years. He was part of the opening staff of Craft, and in 2002 he helped open Craftbar, later serving as executive chef. He’s mentored many stars in the industry, including David Chang, who credits him as a major influence. While he’d never say it himself, those who follow NYC restaurants understand that Akhtar is a giant in the industry. Humble and hardworking, it was a real pleasure to have him in the studio to talk about his amazing work. Also on the show we have a great conversation with Javier Cabral. He's the editor in chief of L.A. Taco. We discuss the publication's important work covering Los Angeles ICE activity, while offering readers a needed resource to stay safe. We also talk about how he balances breaking news coverage with deep dives into LA taco culture. It's a must read, and you can subscribe today. Read: What To Do If ICE Stops You In a Car, On a Bus, Or In a Train Listen: Tom Colicchio on the Birth of Gramercy Tavern, Top Chef Favorites, Running For Congress Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

By This Is TASTE

3:00 AM EDT on July 26, 2025

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Episode Info

Episode630

Akhtar Nawab is today’s guest, and we dig into his influential career in New York City dining. He’s the chef-owner of the terrific restaurants Wayward Fare and Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and he previously ran the kitchen at La Esquina. Akhtar moved to New York in 1998 and worked under chef Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern for several years. He was part of the opening staff of Craft, and in 2002 he helped open Craftbar, later serving as executive chef. He’s mentored many stars in the industry, including David Chang, who credits him as a major influence. While he’d never say it himself, those who follow NYC restaurants understand that Akhtar is a giant in the industry. Humble and hardworking, it was a real pleasure to have him in the studio to talk about his amazing work.Also on the show we have a great conversation with Javier Cabral. He's the editor in chief of L.A. Taco. We discuss the publication's important work covering Los Angeles ICE activity, while offering readers a needed resource to stay safe. We also talk about how he balances breaking news coverage with deep dives into LA taco culture. It's a must read, and you can subscribe today.Read: What To Do If ICE Stops You In a Car, On a Bus, Or In a TrainListen: Tom Colicchio on the Birth of Gramercy Tavern, Top Chef Favorites, Running For CongressSubscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices