Episode 1
Prune
30m
With every chipped plate and hand-written to-do list, Gabrielle Hamilton’s “presence” is all over her NYC restaurant, Prune.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
TV series
The Mind of a Chef
2012TV-PG6 seasons8.5 / 10
Go inside the minds of some of the world's top chefs. Narrated by Executive Producer Anthony Bourdain, The Mind of a Chef is that rare and beautiful thing: an intelligent show about cooking.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Mind of a Chef is available to stream on Prime Video, Amazon Freevee, Fandango at Home Free, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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Synopsis
Go inside the minds of some of the world's top chefs. Narrated by Executive Producer Anthony Bourdain, The Mind of a Chef is that rare and beautiful thing: an intelligent show about cooking.
Season 4 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Garbage
30m
Having been raised in a large family with many mouths to feed, to then needing to fend for herself from a very young age, Gabrielle Hamilton is the master of utilizing scraps.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 3
Rome
30m
Explore Gabrielle’s deep love with this ancient city.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 4
Hunger
30m
From a very young age, Gabrielle Hamilton was left alone in her home to fend for herself. She rummaged through what was left in the pantry and refrigerator and satisfied her hunger with what she could scavenge. At 16, she moved to New York City where she used her jar of change to feed herself. All her experiences with hunger made her the chef she is today.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 5
Past
30m
It’s an age-old saying, but where you have been is almost as important as where you are going and ultimately makes you who you are today. Gabrielle Hamilton has traveled the country and the world, but sometimes, it’s good to go back to your roots.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 6
Hustle
30m8.0 / 10
Surviving the restaurant game for 15 years in New York City takes some major hustle. From lying about her age to get her first dishwasher gig to lying about her tips, getting busted and charged with grand larceny, hustling was the easy part in running a restaurant for Gabrielle Hamilton.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 7
Napkin
30m8.0 / 10
Milan is a meeting ground of both contemporary and classic Italian culture. But what really entices Gabrielle Hamilton are the small details, an embroidered curtain, a classically non-garnished plate, a perfectly folded napkin.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 8
Evolution
30m7.0 / 10
Gabrielle looks long and hard at how she has evolved not only as a chef, but as a writer and restaurant owner.
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Episode 9
Fire
30m10.0 / 10
Things can change in an instant, as David discovered in July of 2014, when he got a fateful call that his restaurant Manresa had burned nearly to the ground.
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Episode 10
Legacy
30m10.0 / 10
Food is evolution, and wise chefs never forget from whence they came. A solid foundation allows them to test new boundaries and push things to new limits.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 11
Ocean
30m9.0 / 10
Nothing is more calming or inspiring than the sea, and living in Santa Cruz, David is never far from one of his many muses.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 12
Strawberry
30m7.0 / 10
A dish is only as good as its ingredients, but an ingredient can also be manipulated in many ways. In this episode, David focuses his attention to the strawberry, at the height of its season during production, to celebrate the summer favorite.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 13
Balance
30m
For Chef David Kinch, balance in life is as important as balance in a dish. And seeking that balance means walking away form the bustle of the line and demands of running the restaurant.
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Episode 14
Restrictions
30m9.0 / 10
Diners these days can be pickier than ever, and they seem to have no problem telling a chef how to do his or her job. Allergies, self-diagnosed sensitivities and customer “dislikes” have become the bane of several chefs’ existence.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 15
New Orleans
30m6.0 / 10
When your first restaurant job is Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, you are inevitably destined for great things. As a high school student in New Orleans, David’s eyes were opened by the glamorous Crescent City institution, and a long career in cuisine followed.
Where to watch The Mind of a Chef
Episode 16
25 Bites
30m9.0 / 10finale
A perfect tasting menu relies on balance, and on not fatiguing a customer’s palate. Based on that theory, no meal should be more than 25 bites.
Where to watch The Mind of a ChefEpisode information updated Jul 23, 2026
More about The Mind of a Chef
Cast
Gabrielle HamiltonSelf
David KinchSelfMagnus NilssonSelf
Edward LeeSelf
Ludo LefebvreSelf
Anthony BourdainNarrator (voice)
David ChangSelfDanny BowienSelf
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 86
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
Zero Point ZeroUnited States
GBHUnited States
Themes
chefcookingcooking showculinary artsfoodprofessional chefstravelworld cuisine
