Ep 8. All Sunchoked Up

In season 4 of the popular culinary documentary series, A Chef's Life, episode 8 titled "All Sunchoked Up," viewers are taken on a journey with Chef Vivian Howard as she explores the ChokeSaver program.

The episode begins with Chef Vivian driving through the picturesque town of New Bern, North Carolina, where she meets with a group of local farmers who grow Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes. As Vivian learns about the crop, she becomes fascinated with its nutritional benefits and unique flavor profile.

Vivian then travels to the hospital in Greenville, where she meets with Dr. Brian Forrest, the founder of the ChokeSaver program. The program aims to teach people how to adequately chew their food, starting with a choke-inducing vegetable - the Jerusalem artichoke. Through this program, people learn how to be more mindful when eating, which can help prevent choking incidents.

As part of her research, Vivian attends a ChokeSaver class and learns how to properly chew a sunchoke. She also talks to Dr. Forrest about the importance of educating people on how to prevent choking incidents and why the ChokeSaver program is so important.

After her visit to the hospital, Vivian returns to her restaurant, the Chef & the Farmer, where she prepares a menu inspired by the Jerusalem artichoke. She works closely with her team of chefs to create dishes that highlight the unique flavor of the vegetable, including a sunchoke hummus and a sunchoke gratin.

Throughout the episode, viewers are also given an intimate look at Vivian's personal life as she prepares for her daughter's eighth birthday party. She spends the day baking a cake and decorating the house for the celebration.

The episode culminates in a beautiful dinner service at the Chef & the Farmer, where guests are treated to a special menu featuring Jerusalem artichokes. As Vivian and her team work tirelessly in the kitchen, the guests are impressed with the creative and delicious dishes.

Overall, "All Sunchoked Up" is a fascinating look into the ways in which food can be used to promote health and wellness. It also showcases the creativity and skill of Chef Vivian Howard as she creates unique dishes inspired by a lesser-known vegetable.