Podcast Summary: "Wishbone Kitchen’s Meredith Hayden on Her New Book, Cooking in Style, and Being a Chef in the Digital Age"
Let's Get Dressed hosted by Liv Perez delves into the intersection of fashion and culinary arts in this engaging episode featuring Meredith Hayden, the chef, content creator, and newly published author behind Wishbone Kitchen. Released on May 12, 2025, this episode offers listeners a deep dive into Meredith's inspirations, challenges, and insights into being a modern chef in the digital era.
1. Introduction and Guest Background
Liv Perez warmly welcomes Meredith Hayden to Let's Get Dressed, highlighting Meredith's impeccable taste both in fashion and in the kitchen. The episode sets the stage by mentioning Meredith's highly anticipated cookbook and her journey as a chef navigating the digital landscape.
Notable Quote:
"If there is anyone who we all know has impeccable taste both on and off the table, Meredith Hayden."
— Liv Perez [01:26]
2. Personal Style and Its Influence on Cooking
The conversation begins with a light-hearted exchange about Meredith's appearance at the Tory Burch show and an iconic moment involving Martha Stewart. This segues into a discussion about Meredith's personal style—favoring comfort and practicality due to her active lifestyle as a chef and dog mom.
Notable Quotes:
"I don't have the liberty of the patience to scour thrift stores and eBay for the perfect pair of upcycled denim."
— Meredith Hayden [04:37]
"I wear the same stuff every day... just throw them on. Don't think about it."
— Meredith Hayden [10:36]
3. Meredith's Wardrobe Essentials
Meredith elaborates on her go-to wardrobe staples, emphasizing denim and cotton T-shirts for their durability and ease of maintenance—crucial for someone frequently encountering stains in the kitchen and playful antics from her puppy.
Notable Quote:
"The main point of consideration when buying something I want to wear daily is, is this going to survive multiple rounds in the washing machine?"
— Meredith Hayden [06:00]
4. Integrating Personal Style into Culinary Presentation
Drawing parallels between fashion and cooking, Meredith discusses how her approach to simplicity serves as a foundation, allowing her to infuse personal touches—akin to accessorizing an outfit—in her recipes and table settings.
Notable Quote:
"When I'm cooking, I'll start with something that's really simple, whether it's a roast chicken or pasta. But there are all these fun little secrets in the recipe that make it a bit more me."
— Meredith Hayden [12:43]
5. Designing the Tablescape
Meredith shares her philosophy on table design, favoring natural fibers and white linens to create a versatile backdrop that allows colorful elements—like flowers or vibrant dishes—to stand out. She recounts a creative last-minute decision to incorporate dahlias into napkin rings, adding a personal and spontaneous touch to her setup.
Notable Quote:
"Flowers would be my tennis necklace for a tablescape because it always just adds so much life to a table."
— Meredith Hayden [16:08]
6. Inspirations and Influences
The discussion shifts to Meredith's inspirations, both from the culinary world and beyond. She mentions Stanley Tucci as a favorite non-chef chef for his passionate and whimsical approach to cooking, and discusses the impact of familial history on storytelling through food.
Notable Quotes:
"Food and fashion are two mediums that are so visual. It's fun to see brands like Loewe celebrate things like tomatoes."
— Meredith Hayden [22:57]
"Food is now making its way into mainstream pop culture in a way that it really wasn't before."
— Meredith Hayden [23:44]
7. Navigating the Digital Landscape as a Chef
Meredith candidly discusses the challenges and rewards of building a digital presence in a field traditionally dominated by brands like Martha Stewart. She shares her struggles with being taken seriously while maintaining her personal flair and femininity in a male-dominated industry.
Notable Quote:
"In a male-dominated space like food, I struggled early on to sort of lean into myself while still being taken seriously at work."
— Meredith Hayden [29:54]
8. Embracing Authenticity and Community
Highlighting the importance of authenticity, Meredith explains how shifting her content to reflect what she personally enjoys—like vlogs—led to her first viral video. This move fostered a genuine connection with her audience, emphasizing the value of sharing one's true self over adhering to trends.
Notable Quote:
"If you're feeling like you're in a rut with content, just think about what content you like to consume and then go for that instead of keeping these like barriers on what you think you should be posting."
— Meredith Hayden [32:33]
9. The Future of Food Media and Personal Aspirations
Meredith expresses her disillusionment with mainstream food shows prioritizing views over quality, motivating her to create her own content on platforms like YouTube. She emphasizes the importance of a direct and meaningful connection with her audience, free from the constraints of traditional media.
Notable Quote:
"What I love about being a digital creator is being able to make whatever I want. And so long as people are interested, that is all that matters."
— Meredith Hayden [35:25]
10. Launching Her Cookbook
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing Meredith's new cookbook, Cooking in Style. She shares her motivations for the book, aiming to offer simple, home-cooked recipes inspired by family traditions rather than overly complicated dishes meant to impress. Meredith highlights the book's aesthetic, featuring beautiful watercolor illustrations and vintage-inspired designs to make it a delightful experience even for those who may not cook frequently.
Notable Quote:
"I wanted the book to be beautiful... it was meant to be a fun book to flip through and look at, even if you had no intention of actually recreating the recipes."
— Meredith Hayden [43:07]
11. Overcoming Industry Challenges
Meredith reflects on the skepticism surrounding digital creators and female-led industries, addressing the prejudice of being labeled "just an influencer." She underscores the importance of focusing on her passion and community support rather than seeking external validation.
Notable Quote:
"I am like, the more people who I'm gonna let people think that way, I'm not gonna waste my breath trying to convince people otherwise."
— Meredith Hayden [32:08]
12. Future Projects and Personal Growth
Looking ahead, Meredith discusses her aspirations to continue creating cookbooks and expanding her knowledge in areas like gardening and sewing. She acknowledges the setbacks caused by health issues but remains committed to her current path, emphasizing resilience and continuous learning.
Notable Quote:
"I just want to keep doing what I'm doing right now. But even better."
— Meredith Hayden [48:45]
13. Lightning Round: Personal Favorites
In a fun concluding segment, Meredith shares her personal favorites, including the Polo Bar as her favorite restaurant in New York, spaghetti and meatballs as her favorite dish, Adidas Gazelles as her current favorite shoes, and watermelon vodka lemonade as her go-to summer cocktail.
Notable Quote:
"It's such a quality experience to be able to sit down with a book and, like, not have a million things popping up on the screen."
— Meredith Hayden [41:43]
Conclusion
This episode of Let's Get Dressed offers a comprehensive look into Meredith Hayden's life as a modern chef who seamlessly blends her passion for cooking with her unique personal style. Through candid conversations and insightful reflections, listeners gain valuable perspectives on navigating the culinary world in the digital age, the importance of authenticity, and the joy of creating beautiful, accessible cookbooks. Meredith's journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring chefs and digital creators alike, showcasing the power of staying true to oneself while embracing the ever-evolving landscape of food media.
Final Thoughts:
"I am so excited to get back to YouTube. It's really such a special place."
— Meredith Hayden [35:47]
*For those interested in exploring Meredith Hayden's recipes and experiencing her culinary style firsthand, her cookbook Cooking in Style is available for pre-order and is set to release on May 6th.