A Chef's Life

The Final Harvest

54m 34s

After five momentous seasons of A CHEF’S LIFE, Vivian hosts THE FINAL HARVEST, a farewell feast of epic proportions. This series finale begins as a tractor pushes through her family’s cornfield to carve out the open-air dining room of Vivian's dreams. She gathers Summer’s last vegetables from Warren Brothers’ farm for a batch of chow-chow.

Episodes

Liver Lover

S5 E9 - 24m 34s

Vivian visits one of her favorite farmers and an eastern North Carolina restaurant known for its fried livers. She learns that not all livers are created equal, but are equally good for you. Back at home, Mrs. Scarlett prepares a humble, old-school dish of beef liver and onions, which inspires Vivian to introduce a fancy, controversial liver dish to the restaurant's menu.
Chasing Trout

S5 E8 - 24m 33s

Vivian plans a respite from the road during the holidays, but finds herself equally busy at home. She volunteers at a soup kitchen and does one last book signing in Kinston before the holidays. Vivian also visits Sunburst Trout Farms and prepares a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner at the restaurant where trout — from roe to filet — shines.
Persimmon Style

S5 E7 - 24m 32s

On a short hiatus from the book tour, Vivian takes the twins to pick persimmons off Mrs. Betty’s tree and learns about the different varieties of the fruit. She then takes that knowledge to Atlanta where an event called “Hired Guns” pits chefs and their dishes against each other. Back in Kinston, Vivian gets a pudding lesson from chef Bill Smith of Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill.
Bourbon Country

S5 E6 - 24m 33s

What begins as a dinner at Maker’s Mark in Vivian’s honor ends as an American history lesson. A tour of Maker’s Mark and Jefferson’s distilleries illuminates the differences between whiskey, scotch, and bourbon for Vivian who also learns how Frank and Jesse James fit into Kentucky’s boozy biography.
WANTED: Broccoli

S5 E5 - 24m 33s

Vivian heads to NYC where her book launch means a full itinerary. A celebration dinner at Bon Appétit Kitchen follows her appearance on the Rachael Ray Show where Vivian finds that a shot of bourbon goes a long way. Back at the shop, Ben and crew ready the food truck for its first stop in Nashville. While there, a lack of rain leads Vivian on a challenging hunt for broccoli.
A Food Truck and a Pear Tree

S5 E4 - 24m 33s

Vivian, her parents, and Flo pluck pears from a tree that’s been in the family for 100 years. The arrival of Vivian's cookbook sparks a well of emotions as the reality of wheeling a food truck around the country sets in. In order to get a better handle on the truck, Vivian and her crew do a practice run at the farmer's market and serve up Tom Thumb with pear relish.
Prolific Peppers

S5 E3 - 24m 33s

Vivian preps peppers for a trip to Lambstock, a party where chefs, food, and music converge. Even with Warren behind the wheel, the road provides unexpected woes. Before hitting the highway, Holley’s grandmother offers a lesson in stuffing peppers and delegating authority.
Shake, Rattle and Pole (Beans)

S5 E2 - 24m 33s

With Summer heat high and rain levels low, Vivian struggles to scrounge up enough green beans to add to the menu at Chef & the Farmer. Her kitchen capers continue as she stumbles to find her rhythm with a new chef firmly in place. Mrs. Tessie Mae offers levity by giving Vivian a golf cart tour of her garden, an intro to pickled pork, and a lesson in snapping pole beans.
Two-Mato

S5 E1 - 24m 34s

Vivian’s plate is full of everything. Except tomatoes. As Chef & the Farmer turns 10 years old, Vivian embarks on a fruitless search for the season’s first ripe tomatoes to serve at the restaurant’s birthday party. For the celebration that brings back familiar faces and dishes, she concocts a menu that represents a decade of professional growth, and then seeks the wisdom of Mrs. Mary and Ms. Lilli
King Cornbread

S5 E10 - 24m 33s

While enjoying some time at home, Vivian films a segment for a morning TV show where cornbread takes center stage. She then stops by a Kinston institution that merges cornbread with another Southern signature to create a handheld delicacy called “the pig and a puppy,” and creates her own version for a charity dinner. Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Scarlett & Ms. Lillie team up in a cornbread cook-off.

Extras + Features

Preview: King Cornbread

S5 E10 - 30s

Vivian films a segment for a morning TV show where cornbread takes center stage. Premieres December 9.
Picking Peppers

S5 E3 - 3m 41s

Vivian visits Warren to pick from his prolific pepper patch.
Preview: Liver Lover

S5 E9 - 30s

Vivian visits one of her favorite farmers and an eastern North Carolina restaurant known for its fried livers. She learns that not all livers are created equal, but are equally good for you. Back at home, Mrs. Scarlett prepares a humble, old-school dish of beef liver and onions, which inspires Vivian to introduce a fancy, controversial liver dish to the restaurant's menu.
Preview: Chasing Trout

S5 E8 - 30s

Vivian plans a respite from the road during the holidays, but finds herself busy at home.
Picking Persimmons

S5 E7 - 3m 31s

On a short hiatus from the book tour, Vivian takes the twins to pick persimmons off Mrs. Betty’s tree and learns about the different varieties of the fruit.
Preview: Persimmon Style

S5 E7 - 30s

On a short hiatus from the book tour, Vivian takes the twins to pick persimmons off Mrs. Betty’s tree and learns about the different varieties of the fruit. She then takes that knowledge to Atlanta where an event called “Hired Guns” pits chefs and their dishes against each other. Back in Kinston, Vivian gets a pudding lesson from chef Bill Smith of Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill.
Bourbon 101

S5 E6 - 3m 3s

Vivian heads to Kentucky for a primer on bourbon.
Preview: Bourbon Country

S5 E6 - 30s

Dinner at Maker’s Mark in Vivian’s honor turns into an American history lesson.
Preview: WANTED: Broccoli

S5 E5 - 30s

Vivian heads to NYC where her book launch means a full itinerary.
The Pear Tree

S5 E4 - 2m 42s

Vivian and her family pluck pears from a tree that’s been in the family for 100 years.
Preview: A Food Truck and a Pear Tree

S5 E4 - 30s

The long-awaited arrival of Vivian's cookbook sparks a well of emotions.
Preview: Prolific Peppers

S5 E3 - 30s

Vivian preps peppers for Lambstock, a party where chefs, food, and music converge. Premieres October 21.

Schedule

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A Chef's Life

Eggs Two Dozen Ways

Monday
Jun 5

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Vivian cooks at the James Beard House.
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A Chef's Life

Stop, Squash and Roll

Tuesday
Jun 6

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Vivian seeks advice about squash and onions from Mrs. Scarlett and her sister Johnna.
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A Chef's Life

Pretty in Peach

Wednesday
Jun 7

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

The secrets of Gramma Hill's canned peaches; Thanksgiving in July photo shoot; a mix-up leaves the team scrambling.
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A Chef's Life

Gettin' Figgy With It

Thursday
Jun 8

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Fig and honey bourbon slushie tasting; fig preserves; Vivian and Ben decide to charge for bread at the restaurant.
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A Chef's Life

Pickle Perfect

Friday
Jun 9

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Homemade pickles, chicken salad and chocolate cake; Ben and Vivian audition a new chef.
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A Chef's Life

Prickly Business

Monday
Jun 12

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

The African roots of okra; picking okra; photo session.
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A Chef's Life

If You Can't Beet 'Em

Tuesday
Jun 13

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Pickled beets; chocolate cake with beets.
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A Chef's Life

A Casserole Says Plenty

Wednesday
Jun 14

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

A family reunion conjures up an impressive spread of home-cooked casseroles.
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A Chef's Life

Honey, I'm Home!

Thursday
Jun 15

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Chicken livers with hot honey; Ben preps for his art show; sampling sweet, honey-themed dishes.
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A Chef's Life

They Call 'em 'Bagas

Friday
Jun 16

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Three ways to bring out the bitter and the sweet in rutabagas; holiday menu; hectic New Year's Eve at the restaurant.
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A Chef's Life

Gone Clamming, Part I

Monday
Jun 19

2:00 pm

30 Minutes

Charleston's Wine and Food Festival; clamming trip.

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