EPISODE # 4 — IN THE ROOM with Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai of Chef Sous Chef

In Episode 4, Palak sits down with Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai, the married couple behind Chef Sous Chef, for a conversation about food, family, creativity, and building a life around gathering people at the table.

Just three days after getting married in 2015, Philip and Mystique turned their post-wedding blues into something entirely unexpected: a food blog. What began as a creative outlet has since grown into Chef Sous Chef, a beloved online destination for home cooks, the Eat With Us cookbook, and contributions to Food Network Canada's Dining In and Menu Mashup.

Together, they share how they approach elevating everyday meals, why cooking at home can be just as meaningful as dining out, and how slowing down to create beautiful experiences around food, has shaped both their work and their family life. They also reflect on becoming parents to 3 kids, traveling as a family, introducing their children to their cultural roots through food, and the importance of preserving traditions while creating new ones around the table. Through thoughtful conversation while making pizza from scratch (and then sitting down to enjoy it!), this episode explores partnership, home cooking, rituals, and finding joy in the ordinary.

The door is open. Come on in.