Chef Kat McGibbon on Finding Confidence Under Pressure

In today’s episode, we sit down with Scottish chef Kat McGibbon, winner of the 2025 HIT Scotland Scholarship and champion of The Heat, the culinary competition led by multi-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. Kat reflects on the experiences that have shaped her career, from growing up in the Scottish Highlands to working her way through professional kitchens, competing on the international stage, and immersing herself in culinary experiences across Boulder, Barcelona, Australia, and the UK. Along the way, she opens up about overcoming self-doubt, embracing pressure, and finding confidence by stepping outside her comfort zone. This conversation is about taking chances, staying curious, and discovering just how much you're capable of when you're willing to keep growing under pressure. You can listen to and find any resources mentioned in this podcast on our official page: https://www.escoffier.edu/podcast/152... —About Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts— ⭐️RANKED #1 CULINARY SCHOOL IN THE WORLD 2025* ⭐️100% ONLINE WITH HANDS-ON INDUSTRY EXTERNSHIP ⭐️LARGEST CULINARY SCHOOL BRAND IN THE USA** Listen and subscribe to The Ultimate Dish on: ► Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3gS2ZYF ► Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qfU33M Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 03:19 - Sourdough, Billie Eilish & the Dream Table 10:40 - From the Highlands to Glasgow's Kitchens 13:02 - Up the Brigade 16:18 - Being the Only Woman in the Room 20:50 - Escoffier, Boulder & Black Cat Farm 25:33 - Grabbing It with Both Hands 29:09 - The Heat: Barcelona & Jean-Christophe Novelli 32:08 - Keeping It Together 34:36 - The Toughest Moment 37:35 - Advice for Aspiring Competitors 39:50 - Australia: East Coast, Seafood & Frozen Yogurt 43:10 - The Lennox in Manchester 45:40 - The Plan: Private Cheffing & What's Next 51:48 - Kat McGibbon's Ultimate Dish *Cozymeal **Based on comparable student population data for Austin and Boulder as reported in Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)