Celebrity chef Brian Malarkey - known for his San Diego restaurants Herb & Wood, Animae and the provocatively-named Le Coq - has released an R-rated podcast alongside his girlfriend.
Best recognized for his appearances on Bravo's Top Chef, Brian Malarkey has been a staple in San Diego's culinary scene for more than two decades. Recently, he partnered with Danielle Harley (aka Harley D.), who he became "Instagram official" with last year amid his ongoing divorce, to launch the Harley and Malarkey Podcast.
Available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, the "Harley and Malarkey Podcast" is billed as a candid exploration of various topics, but it often comes across as disjointed and lacking in substance. While some episodes carry an explicit content rating, the show leans heavily on Malarkey's penchant for shock value, often overshadowing meaningful conversation. The weekly podcast features the unlikely duo as they meander through what they think are insightful discussions that frequently seem aimless, exhaustively ranting and shallow, resulting in cringeworthy banter and strained attempts at humor. Those seeking perceptive or engaging content may find themselves disappointed.
"Harley and Malarkey use their different generational perspectives and relationship experiences to discuss a new topic each week - age gap relationships, sobriety, plastic surgery and more," reads the description of the podcast. "Their goal is to make you laugh and learn to love and accept yourself and each other more, one conversation at a time."
The podcast’s content isn't for the prude or faint of heart. In a recent episode titled "Show Me the Money," Malarkey's irreverent humor is on full display as the duo dives into the dynamics of their relationship, which some reportedly assume is financially motivated due to their 18-year age difference. The conversation quickly takes a risqué turn, with Malarkey making bold, controversial jokes that push the boundaries of taste.
"So today, we're going to talk about a taboo, touchy subject that is a little scary to talk about," Harley begins approximately 25 seconds into Episode 21 of Harley and Malarkey Podcast.
"Anal sex?" Malarkey quips.
"No. Ughhh. Money," Harley replies with a giggle.
"How much does it cost for anal sex?" Malarkey asks.
"An engagement ring," Harley quickly responds.
"No, that's been put on the table," Malarkey laughs. "So if you ever see Harley wearing an engagement ring, you know what I'm talking about. Yea. Slap that ass!"
Malarkey's brash style has landed him in hot water before. Earlier this year, he faced backlash for an April Fools Day"joke" that many thought was insensitive. The post, which was swiftly deleted and an apology issued, jokingly suggested that he was "coming out" in a romantic relationship with his longtime business partner Christopher Puffer. And let's not forget the name of his latest restaurant, Le Coq - a choice that certainly raises eyebrows and invites plenty of commentary.
Malarkey first gained fame as a finalist on Top Chef Season 3, where he showcased his talents as Executive Chef of the now-defunct Oceanaire Seafood Room in downtown San Diego. His rise to stardom continued with the launch of Searsucker in the Gaslamp Quarter in 2010, which paved the way for a series of restaurant openings under the Enlightened Hospitality Restaurant Group banner. In 2014, Malarkey and his then-business partner James Brennan sold the majority share of their restaurant group to the Abu Dhabi-based Hakkasan Ltd., which pretty much ran the group of restaurants into the ground.
Following the successful rebirth of his restaurant brand with the launch of Herb & Wood in San Diego's Little Italy in Spring 2016, Malarkey has expanded his culinary empire with ventures like Animae, a $5.5 million French-Japanese fusion restaurant in Downtown San Diego, and Herb & Sea in downtown Encinitas. His company, Puffer Malarkey Holdings, also operates Herb & Ranch, a multi-concept food hall in Orange County. This year, Malarkey opened a new "cowboy steakhouse" dubbed Hawkeye and Huckleberry Lounge in his native state of Oregon. Most recently, Malarkey reclaimed the 7,500-square-foot Herringbone space in La Jolla, transforming it into Le Coq, his latest - and possibly last - culinary endeavor.
In addition to his restaurant ventures, Malarkey is a regular judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games and makes frequent appearances on Today and Good Morning America. He has also served as a mentor on ABC’s The Taste and competed on the "All Stars LA" edition of Top Chef Season 17. Most recently, he appeared on Food Network's Superchef Grudge Match, where he faced off against his former chef de cuisine, Charles "Carlos Anthony" San Martano, and led the West Coast team on Beachside Brawl.
Malarkey's new podcast might not appeal to everyone, but it’s clearly an attempt to keep the chef in the spotlight. True to form, it blends his culinary background with a dose of cringe and controversy, continuing his knack for making waves - whether for better or worse.
The podcast’s content isn't for the prude or faint of heart. In a recent episode titled "Show Me the Money," Malarkey's irreverent humor is on full display as the duo dives into the dynamics of their relationship, which some reportedly assume is financially motivated due to their 18-year age difference. The conversation quickly takes a risqué turn, with Malarkey making bold, controversial jokes that push the boundaries of taste.
"So today, we're going to talk about a taboo, touchy subject that is a little scary to talk about," Harley begins approximately 25 seconds into Episode 21 of Harley and Malarkey Podcast.
"Anal sex?" Malarkey quips.
"No. Ughhh. Money," Harley replies with a giggle.
"How much does it cost for anal sex?" Malarkey asks.
"An engagement ring," Harley quickly responds.
"No, that's been put on the table," Malarkey laughs. "So if you ever see Harley wearing an engagement ring, you know what I'm talking about. Yea. Slap that ass!"
Malarkey first gained fame as a finalist on Top Chef Season 3, where he showcased his talents as Executive Chef of the now-defunct Oceanaire Seafood Room in downtown San Diego. His rise to stardom continued with the launch of Searsucker in the Gaslamp Quarter in 2010, which paved the way for a series of restaurant openings under the Enlightened Hospitality Restaurant Group banner. In 2014, Malarkey and his then-business partner James Brennan sold the majority share of their restaurant group to the Abu Dhabi-based Hakkasan Ltd., which pretty much ran the group of restaurants into the ground.
Following the successful rebirth of his restaurant brand with the launch of Herb & Wood in San Diego's Little Italy in Spring 2016, Malarkey has expanded his culinary empire with ventures like Animae, a $5.5 million French-Japanese fusion restaurant in Downtown San Diego, and Herb & Sea in downtown Encinitas. His company, Puffer Malarkey Holdings, also operates Herb & Ranch, a multi-concept food hall in Orange County. This year, Malarkey opened a new "cowboy steakhouse" dubbed Hawkeye and Huckleberry Lounge in his native state of Oregon. Most recently, Malarkey reclaimed the 7,500-square-foot Herringbone space in La Jolla, transforming it into Le Coq, his latest - and possibly last - culinary endeavor.
In addition to his restaurant ventures, Malarkey is a regular judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games and makes frequent appearances on Today and Good Morning America. He has also served as a mentor on ABC’s The Taste and competed on the "All Stars LA" edition of Top Chef Season 17. Most recently, he appeared on Food Network's Superchef Grudge Match, where he faced off against his former chef de cuisine, Charles "Carlos Anthony" San Martano, and led the West Coast team on Beachside Brawl.
Malarkey's new podcast might not appeal to everyone, but it’s clearly an attempt to keep the chef in the spotlight. True to form, it blends his culinary background with a dose of cringe and controversy, continuing his knack for making waves - whether for better or worse.