Dear Food

What’s your favorite thing to get from Trader Joe’s? I surveyed friends, and tried out all the winners of the 12th annual Trader Joe’s Customer Choice Awards, and I’m spilling all the Sparkling Peach Black tea for y'all. Yep, you guessed it - that’s one of the winners! 

What’s in this episode:

• I tried the winners of the 12th Annual Customer Choice Awards
• What to grab, and what to skip from Trader Joe’s 
• Some of the products you will hear about: Orange chicken, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, cheddar cheese, everything but the bagel, and lots more
• Plus, my personal Tj’s recommendations. You have to try these! 

Links from the show: 

• The Trader Joe’s Podcast 
• Trader Joe’s Website: https://www.traderjoes.com/
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube
• ‘Here For The Food’ on Facebook - Click this link 

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts (it's free!)  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me.

We’re sharing our favorite gadgets, gizmos and products that we think you will love! None of them break the bank, by the way. Please enjoy this short and sweet episode, and let us know what you think of the NEW WEBSITE! 

What’s in this episode:

• Announcement: brand new website is now live! 
• We now have a store that is a curation of our favorite products featured on the show 
• This mini episode covers Ashley’s favorite gifts that she got this year
• Find all the products we mentioned in the show notes, or in the store on our website. 

CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE

www.dearfoodpodcast.com

• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Here are the products we mentioned: 

Tortilla Warmer 

https://amzn.to/3beQfdF

Tortilla press

https://amzn.to/38t10Hr

Lime squeezer 

https://amzn.to/396D8Zb

Maldon sea salt 

https://amzn.to/2Xo99GO

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me.

Sugar cookies at Christmas, and black eyed peas for New Years Eve. What's the origin of all these food customs? I asked a roundtable of friends about their favorite food traditions for this special holiday episode. Some of the rituals you've likely heard of, but there's one that will surprise you!  

In this episode: 

• The foods that symbolize Christmas 
• Christmas popcorn trio; love it or leave it? 
• Eggnog, which is simply not for me 
• Sugar cookies so good they elicit burglary
• The history of the Raclette - a "cheesy" holiday tale
• Why black eyed peas came to signify good luck 
• What's you're supposed to do with cabbage to ensure wealth in the new year 
• and so much more! 

Links from the show: 

• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Find our Guests online: 

• Anastasia Washington
  • https://www.instagram.com/anastasiawash/
  • https://www.anastasiawashington.com/
• Jasmine Ellis
  • https://www.instagram.com/jasmineelliscomedy/?hl=en
• Jessica Munna
  • https://www.instagram.com/jessicamunna/?hl=en
  • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-poetry-podcast/id1481892415
• Caitlin Gilbert
  • https://www.instagram.com/caitlingilbs/?hl=en

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to Dear Food on Apple Podcasts. It's totally free to subscribe, and it makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me. Thank you, you are beautiful.

But first, coffee. That’s not just a cute Pinterest quote, it’s the trademarked tagline of this week’s guest, Josh Zad, who is the CEO and Founder of LA’s iconic Alfred Coffee. Josh is an architecture and design nerd, and he intentionally infused his eclectic personality into the creation of his coffee shops and tea rooms. You have most definitely seen pictures of people gleefully posing with their fancy drinks at one of his fabulously outfitted cafes. Hear how social media helped turn this coffee shop into a global tourist attraction. 

What’s in this episode:

• Is it Alfred, or Alfred’s? Josh spills the literal tea. 
• How social media made this cafe a tourist destination 
• How Instagram played into the design and creation of the cafe experience 
• Yes, they really do own that phrase “But first, coffee”
• The Pink Drink - who made it first? We say it was Alfred.
• Can you guess the secret ingredient in the Pink Drink?
• The most popular drinks at Alfred Coffee and Tea 
• What makes their Iced Vanilla Latte world-famous? 
• Do you know what boba is? I just learned: it’s tapioca. 
• Wait until you hear the celebrities that have visited Alfred coffee 
• HINT: Presidents drink Alfred coffee 
• The famous TV show that shot an episode at Alfred. It will make you want to Curb Your Enthusiasm … how’s that for a hint? 
• Larry David wears silk socks. Josh shares the whole story. It’s classic. 
• How does the owner of a famous coffee shop take his coffee? 
• Why coffee is pandemic-proof
• And much more!

Links from the show: 

• Alfred on Instagram: @alfred.
• Alfred's Website: www.alfred.la
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to Dear Food on Apple Podcasts. It's totally free to subscribe, and it makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me. Thank you, I love you. 

Have you ever looked at a beautiful Model and thought, I wonder what she eats? Molly Ritter, is an *actual* Model and Actress, and she got so tired of being asked that very question, that she went ahead and created her own food blog. Lucky for us, because her recipes are fantastic and actually succeed at tasting delicious while still being healthy. She shares two of her favorite breakfast recipes with us, and gives us a little glimpse inside her daily life. 

What’s in this episode:

• How Molly became a food blogger
• How being an Actor and Model affects what Molly eats 
• How Molly makes healthy food taste delicious 
• She shares her collagen pancake recipe 
• What goes into developing a healthy recipe 
• Why Molly is not afraid of carbs 
• What makes the *perfect* pancake
• This is controversial, but Molly swears by adding vegetables to her pancakes. It’s way better than you think, she explains. 
• The spice that makes everything taste like donuts
• Another make-ahead breakfast you have to try this week: overnight oats 
• Molly’s pumpkin overnight oats recipe is *Chef’s kiss*
• The signature cooking method she has dubbed “dump and pray” 
• Pro tip for overnight oats - you can reuse a nut butter jar, and you don’t even have to clean it first!
• Molly’s mindset in the kitchen is actually great advice for life at large 
• Molly’s famous uncle … kind of 

Links from the show: 

• Molly on Instagram: @MollyRitter
• Thyme For Honey on Instagram  @Thymeforhoney
• Thyme For Honey blog: www.ThymeForHoney.com
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Recipes from the show:

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me.

Happy Diwali! Diwali is the five day Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus. Like most holidays, there are some celebration rituals that center around food. So naturally, I grabbed one of my good friends, who is both Indian AND a major foodie, for this special episode. Raj Rawal, a Content Lead for a major food publisher, joins us this week to walk us through the dishes we should be ordering when we go to Indian restaurants. 

What’s in this episode:

• The best place to get Indian food in the world (hint, it’s not India)
• What Diwali is, and how it is celebrated 
• What foods are central to Diwali 
• The street foods of Mumbai that you should order whenever you see them on the menu
• Raj’s advice on Indian Food buffets? Do it. 
• Little India in California is located in Cerritos/Artesia 
• If you’re in California, hit Pioneer Blvd for the best Indian food
• If you’re in New Jersey, visit the famous Oak Tree Road
• Most Americans are actually eating Punjabi food 
• Pro-tip: Trader Joe’s Tikka Masala is approved  by the Indian community 
• Thums Up is the Indian version of Coca Cola, note the spelling 
• When eating Indian food, your naan (bread) is basically your utensil
• Alert: do not eat with your left hand! Raj explains why. It’s gross, but an important rule to know about when traveling abroad. 
• Garam Masala is the spice you should have in your cabinet if you want to cook Indian food
• Why the cow is sacred in the Hindu religion 
• The famous Indian beers you to try, and no, it’s not an IPA 

Links from the show: 

• Raj on Instagram: @Asaprajy
• Raj on Twitter  @Asaprajy
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me. 

POV: you’re here because you just binge-watched Netflix’s ‘Emily in Paris’ and have become a francophile. You’re not alone. After watching the whole season of Darren Starr’s latest hit, I found myself reminiscing about the one time I visited France with my boyfriend, which happens to be exactly one year ago today. Drew joins me for this episode, and together we share our favorite moments from our trip to Marseilles and Paris. With only 24 hours to see the big city, and a strict diet looming overhead, could we actually enjoy ourselves? The answer is a resounding ‘oui.’

What’s in this episode:

• What makes the city of Marseilles so special 
• Marseilles is the gateway to the Mediterranean 
• The first food I ate in France, was on a train 
• Croque Monsieur translates to “Crunchy Sir” 
• You have to visit ‘Le Panier’ region of Marseilles 
• Bouillabaisse is the famous fish stew that originated in Marseilles 
• The ceremony that accompanies eating Bouillabaisse 
• The adorable part of Paris you must visit? Montparnasse
• Montparnasse is the Crepe capital of the world 
• The best meal we had in Paris was in fact a crepe 
• Crepes are traditionally served with cider
• Savory or sweet: which crepes are better 
• The gourmet foods of France that we didn’t get to try 
• Our travel hack for visiting new cities: bike sharing 
• The French stereotypes we found to be true, and which ones we debunked
• The French expression that will win your favor in Marseilles

Links from the show: 

• Drew on Instagram: @Drewpbaldwin
• Dear Food on Instagram @DearFoodPodcast
• Dear Food on YouTube

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me.

Stephen Cusato learns with eyes, and cooks with his heart. He created ‘Not Another Cooking Show’, the popular YouTube (and now TikTok) cooking show, to reach the Home Chefs out there. Some of his biggest hits are his smash burger, any my personal favorite, key lime pie. He’s as passionate about the cooking of his dishes, as he is the production of his show. We geek out a little bit on film stuff in this episode, as well as things like imposter syndrome, and the constant battle creators face with themselves. Stephen is a New Yorker with STRONG opinions about the U.S. food landscape, and lots of other things actually .. like which fast food chain makes the best burger.

What’s in this episode:

• What makes Not Another Cooking Show … well, not another cooking show? 
• How he scripts his videos for different platforms 
• Growing up Italian American in New York 
• His first taste memory is not totally surprising, Chicken Parmesan
• Unique New York food memories (say that 3 times fast) 
• How Iron Chef Japan shaped his career 
• What it means to cook with the seasons 
• How farmers markets inspire his menus 
• What inspires Not Another Cooking Show recipes 
• The right way to cook a steak - hint, you’re not using enough salt. 
• The pressures of being a full time content creator 
• Some cool film tips and trick Stephen used for his show
• A lively debate about In-N-Out

Links from the show: 

• Stephen on Instagram: @TheFoodFreakk
• Not Another Cooking Show on TikTok 
• Not Another Cooking Show on YouTube

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for independent podcasters like me.

Buddy Stringer is looking for love, on TikTok of all places. He’s cooking for his future soulmate and making videos of each recipe. The internet has fallen in love with him, but he still hasn’t found "the one." We’re talking with Buddy to find out what exactly he’s looking for in a partner, and how food plays a critical role in his search.  

What’s in this episode:

• Buddy explains his mission to find his soulmate through food 
• The recipe for his famous ‘Buddy Buns’, or so we call it. It’s the unnamed dish that shot him to TikTok fame
• An update on Buddy’s dating life right now 
• What the future looks like for Buddy - in love and work
• The qualities Buddy is looking for in his soulmate 
• His ideal first date 
• What your choice in a charcuterie board says about you 
• Does eating spicy food make you a better lover? 
• A new cocktail for you to try: Mezcal Old Fashioned
• What is the first dish Buddy wants to make for his soulmate
• How Buddy’s son influences his dating life and the one rule he enforces with his son
• The one food Buddy has never eaten!

Recipe for Buddy Buns: 

• ½ pound ground Italian sausage 
• ½ white onion
• 2 to 3 cups of finely chopped spinach
• 8 oz cream cheese  (preferably flavored)
• ½ cup  sharp  cheddar cheese 
• Pre-made puff pastry

Directions:

1. Brown sausage and  set aside 
2. Mix remaining ingredients on medium bowl 
3. Cut 5x5 inch  squares of puff pastry 
4. Drop  2 tbsp  of mixture  onto squares 
5. Gather the corners up top, and twist to make a little bun shape
6. Place in the oven at 350 for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown 

Links from the show: 

• Buddy’s most viewed Tik Tok 
• The  "Shark Coochie Board" Meme 

• Buddy on Instagram: @BitesWithBuddy

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts,  and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for us independent podcasters like me. 

After 10 episodes, it’s time to check in! What do you think of the show so far? I need your help to make it the best show it can be, for you! Would  you do me a huge favor and take the survey linked below? It’s only 10 questions, and it’ll take you less than 10 minutes. Have we said  ‘10’  enough yet?! 

Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NNVXVG2

Don’t forget, we want to hear your stories too! 

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in and leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Hit that subscribe button, and please share this show with a fellow food lover!

What IS Santa Maria Style BBQ, anyway? It’s so much more than just a cut of meat and special seasoning. As the name implies, it’s a style of cooking that embodies the Ranchero lifestyle that's unique to the Central Coast of  California. Food + Drink Journalist, Jaime Lewis, joins us this week to educate us about the not-so-little town of Santa Maria, and the food that put it squarely on the food map. 

What’s in this episode:

• What exactly is Santa Maria Style BBQ 
• How Santa Maria Style BBQ  came to be 
• The original cut of meat that defines the dish 
• The ingredient you will NOT find on SM Style BBQ 
• What a traditional fiesta looks like 
• The three components of great BBQ 
• What indigenous trees give this BBQ it’s special flavor 
• The hole-in-the-wall spot that does this dish the best in the world
• The side dishes that must be served alongside top sirloin 
• The reason Santa Maria is no longer a Tourist destination 
• Details on a secret BBQ society, oh my!
• How spreading the message about food can preserve culture 
• And much more!

Links from the show: 

• Jaime's Website: https://jaimelewis.com/
• Jaime on Instagram: @JaimeCLewis
• ‘Consumed with Jaime Lewis’ Podcast - listen here

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for us independent podcasters. Help a sister out!

Do you know about the cacao belt? It’s the agricultural belt that runs along the equator, and it’s the only place in the world where chocolate grows. Well, where the cacao beans that make chocolate grow, that is. That means, to make chocolate, you’ve got to visit some pretty exquisite places like Belize, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and lots of other destinations most of us have only ever seen in travel magazines. Sounds glamorous, right? Chocolate Maker David Menkes, and his wife Corey would disagree. It’s a lot of hard work, but the (cacao) juice is always worth the squeeze. 

What’s in this episode:

• How to make chocolate, from bean to bar 
• David started a secret chocolate society at Dreamworks Animation 
• Why chocolate tasting is a lot like wine tasting 
• How to eat chocolate (besides simply shoving it in your face) 
• Refined sugar is made with cow bones - yes, you read that right. Details inside the episode 
• LetterPress chocolate bars are not candy. David explains why. 
• The difference between a Chocolatier and a Chocolate Maker 
• Bribing police in Dominican Republic in the name of chocolate 
• And many more adventures in chocolate! 

Links from the show: 

• The LetterPress website: https://letterpresschocolate.com/
• LetterPress on Instagram: @LetterPressChocolate 

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for us independent podcasters. Help a sister out!

Ever dreamed of visiting Hong Kong? Me too. Listening to Elaine Truong walk us through the streets of her childhood will make you feel like you’re there in person. She is now the owner of a fabulous Chinese restaurant in San Luis Obispo, Mandarin Gourmet, where I worked all throughout college. If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you’ll understand the bond that restaurant buddies share. Grab your chopsticks, and dig in! 

What’s in this episode:

• Delicious street food from Hong Kong 
• The difference between Chinese food from the North and the South 
• The special skill that both Elaine and her husband Eric have - they can recreate anything they taste in a restaurant! 
• The difference between cake flour and all purpose flour
• How Elaine learned to make the most beautiful cakes 

Links from the show: 

• Mandarin Gourmet’s website: https://mandaringourmetslo.com/
• Elaine’s Cupcake Hobby: @JustBecause_Cupcakes  on Instagram 

Quotes from this episode: 

• “Food is where the heart is. If you cook food for your family, you show your heart, your love, to your family” 

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share this episode with a friend! It makes a huge difference for us independent podcasters. 

Have you heard of the Kim Kardashian of the Food Network? Her name is Louisa Sharamatyan, and we nabbed her for this week’s show!  She’s here to tell us all about her experience on, not one, but TWO Food Network shows.  We also talk about the food she grew up eating in her Armenian home. 

What’s in this episode:

• How Louisa got cast on Food Network’s ‘Worst Cooks in America’ 
• What Louisa cooked for her audition to get cast on the show 
• The unique food Louisa remembers as her first taste - ever heard of gogli?
• The BIZARRE habit Louisa has with her leftovers! You’ve never heard this one before.
• Louisa discusses the Armenian foods she grew up eating 
• What is Armenian food versus Middle Eastern food? 
• Dolmas recipe - the food that make Louisa infamous on Food Network
• How Louisa was able to advance in Worst Cooks in America 
• Who inspired her to go to Culinary  School
• The recipe for Chee Kufta 

Links from the show: 

• Louisa’s YouTube Channel - click here or search for Louisa Cooks on YouTube 
• Louisa’s Instagram - @LouisaSharamtyan

Quotes from this episode: 

• “The first time I ever used a Kitchen Aid mixer was on national TV, on Food Network.” 
• “I’m like, wow, I can be the next Armenian Food Network Star.”
• “Translated to English,  it would be ‘The taste  of your hand is good.... Whether you try or not, you’re good.”

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you loving the show?? Tell a friend about it, and please write us a review!

Have you ever had a popover? If you know, you know!  My 91 year old grandfather is sharing his tried and true popover recipe with us. Plus, he takes us back in time with his stories of growing up outside the jungle in the Philippines, and the special relationship he shared with their family Cook. I had heard some of his stories growing up, but this was probably the first time I really listened. And you know what? I have a pretty fascinating grandpa. 

What’s in this episode:

• My grandfather shares his stories about growing up around the world 
• Why he was the only one allowed in the kitchen as a boy 
• Rice and Hash: my grandpa’s first taste memory in the Philippines
• His grandma remembered the Civil War!
• What makes the perfect popover 
• The exact type of pan you want to use for popovers
• What is was like going to Stanford in the 1940’s
• Tuition was $500 the year he went to Stanford 
• How my grandfather subsidized his tuition by becoming the house Cook 
• The lessons he learned from cooking for 19 college boys 
• What goes in to his Thanksgiving turkey stuffing  
• The division of labor between him and my grandma 
• Life  advice from a 91 year old 

Links from the show: 

• The Fanny Farmer Cookbook

Quotes from this episode: 

• “I kept ahead of getting fired one meal at a time.”
• “You have to decide breakfast is going to be at 8:30am, because that’s when the popovers will be ready.” 
• My grandfather’s sage life advice? “Marry a good woman.”

Be on the Show!

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you loving the show?? Tell a friend about it, and please write us a review!

Looking for healthy meal inspiration? So were the 1.4+ Million people who now follow Amanda Meixner for meal prep ideas and nutrition information. She joins the show this week to share her favorite make-ahead meals, that are both delicious AND aesthetically pleasing.  Hey, if you’re not photographing your meals, did they even really happen?!

Amanda hasn’t always had a healthy relationship with food though. In high school, she developed anorexia, but it was through her journey to recovery that she learned to use food as part of her healing. After making a full recovery, she made it her mission to show people that being healthy wasn’t about starving yourself, but rather about fueling your body with the right foods.

She now uses her social media and podcast to support people on their own nutrition journey.

What’s in this episode:

• Amanda shares how her meal prep photos made her Instagram famous
• Here first taste is one that most kids would not like! 
• We talk about the years Amanda spent in India as a child 
• She talks about the Austrian food influence in her life 
• How Amanda overcame an eating disorder 
• How a chance encounter at Trader Joe’s led to her marriage! 
• The ways her husband helps her maintain a healthy mindset around eating 
• The Food of the Day is Salad Jars!
• Salas jars can keep fresh for up to 5 days 
• Amanda’s second favorite meal prep is Chili 
• The fight that turkey chili caused between Ashley and her boyfriend 
• The secret ingredient in Amanda’s mom’s chili recipe 
• The most used kitchen gadget in her kitchen is her egg cooker 
• Amanda teaches us how to make the perfect salad jar 
• She shares some fun suggestion for kids back-to-school lunches
• The diet that Amanda recommends? The one that works for you. 
• Why the Paleo diet fit well into her lifestyle 
• How Covid has affected her meal planning 
• Who does the cooking in the Rocchio household 
• The biggest lesson from Amanda’s career as an Influencer 
• Amanda answers these questions from Listeners: 
• What do you do when you don't want to eat what you’ve prepped? 
• Do you have any vegan go-to’s for meal prep? 
• What’s the best time to cook meats in relation to consumption date?
• How do you keep costs down while cooking healthy? 
• Do you have any thoughts on meal delivery services? 
• How do you decide what to cook each week?
• Amanda’s favorite treats: sweet potato brownies, paleo fudge, homemade popsicles

Links from the show: 

• Link to Amanda’s ebook  ‘101+ Healthy Snacks’ 
• https://www.101healthysnacks.com/order40587018
• Here’s Amanda’s Sweet Potato Brownie Recipe 
• https://meowmeix.com/paleo-brownies/
• Here’s the post that describes the anatomy of a salad jar recipe 
• https://www.instagram.com/p/B7B05bQFAil/?igshid=ra4fti23hypr
• Link to Amanda’s chili recipe 
• https://meowmeix.com/paleo-turkey-chili/
• Master Your Health Podcast 
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-health-podcast/id1477761062

Quotes from this episode: 

• “Look at how beautiful mother nature is, with the fruits and the vegetables, and the protein and all that together.” 
• “Eat the rainbow, but the actual rainbow, not skittles.” 
•  “I do try to make sure I’m getting a nutritious well-balanced week, so I always have some fruit. I have a lot of vegetables.”

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you loving the show?? Tell a friend about it, and please write us a review! 

Felicia Brantner grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, and learned how to peel a potato with a knife when she was five years old.  Now, she’s the mom of FIVE children, all boys, which includes two sets of twins. Yes, you read that right. This woman gave birth to twins, TWICE. That alone should secure her title as ‘Mom of the Year’, but she goes above and beyond to make her children feel supported and full. She pours her heart and soul into everything she makes, and anyone who is lucky enough to eat one of Mama Fee’s meals feels the love in every bite. 

What’s in this episode:

• Meet Felicia Brantner, the ultimate BoyMom
• Felicia describes the first food she remembers tasting  
• We hear what Felicia’s life was like growing up in German valley, West Virginia 
• Felicia’s Aunts taught life lessons through cooking
• Mill gravy versus brown gravy 
• Ever heard of “ramps’? They’re a particular onion only grown in West Virginia. Felicia explains. 
• We learn exactly what Hamburger Steak is and why this meal is so special in Felicia’s home
• Cooking tip! Add sour cream or heavy cream for ultra creamy mashed potatoes
• Felicia’s tip: If you’re cooking with milk, flour or tomatoes, add extra salt 
• Felicia gives us a delicious green bean recipe. 
• The sneaky ways that Felicia gets her children to eat veggies 
• How Felicia meal preps for a family of seven 
• Life lessons from Felicia’s father
• Friday curse words: her house rules around swearing
• The hilarious reason they have FOUR Alexa devices in their house
• How Felicia earned the nickname “Mama Fee” 
• The difference between hamburger steak and salisbury steak and chicken fried steak 
• What foods the state of Virginia does right 
• The only two states you can find Queso dip
• Y'all - three words: Pineapple. Cheddar. Casserole. 

Quotes from this episode: 

• “We were onion people.” 
• “Every time I make that meal, I think about what it meant to grow up in the country, in West Virginia, on the side of a mountain.”
• "In my home, the ultimate focus is that my children feel loved. That they have all the encouragement to be exactly who they are and that they have this really deep sense of ‘Mom’s got me’.

Connect with Felicia's Mom Group at https://www.midlothianmoms.com/

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you loving the show?? Tell a friend about it, and please write us a review! 

Raise your hand if you hopped aboard the sourdough bread train? With all this time at home, a lot of us have taken on lofty kitchen projects like baking sourdough bread from scratch.  In this episode, we’re joined by the fabulously sassy, bread-making wizard, Roya Platsis. By day, Roya is a big wig in the HR world, but at home, she’s mastered the art of sourdough bread and has taken to social media to show us the easy, no-frills technique that guarantees successful bread. We talk about bread making, the pressures of producing content, and being true to yourself - even when that means embracing your potty mouth!

What’s in this episode:

• Roya and Ashley rehash their time working together at Lucasfilm 
• How Roya’s cooking videos went viral on Facebook
• Roya’s first food memory at the San Francisco zoo 
• How eating out threatened her relationship early-on
• Though she’s a self-taught cook, who Roya credits for her cooking skills
• How to make sourdough bread starter 
• What a levain is 
• The step-by-step process for making sourdough bread 
• Roya shares her lemon rosemary bread recipe 
• What is was like to bake bread, live, in front of a huge audience
• Why it was so important to fail in front of viewers
• The non-intimidating approach Roya takes to bread making
• How bread has become a great teacher for both Roya and Ashley 
• Roya describes her family life and how they are doing during the pandemic
• The best type of bread for a beginner to make 
• Similarities between brewing beer and making sourdough
• What “hooch” is in relation to starter 
• What to do if your sourdough starter isn’t active 
• Roya’s dream dinner 

About Roya:

In Roya’s own words, she is the dirt-loving mother of two, wife to one, who swears too much and is great at cooking. She is currently the Director of Human Resources at CamelBak, and lives with her darling family in Petaluma, California. 

Connect with Roya:

Find Roya on YouTube by searching “Fancy as Fork” 

Or on Instagram and Twitter  @DirtDontHurtMom

The cookbook Roya mentions is called ‘Della Fattoria Bread’ 

Quotes:

• “You fold it for what feels like an entire day. And then you bake the sh*t out of it” - Roya 
• “There’s a beautiful, fancy, loaf of bread at the end of the process.” - Roya 
• “It’s just flour and water. And that was what I was trying to get across.” - Roya 
• “I don’t need pasta, I need bread. Good bread especially. The $8 kind.” - Roya 

Be on the Show

Tell us your food stories!  The first time you remember tasting food, your dream dinner, or just a food that you can’t stop thinking about. Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you loving the show?? Tell a friend about it, and please write us a review!

World traveler, biscuit connoisseur, and soul food aficionado Lem Gonsalves joins the show this  week! Lem makes us drool over his favorite soul food dishes, and tells us the best spot to get fried chicken in the United States. We talk about the BLM Movement, and how Lem is using his voice in Hollywood to speak out against social injustice. We get some inside scoop on the drama that unfolded on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’, and we dish a little about our time together at Maria Menounos’s network, Afterbuzz TV. 

What’s in this episode:

• Lem and Ashley’s shared Hosting background 
• How Lem is involved in the BLM movement 
• Lem’s take on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’ drama
• The first food Lem remembers tasting? His Mom’s biscuits. 
• Lem’s family dynamic; his mom was the cook
• The true roots of soul food 
• Lem’s favorite soul food dishes 
• What exactly ARE chitlins? 
• Hot water cornbread versus regular cornbread 
• The best fried chicken Lem’s ever had. Gus’s fried chicken in Chicago
• The holy trinity of fried chicken
• White girls’ PR campaign for quinoa
• Lem’s mom has some interesting eating habits 
• A special ‘Love, Listeners’ call: a story about carbonara
• What Lem’s up to now and where you can find him 
• Lem’s  Dream Dinner is sushi in Japan with Chef Jiro

About Lem:
Lem “Saint” Gonsalves first began his poetic journey reciting poems at his father’s church. Since then, he has performed internationally and produced CD’s and documentary films.  

He uses humor and passion to inspire and entertain his audiences. In addition to performing spoken word poetry, he is also an accomplished host working with television networks like VH1, FOX, MTV and online network Afterbuzz TV.  He has opened for artists like Kirk Franklin, Lupe Fiasco and Common! He was also selected to be on Seasons 3&5 of the NAACP Image Award nominated show, “Verses and Flow”. 

Lem was one of the first ever podcast hosts for the television show “Love and Hip Hop” which is VH1’s most popular show. Lem can also officiate your wedding! He’s an ordained minister who has  traveled domestically and internationally, conducting personalized wedding ceremonies. He has recently begun an acting career and has starred in commercials for Apple and Bosch. He has studied improvisational comedy and performed on the Upright Citizen Brigade’s stage in Hollywood.

Connect with Lem:
Lem's Website | Lem's Instagram | Email Lem

Quotes from This Episode:
“I’m a connoisseur of biscuits.” - Lem

“We would hate it when Dad cooked. It was just like, ugh, dad’s cooking again.” - Lem

“You have to have the right consistency of the crispy skin, versus the juicy inside. So there has to be a good marriage. And then bonus points on flavor. It sucks to have people who fry chicken and don’t season it. That’s the cardinal sin.” -Lem

Share YOUR food stories!

I want to hear your stories! Tell us about the foods that have affected your life, the first time you remember tasting food, any questions you have for me - I’d be SO happy to connect with you.

Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com.

Spread the love!

Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe, drop a 5-star rating and don’t forget to share it with a friend who adores food as much as you do!

Welcome to Dear Food, I am your host Ashley Chaney. I LOVE food. I love to make food, I love to eat food, I love to talk about making food. I believe that food has the power to transport us to different places around the world and different moments in our lives through memories.

In this episode, I was joined by none other than the renowned TV Host and Food Writer, Eleonora Baldwin. Eleonora is the co-owner of Casa Mia Tours and a culinary connoisseur. She and I talk about Italian cuisine including her first carbonara experience, a few of her favorite Italian dishes and her rituals around food!

What’s in this episode:

• How she’s been doing during the pandemic
• Why Eleonora finds comfort in rituals
• Eleonora’s background and childhood experience
• The first food she ever remembers tasting
• What Italian cuisine means to Eleonora
• Her signature dishes to make
• What her first carbonara experience was
• The ritual around sourcing, cooking and eating meals with her family
• Her virtual cooking classes and experiences 
• What’s for dinner tonight in Eleonora’s household

About Eleonora:
American-born and Italian-raised Eleonora is a TV celebrity, bilingual journalist, and culinary connoisseur.

After a successful career in graphic design and motion picture, Eleonora’s attention transitioned to journalism and blogging with a strong focus on her great passion: slow travel and the culinary culture of Italy.

Constantly on the lookout for tantalizing food in Italy and beyond, her reporting appears regularly in several online and print food & travel columns. Her topics range from the Italian lifestyle to culinary customs and traditional recipes.

She is the creator of popular food, travel and lifestyle blog Aglio Olio e Peperoncino, which has subscribers in over 100 countries.

She is the Host and Creator of prime-time TV hits “ABCheese”, “Uazz’America” and "A Tavola con Mamma" broadcast by SKY TV for Gambero Rosso Channel, Italy's number one food network.

Connect with Eleonora:
Website | Casa Mia Tours' Instagram | Personal Instagram | Email

Links:
Carbonara Recipe
Amatriciana Recipe

Quotes from this episode:

“Food is love and it’s also therapy.” - Eleonora 

“Every little moment that’s tied to food or nourishment is so much more than just nourishing the body and the stomach. It’s nourishing everything else.” - Eleonora 

“Italian food is not just food. It’s eating, sitting down with the family, with friends or loved ones or by yourself and making that moment the most important moment of the day.”  Eleonora 

Share YOUR food stories!

I want to hear your stories! Tell us about the foods that have affected your life, the first time you remember tasting food, any questions you have for me - I’d be SO happy to connect with you.

Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to dearfoodpodcast@gmail.com.

Spread the love!

Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe, drop a 5-star rating and don’t forget to share it with a friend who adores food as much as you do!