Today’s guest is Adé Carrena, chef and founder of Dounou Cuisine culinary project and the iLéWA Foods spice blend company. A native of Bénin, Adé was adopted at the age of 10 and grew up with a Puerto Rican family in Connecticut. Today, she calls Raleigh, North Carolina, home, and she’s been on a journey of reclamation ever since, raising her daughter, pivoting from banking to culinary, launching her businesses, and reconnecting with her birth mother. In 2023, she was named North Carolina Chef o...
Jun 30, 2025•44 min
It’s the final episode of our special Power Miniseries, and our guest is Mashama Bailey, chef and co-owner of The Grey in Savannah and the soon-to-open L’Arrêt in Paris. Mashama is a chef we’ve come to know and love at Cherry Bombe, and she’s one of the cover stars of our new Power issue. She has been the subject of a “Chef's Table” documentary on Netflix, has her own MasterClass on Southern cooking, and co-authored a memoir titled “Black, White, and The Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendsh...
Jun 25, 2025•39 min
Today’s guest is Cheetie Kumar, self-taught chef, rock and roller, and restaurant industry champion. She and her husband Paul are the owners of Ajja, a restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, that celebrates the bold, beautiful flavors she loves. Ajja means “come over” in Hindi and Urdu, as Cheetie explains, and it’s the perfect word to describe their buzzy neighborhood spot. Cheetie is also vice president and a board member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which represents indie operator...
Jun 23, 2025•45 min
Our guest on the third episode of our special Power Miniseries is Victoria James—sommelier, author, advocate, and mother of two. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her memoir, “Wine Girl,” her fight against sexual harassment at the highest levels of the sommelier community, and her role as Executive Director of Beverage & Partnerships at Gracious Hospitality, which includes the COQODAQ and the COTE Korean Steakhouses. Victoria and Kerry also discuss her Trailblazer Award, presented t...
Jun 18, 2025•46 min
Today’s guest is chef, writer, and Emmy-nominated host Sophia Roe. The culinary creative has lots of pots on the stove, so to speak, including a YouTube channel, a new outpost of her Apartment Miso studio, and her biggest project to date: motherhood. Sophia and host Kerry Diamond talk about Sophia’s early years in culinary school, working as a private chef, meeting her fiancé Chris, thoughts on being a working mom, and the surprising phase she finds herself in. “I am happier than I probably have...
Jun 16, 2025•40 min
Welcome to the second episode of our special Power Miniseries. Our guest is Katina Connaughton of SingleThread, the celebrated restaurant and farm in Healdsburg, California, that she and her husband, Chef Kyle Connaughton, co-founded in 2016. Today, Katina is the head farmer of the 24-acre property that supplies the SingleThread restaurant, farm store, and CSA program. As Katina shares with host Kerry Diamond, she never set out to become a farmer. But she found her power, and her calling, by lit...
Jun 11, 2025•49 min
Host Kerry Diamond heads to County Cork, Ireland, for a special episode of Radio Cherry Bombe, recorded live at the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, presented by Kerrygold. Join Kerry as she chats with four inspiring figures helping to shape Ireland’s vibrant culinary future: award-winning dairy farmers Dara & Beatrix Killeen; female farmer advocate Vanessa Kiely O’Connor, a.k.a. The Dairy Fairy; and legendary food icon Darina Allen, founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and the new Ballymalo...
Jun 09, 2025•47 min
We’re kicking off Radio Cherry Bombe’s Power Miniseries with Kristen Kish, the host of “Top Chef,” chef/partner of Arlo Grey at The Line hotel in Austin, and author of the bestselling memoir “Accidentally On Purpose.” As Kristen explains it, she’s all about soft power—and using it to support her community, her loved ones, and herself. Kristen joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her rise from Midwestern kid to culinary superstar. They discuss how Kristen found her true calling at culinary scho...
Jun 04, 2025•54 min
Condiment Claire, aka Claire Dinhut, is the social media star and Substack author known for her deep love of sauces, dips, and spreads. She joins guest host and Cherry Bombe alum Lauren Goldstein to talk about her unique career, how her upbringing shaped her views on food, and how she started on TikTok out of spite, only to find a devoted audience for her content on the platform. They also talk about Claire’s debut book, “The Condiment Book: Unlocking Maximum Flavor with Minimum Effort,” and the...
Jun 02, 2025•47 min
Today’s guest is Asma Khan, the celebrated chef and restaurateur behind Darjeeling Express in London, and a fierce champion for women everywhere. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her latest cookbook, “Monsoon: Delicious Indian Recipes for Every Day and Season,” a tribute to Indian home cooking and the beauty of seasonal flavors, and her new cooking series on Discovery+, “Secrets of the Curry Kitchen.” They also discuss overcoming adversity, the ways women are held back, and the importa...
May 26, 2025•59 min
Today, we welcome wellness journalist Liz Moody back to the show. Host of The Liz Moody Podcast and author of “100 Ways to Change Your Life: The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success,” Liz is known for distilling physical and mental health advice into practical steps that actually stick. Liz joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her early writing career, some of the more unexpected adventures from her past, and the key lessons she’s learned along the way. They al...
May 19, 2025•46 min
For today’s show, special guest host Chrissy Tracey—chef, forager, and author of “Forage & Feast”—fills in for host Kerry Diamond for a vibrant conversation with cookbook authors Mehreen “Reenie” Karim and Srishti Jain. Reenie, known from “Next Level Chef” and Bon Appétit, is now executive editor of the new “Make It Plant-Based” cookbook series and the author of “Make It Plant-Based! Southern.” She’s joined by Srishti, a NYC-based supper club host and the author of “Make It Plant-Based! Indi...
May 12, 2025•41 min
Today’s guest is viral culinary storyteller Sarah Ahn—creator of Ahnest Kitchen and co-author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook “Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes” with her mother, Nam Soon Ahn. Sarah joins host Kerry Diamond to share the inspiration behind her intimate food writing, the bond she forged with her mother through cooking, and the journey from grief to gratitude that shaped her debut book. They also talk about her role at America's Test Kitchen, how...
May 05, 2025•45 min
Today’s guests are Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini, the inspiring mother-daughter duo behind The Cook’s Atelier, the popular culinary school in the Burgundy region of France. Marjorie and Kendall join host Kerry Diamond to share the bold decisions that led them to move from Phoenix to France at very different stages of their lives. They also talk about their brand-new cookbook, “French at Heart: Recipes That Bring France Home,” and the moments from their lives that inspired the book....
Apr 28, 2025•44 min
Today’s guest is the radiant Eden Grinshpan—host of “Top Chef Canada,” cookbook author, and all-around joy-spreader. Eden joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her brand new cookbook, “Tahini Baby: Bright, Everyday Recipes That Happen To Be Vegetarian,” which hits shelves tomorrow. It’s a flavorful tribute to the Middle Eastern-inspired dishes of her childhood and her forever pantry hero: tahini. They also dive into creativity in the kitchen, chasing joy, and the power of food to connect and co...
Apr 21, 2025•39 min
Lots of folks in the baking world are buzzing about Cake Picnic, the gathering created by amateur baker and Google UX expert Elisa Sunga. She was hoping 15 folks would attend the very first Cake Picnic; more than 300 folks RSVP’d. For her most recent Cake Picnic in San Francisco, more than 1,000 attendees showed up, cake in tow. After all, the first rule of Cake Picnic is simple: “No cake, no entry.” Today, people are DM’ing and emailing her from around the world, asking for Elisa to bring Cake ...
Apr 16, 2025•44 min
In this special episode, we’re joined by the legendary Alice Waters—chef, activist, founder of Chez Panisse, and the visionary behind the Edible Schoolyard Project. Alice is one of four culinary icons featured in the upcoming “Chef’s Table: Legends” documentary on Netflix, dropping on April 28th to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series. Alice joins host Kerry Diamond from her home in Berkeley and shares her passionate advocacy for free, healthy school lunches for all children—and why she ...
Apr 14, 2025•54 min
Joanna Gaines of Magnolia and “Fixer Upper” is a household name, but her path to success was anything but conventional. In this special episode, recorded live at Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee conference in 2023, Joanna sat down with host Kerry Diamond to reflect on her journey—from working in her father’s tire shop for a decade to becoming a design icon and media powerhouse. Fresh off a meaningful family trip to Seoul, Joanna opened up about her early career disappointments, shared candid advice for yo...
Apr 09, 2025•28 min
Today’s guest is Laura Lendrum, CEO of Printemps America. The iconic Parisian department store now has a sister location on Wall Street in New York City that blends fashion, food, and French luxury under one roof. Laura joins host Kerry Diamond to discuss why the new location is distinctly NOT a department store, and how culinary, as led by Chef Gregory Gourdet, plays a big role in the concept. They also dive into Laura’s time as president of Ralph Lauren, and talk about the success of Ralph’s C...
Apr 07, 2025•35 min
It’s two legends, one stage on today’s show as we dip into the Jubilee archives. Don’t miss this wise and warm conversation between Madhur Jaffrey and Padma Lakshmi from the Cherry Bombe Jubilee Conference in Brooklyn in Spring 2019. Madhur, says Padma, “is the greatest living writer on Indian food—ever.” Padma, the former host of “Top Chef,” the star and creator of “Taste the Nation,” and a best-selling author, interviewed Madhur and it was a riveting exchange that touched on a wide range of to...
Mar 31, 2025•47 min
Behind the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, a quieter movement is taking shape—one focused on sustainability. Anna Schmid, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about this evolution and one of the resort’s most impactful initiatives—the Food Rescue Alliance. A collaboration between The Venetian and The Just One Project, the alliance provides more than 20,000 meals each month to those in need across Southern Nevada. Tun...
Mar 26, 2025•38 min
Today’s guest is Kiera Wright-Ruiz, author of “My (Half) Latinx Kitchen: Half Recipes, Half Stories, All Latin American.” Kiera joins host Kerry Diamond to share the journey behind her deeply personal debut cookbook, which weaves together her cultural heritage and love of food. They also dive into her bold decision to move to Tokyo during the pandemic—a move that became more than just an adventure. She opens up about life in Japan, the surprising perks (like $10 dentist appointments!), and how i...
Mar 24, 2025•40 min
Today’s guest is Sarah Thompson, executive chef at Casa Playa at Wynn Resort in Las Vegas and a newly minted James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest. Before getting tapped to helm the 300-seat restaurant, Sarah got her start working at celebrated spots like Marea and Cosme in New York City. Today, she’s one of the few female executive chefs on the world-famous Strip. Sarah joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the influence of her family, why she was drawn to fine dining, her ti...
Mar 19, 2025•45 min
Today’s guest is Alice Cheng, the founder and CEO of Culinary Agents—the hiring platform for the hospitality industry. Think LinkedIn, but for back of house and front of house folks. Alice joins host Kerry Diamond to share insights on today’s hottest restaurant jobs, what cities are booming, and why communication skills often outweigh kitchen chops when it comes to hiring. Plus, they dive into her unconventional career journey—from studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology to working as a ...
Mar 17, 2025•44 min
Today’s guest is Elizabeth Blau, the trailblazer who helped shape Las Vegas into a world-class culinary destination and is now championing a more supportive hospitality industry for women. She talks to host Kerry Diamond about her journey from “taco girl” at a hometown watering hole to powerhouse executive. They discuss Elizabeth’s early years working with Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque fame, her move to Las Vegas and her work with the Wynn family, the launch of her own company, Blau & Associat...
Mar 12, 2025•56 min
Laurie Woolever is a writer and author of the highly anticipated memoir, “Care and Feeding,” which hits shelves tomorrow. Laurie’s book is a deeply personal and unflinching account of her time as an assistant to two towering figures in the food world—Mario Batali, the disgraced celebrity chef, and Anthony Bourdain, the beloved yet complex TV icon and writer. She also shares her own journey, reflecting on how she nearly lost herself in the relentless care and feeding of others. Laurie joins host ...
Mar 10, 2025•51 min
Las Vegas is full of surprises, and today’s guest, Christina Dylag, is one of them. She’s the owner of Velveteen Rabbit, a uniquely charming bar and community hub in the city’s vibrant Arts District. Christina is also the author of “Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means”—a title that’s as intriguing as the book itself. Christina joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about why she opened Velveteen Rabbit, the philosophy behind her book, and how the A...
Mar 05, 2025•34 min
Camila Alves McConaughey is a true force—entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Women of Today, where she shares recipes, wellness tips, and a passion for community. She’s also the co-founder of the Just Keep Livin’ Foundation with her husband, actor Matthew McConaughey, and together they also launched Pantalones Tequila. Camila joins host Kerry Diamond to share her inspiring journey from growing up in Brazil and moving to Los Angeles alone as a teenager before building a life and career r...
Mar 03, 2025•42 min
Kimmie Mcintosh is the creative force behind Milkfish, a beloved pop-up bakery in Las Vegas. Last year, Kimmie was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. Her surprise? Genuine. Her baked goods? Unforgettable. From her decadent Cashew Coco Jam Sticky Buns to her crowd-favorite Pandan Tres Leches Cake, Kimmie’s creations are as heartfelt as they are delicious. Kimmie joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the supportive baking community in Las Vegas, t...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Gia Coppola is the director of “The Last Showgirl,” the poignant and beautifully crafted new film starring Pamela Anderson. Set in Las Vegas, the film explores the bittersweet end of a showgirl’s career and has been nominated for multiple awards, with Pamela’s moving portrayal of Shelly earning her Best Actress nods from both the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes. Gia joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the film, the influence of her late grandmother, Eleanor Coppola, working as a bar...
Feb 24, 2025•34 min
