Today we have an amazing conversation with Naama Shefi . Naama is the founder of the Jewish Food Society , a nonprofit organization that works to preserve, celebrate, and revitalize Jewish cuisine to build and promote a meaningful connection to Jewish and Israeli culture. She is also the chair of Asif Culinary Institute of Israel . Also on the show, Aliza and Matt discuss three things they each are interested in right now. These include: Piñas at Connolly’s, Emily Sundberg’s Feed Me newsletter, ...
Aug 18, 2023•45 min•Ep. 268
Dirt Candy is a vegetarian restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side that has become famous over the past decade for making eggplant tiramisu, kimchi donuts, and tomato fruit leather. But its chef, Amanda Cohen , makes one thing very clear—the restaurant’s mission is not about vegetarianism or health or politics. It’s just about making vegetables taste really good. In this episode, we talk with Amanda about the 15-year run of one of New York’s most important restaurants. We discuss her early expe...
Aug 16, 2023•39 min•Ep. 267
Ham El-Waylly is a chef, recipe developer, and video creator based in New York City. You may know him from the NYT Cooking channel, where he shares ingenious tips and whips up opulent feasts from niche ingredients alongside his wife, Sohla. But you probably don’t know Ham’s rich history in food, from growing up in Doha, Qatar, with Bolivian-Egyptian parents in the food business to running research and development at Momofuku’s Ando. Today we dig into it all, plus his love of graphic tees and liv...
Aug 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 266
Hillary Sterling is a longtime New York City chef who is currently the executive chef at Ci Siamo , one of our favorite restaurants in all the land. We’ve known Hillary for years, and it was really fun to dig into her history to find out about her early food memories growing up deep in Brooklyn and her many cooking jobs in Chicago and NYC. We talk about traveling around Italy for research and her friendly rivalry (more of a friendly meeting of the minds) with chef Missy Robbins. We also find out...
Aug 11, 2023•41 min•Ep. 265
Dan Pelosi is the self-proclaimed “Italian American meatball" behind the popular social media account and home entertainment mood board GrossyPelosi. In this episode, we catch up with Dan to talk about his journey from working at a creative agency to running a megapopular online food community. We talk about some of his favorite summer and fall recipes and dig into his debut cookbook, Let’s Eat . We hope you enjoy this fun conversation. MORE FROM GROSSY PELOSI: Grossy’s Guide to Grilling [offici...
Aug 09, 2023•40 min•Ep. 264
Chef Eric Adjepong was a finalist on season 16 of Bravo's Top Chef and a contestant on season 17 of Top Chef All-Stars , where he earned consistent acclaim from judges and popularity among viewers. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American born and raised in New York City, Eric sources the flavors and influences in his cooking from many of the West African dishes he grew up eating. He is passionate about introducing diners to West African cuisine and the impact its diaspora has had on South Americ...
Aug 07, 2023•45 min•Ep. 263
Lyndsay C. Green is the restaurant critic at the Detroit Free Press , and she is tasked with shining a light on one of America’s most vibrant and also misunderstood food cities. It’s quite the job, and Green, a native of New York City, has embraced the role to its fullest. In this episode, we talk about Detroit’s many diverse neighborhoods and how the city’s food scene was built by immigrants from Mexico, Greece, China, and the Middle East. I ask her about her most recent top ten restaurants lis...
Aug 04, 2023•54 min•Ep. 262
We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the founders of not one but two of America’s most exciting independent media brands, each working deeply in and around food. In 2013, former media and beauty executive Kerry Diamond founded Cherry Bombe as a response to the overwhelmingly male-dominated chef and restaurant world. The publication has grown into a serious player, launching podcasts and events that rival some of the major glossies. Kyle Tibbs Jones is a cofounder and director of med...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 261
Lior Lev Sercarz is the chef, spice blender, and owner of La Boîte , a world-renowned spice company located in New York City. On this episode, we catch up with Lior about his unique path from Israel to some of the most famous restaurant kitchens in New York. We talk about the culinary school he’s founding in Northern Israel and dive into his incredible new book, A Middle Eastern Pantry . For real, this is one of our favorite books of the year, and together we go over many of the spices and cond...
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Ep. 260
Here are two classic conversations. Ayo Adebiri plays Sydney Adamu on the beloved FX show The Bear . She tells us about her real-life work in New York City restaurants, and we get into some behind-the-scenes talk about filming on location in Chicago. Also on the show is a fast and furious talk with cookbook author and food TV personality Molly Yeh . Molly is legitimately one of the funniest writers (and guests) that I’ve encountered in a long time, and we get into all sorts of topics on the show...
Jul 29, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 259
Nicole A. Taylor is a food writer, recipe developer, and master home cook. Her latest book is Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations . Now, we’ve known Nicole for a while, but this conversation was the first time we were able to sit down and talk about food in her native Georgia, her work as a writer and editor in New York City, and the meaning of Juneteenth. We also go behind the scenes at one of America’s most well-known food magazines, where Nicole has be...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 258
How cool was it to have Anya von Bremzen in the studio? In this fast-paced episode, we cover Anya’s tremendous journalism career, which has brought her multiple James Beard Awards and a handful of reported books that are considered modern classics. These include the memoir Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking and her latest, National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home . We talk about what makes (or doesn’t make) a culture’s national dish, and how food writi...
Jul 26, 2023•45 min•Ep. 257
Have you ever eaten prune whip pie? How about pickle cheesecake? Well, B. Dylan Hollis absolutely has. The popular TikTok and YouTube creator has racked up millions (and millions) of views by baking his way through vintage cookbooks that fit his “three Ws”: wacky, weird, and wonderful . Now he has a book of his very own. It’s called Baking Yesteryear , and we’re thrilled to have him on the podcast to talk about the appeal behind historic baking and much more. Also on the show, Aliza has returned...
Jul 24, 2023•47 min•Ep. 256
Cal Peternell was the head chef of legendary Bay Area restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, for over 20 years, where he served celebrity patrons and trained a new generation of chefs. He’s the New York Times best-selling author of Twelve Recipes and A Recipe for Cooking . His most recent book is the revealing and erudite Burnt Toast and Other Disasters . On this episode, we hear some good Chez Panisse stories, and we talk about Cal’s move to the East Coast. We also discuss his cookboo...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 255
Snaxshot , the curatorial and slightly mercurial grocery newsletter and community, has grown into an industry force, read by consumer packaged goods executives and members of food media on a near-religious level. Andrea Hernández is the muscle behind this influential publication , and we were lucky to have her back in the studio to talk about what is interesting to her in the grocery store, or, shall we say, the “millennial bodega.” We also talk about nonalcoholic beers, Threads, our happy birth...
Jul 19, 2023•47 min•Ep. 254
As the cofounder of online restaurant watchdog and chronicler Eater, as well as reservations booker Resy, Ben Leventhal has been at the center of all things dining out for nearly 20 years. On this episode we catch up with Ben about his latest company, Blackbird , a restaurant loyalty program that is rethinking the way hospitality and online culture converge. We talk about the founding of Blackbird and how restaurants are rapidly changing the way they make money through CPG and brand extension. W...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 253
Chitra Agrawal is an author and entrepreneur behind the beloved Brooklyn Delhi , a packaged foods brand that is based partially around achaar, a beloved and staple South Asian condiment. We talk about the founding of the company and our collective love of Indian spices and flavors, as well as a copycat product from one of the country’s most prominent grocery chains. We also discuss her cookbook, Vibrant India , in which Chitra takes readers on a journey to her mother’s hometown of Bangalore and ...
Jul 14, 2023•59 min•Ep. 252
The proud son of Filipino immigrants, Dale Talde grew up immersed in his family’s cultural heritage, while also enjoying the life of a typical American kid. Dale is the chef and owner of Goosefeather , a signature restaurant located in Tarrytown, outside New York City. He’s also the host of Tastemade’s “ All Up in My Grill ,” and he appeared as a three-time cheftestant and judge on Bravo’s Emmy Award–winning culinary show Top Chef . On this episode we talk to Dale about his life in and out of th...
Jul 12, 2023•43 min•Ep. 251
As the founder of Blue Bottle Coffee, James Freeman has seen the rise of specialty coffee from a very unique vantage point. Freeman joins us in the studio to talk about his company’s influence, as well as where coffee is heading today. We find out about his dream café project in Japan and what excites him most about making coffee at home. We also talk about James’s excellent book, The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee . This is a seriously interesting talk with one of the great characters in the world...
Jul 10, 2023•49 min•Ep. 250
Running one pastry program alone is a feat of organization and carbohydrates—but two? Well, that’s all in a day’s work for Camari Mick . She’s the executive pastry chef at the Musket Room , a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood, and she’s also creating breakfast pastries like candied orange almond croissants for the newly opened Raf’s up the block. Camari is a star in New York’s white-hot pastry scene, so Aliza’s thrilled to have her on the show to talk about developin...
Jul 07, 2023•30 min•Ep. 249
For Rachel Karten , “link in bio” isn’t just a social media call to action—it’s a career. The former head of social at Bon Appétit and Epicurious is now a social media consultant and the creator of the newsletter Link in Bio , which dispenses insights and interviews on the cutting edge of social media in food and far beyond. Rachel is my go-to person for demystifying things like the TikTok and Instagram algorithms (well, as much as anyone can), so I’m thrilled to have her on the show to talk abo...
Jul 04, 2023•42 min•Ep. 248
John deBary is a bartender extraordinaire, a cookbook author, a spokesperson for the bar and restaurant world, and one of our favorite guests on the show. He’s back to talk about his really great new book, Saved by the Bellini: & Other 90s-Inspired Cocktails . In this episode we talk about deadstock sodas, muse on summer drinking, and dive into what he loves so much about the 1990s. Also on the show, Aliza and Matt share some of their discoveries while walking the floor at the Fancy Food Sho...
Jun 30, 2023•59 min•Ep. 247
We all love The Bear, which means we all love Lionel Boyce . The multitalented writer, actor, and former Odd Future member’s sweet, truly hilarious depiction of Marcus, a middling line cook turned burgeoning pastry chef, stole hearts and laughs in Season One. The show’s new season, streaming now, pushes Lionel to further culinary and comedic heights, and we’re thrilled to have him on the podcast to talk about it. MORE FROM LIONEL BOYCE: Lionel Boyce of “The Bear” on an Inglewood Food Crawl [Los ...
Jun 28, 2023•26 min•Ep. 246
Wow, the hamburger god George Motz is our guest on today’s show, and it doesn’t disappoint. George is a writer, a TV host, and the guy with the cool hair and an endless well of knowledge about the hamburger. On this episode we go over some big topics, including the origins of the burger in America, Shake Shack vs. In-N-Out, and the best burger blend to buy for at-home grilling. He also talks about his new NYC restaurant, Hamburger America, and what makes the perfect restaurant burger. We hope yo...
Jun 26, 2023•41 min•Ep. 245
Today is Cake Zine day on the show, and Matt is so excited to welcome in his cohost, Aliza Abarbanel , along with Cake Zine coeditor Tanya Bush to the studio. Cake Zine is an independent magazine and a “hedonistic exploration of history, pop culture, literature, and art through sweets.” The latest issue’s theme is Humble Pie, and we speak with Aliza and Tanya about some of the issue’s features that highlight “broad interpretations of humiliation and piping-hot servings of contrition.” This is su...
Jun 23, 2023•56 min•Ep. 244
The Bear . We all love The Bear , the hit restaurant drama from FX that begins its second season on June 22. And we love The Bear for good reason. The show was the talk of TV and one of the most realistic portrayals of restaurant life on TV. Courtney Storer is a Los Angeles–based chef who works as the show’s culinary producer. That means she’s behind its hyperrealistic (now legendary) cooking scenes. On today’s episode, we talk about how Courtney gets the cast ready to cook. We also dive into th...
Jun 21, 2023•44 min•Ep. 243
Not all cake is created equal, and Jenneh Kaikai is always raising her game. The baker and owner of Pelah Kitchen , a Brooklyn-based micro bakery offering up cakes crowned with flowers and filled with flavors of the African diaspora, makes some of my favorite sweets in the city. It’s a joy to have her on the podcast to talk about evolving her business from a side project to a main gig, the booming food scene in Accra, Ghana, pop-up solidarity, and more. MORE FROM JENNEH KAIKAI: Issue Nº 18: Beau...
Jun 19, 2023•38 min•Ep. 242
It’s so great having our buddy Nils Bernstein drop by the studio. Nils is a man of many skills, and we talk about his great new book, The Joy of Oysters. Nils is the food editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine, and he has written and developed recipes for places like Bon Appétit , Epicurious, GQ , and the New York Times . But Matt knows Nils best as a former music publicist, working with bands like Interpol, Stephen Malkmus, and Nirvana while holding key positions at Sub Pop and Matador Records. We...
Jun 16, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 241
Big ideas, strong opinions, and a deadpan Instagram: These are a few of our favorite things. Former pastry chef and current Empellon and Mischa boss man Alex Stupak is a complicated—and incredibly sincere—dude, and in this episode, we have a really spirited conversation about what it’s like to open a new restaurant that isn’t part of the Empellon Mexican multiverse. The food at Mischa is Eastern European, and it’s Stupak’s most personal project to date. We get into that, as well as some big idea...
Jun 14, 2023•34 min•Ep. 240
We are always so happy to hang out with Jenny Rosenstrach , the talented writer and editor behind a highly enjoyable newsletter and a series of cookbooks. For many followers of the home cooking internet, her blog Dinner: A Love Story has been a steady hand holding the whisk for the past decade. Two years ago, she released the New York Times best seller The Weekday Vegetarians , and she is now working on a follow-up that we discuss on this episode. We also dig into her upcoming move back to New Y...
Jun 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 239
