HEARD (024): A steakhouse in Miami, watermelon slushies, tahini granola, chefs rallying for autistic individuals, Eric Ripert’s new cookbook, and sweet and sour chicken.

In this episode, Kappy shares what’s on his plate at the moment. Links and handles mentioned in this episode:Sunny’s Steakhouse | IG | Will Thompson | Chef Aaron BrooksNinja CREAMi | Chris Young videoChef on the Spectrum program | Chef Franklin Becker | Chitarra Pastaria | Chef Ken OringerChef Eric Ripert’s Mindful Cooking book | IG***Salty Chocolate + Tahini Granola3 cups old-fashioned oats½ - 1 cup chopped nuts of choice (I use pistachios and/or almonds)1 - 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt⅓ cup honey3 tablespoons maple syrup3 tablespoons tahini (stirred until smooth)2 tablespoons of neutral oil (olive, coconut, avocado, etc.)1 teaspoon vanilla½ teaspoon cinnamon or cardamom (I do ¼ teaspoon each)To finish:⅓ - ½ cup mini chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolateFlaky saltLight dusting of lemon zestSprinkling of sprinklesPreheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.1. In a big bowl, combine the oats, nuts, and salt and stir to combine.2. To a small sauce pot, add the honey, maple syrup, tahini, and oil and warm over low heat while stirring for about 1-2 minutes. Once it is loose and glossy, remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom.3. Pour the wet mixture over the bowl of dry and mix with a rubber spatula until fully coated.4. Transfer the mixture to the parchment lined sheet tray, gently press into an even layer, about ½ - 1 inch thick, and place in the oven. 5. Bake for about 25-40 minutes, rotating halfway, until it’s light golden brown and toasted. Do not stir. (I know this is a wide range of time. We enjoy it a little chewy so I err on the side of 25-30 minutes rather than the longer time.)6. Remove from the oven, and evenly scatter the chocolate, salt, lemon zest and sprinkles over the top. Let cool on pan - it will firm up as it cools. Once it cools, you can break it up into pieces and store in a resealable bag or covered tupperware container. Follow Beyond the Plate on Facebook and X.Follow Kappy on Instagram and X.www.beyondtheplatepodcast.com www.onkappysplate.com