Episodes
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OFFBITES: Therapy rabbit Bun Jovi's social media drama and the cow tooth taco
We’ll listen to an interview with a woman who brings her 26-pound bunny to an airport to help nervous travelers and about the woman who claims she found a cow tooth in her taco. Special thanks to Christine & Salt out of WTIC News and Talk in Hartford and the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in…
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OFFBITES: Visiting the haunted car wash and a Pokémon heist
This week, we’re going to hear about the adventure one of our news teams had at a haunted car wash in California and about the heist of nearly $1 million worth of Pokémon cards. Special thanks to Daniella DeRobbio from KNX News in Los Angeles and A New Morning out of WBEN in Buffalo.
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TRUE CRIME ROUNDUP: Death from behind the wheel, Silver Rail updates and more
This week… we’re exploring new details about the shooting last week at Silver Rail Elementary School, political ads referencing the Annunciation School shooting from last year and analysis of the ongoing Cornell sex abuse scandal and more. Featuring audio from 1010 WINS in New York, KYW Newsradio...
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BONUS: A haunted car wash, a Pokémon heist, therapy bunny drama and the cow tooth taco
This week, we’re going to hear about the adventure one of our news teams had at a haunted car wash in California and about the heist of nearly $1 million worth of Pokémon cards. Then, we’ll listen to an interview with a woman who brings her 26-pound bunny to an airport to help nervous travelers…
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Were there things that were off limits when writing the Sea Salt Eatery cookbook?
Today on DeRusha Eats, Jason talks with Gail Rosenblum and Kait Ziemer-Davis from Sea Salt Eatery about their new book "Sea Salt Eatery: Recipes to Enjoy Year-Round", why they decided to write it, "Sea Salt Groupies", who their main influences were, and more. Now available from the University of...
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S3 - Episode 23 - John Kraus of Patisserie 46
A Paducah, Kentucky kid who went from making bolts for toilets in his hometown to one of the finest pastry chefs in the country: John Kraus is celebrating more than 15 years of his Minneapolis bakery, Patisserie 46. He joins Jason to talk about why he moved to Minneapolis, the challenges of...
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S3 - Episode 22 - Hoyt Hill, the $25k bottle of wine at one of America's best restaurants
Hoyt Hill is the sommelier at Forepaugh's Restaurant in Saint Paul, in late April he got the opportunity to stage a couple days at Chef Thomas Keller's yountville, California restaurant The French Laundry. He talks about the experience, what makes a 3 Michelin starred restaurant different, and…
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S3 - Episode 21 - Bucheron
A 38-seat restaurant in South Minneapolis is the Best New Restaurant in America! Bûcheron was named James Beard Foundation's best new restaurant for 2025, built by two veterans of fine dining, both with experience in Gavin Kaysen's Minneapolis restaurants. But Jeanie Janas Ritter and her...
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S3 - Episode 20- Kitchen and Rail Co-Owner Joe Newhouse
On this episode of DeRusha Eats, Jason is joined by Kitchen and Rail Co-Owner Joe Newhouse as they discuss opening a second location, opening during challenging times, their tribute to "Mort's Deli", what makes a good pastrami sandwich, having an "approachable menu" and more.
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S3 - Episode 19 - Megan Luedtke: Bar Director For The Twin Cities Busiest Restaurant Group
Megan Luedtke is the most significant voice in deciding what cocktails Minnesotans are drinking, and no one's talking about her. DeRusha Eats is. Megan shares what inspired her to start creating craft cocktails, the challenges of being a woman in a part of the restaurant world that's...
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S3 - Episode 18 - From Fire and ruin to Restaurant of the Year: Khue's Kitchen
In 2024, Chef Eric Pham got the call that his restaurant was on fire, days before opening. He considered calling it - but he found a new location and opened Khue's Kitchen. In 2025, the Minnesota Star Tribune named it the New Restaurant of the Year. Eric talks about growing up in his family's...
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S3 - Episode 17: Brim Restaurant Chef/Owner Kate Sidoti
Gluten-free. No seed oils. The hottest trends in nutrition have been part of life for nearly a decade at Brim, a farm-to-fast casual restaurant founded by former personal chef Kate Sidoti. Kate talks about her food inspiration, the challenges of running a restaurant, and why after so long in…
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S3 - Episode 16: The Minnesota Women of Mezcal
Two Minnesota women, linked through a connection to Prince, have founded their own mezcal brand. Why? How? Ingrid Chavez and Jacqui Thompson, co-founders of Las Melodías de la Luna Mezcal, join Jason DeRusha on DeRusha Eats to talk about their history, their love for mezcal, and why having a...
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S3 - Episode 15: IS THE CRAFT BEER ERA OVER? Jim Diley, Co-Founder of Fulton
From college friends to garage beer brewers, the buddies who started Fulton in 2009 rode the craft beer wage. Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde were on tap everywhere, the tap room near Target Field was bumping. Today - the business has changed, and Fulton has matured as a business along with...
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S3 - Episode 14 - The Lanchava Collection
It's one of the oldest producers of wine, some call it the birthplace of wine: Georgia. And a group of Minnesota brothers are working to spread the word about their homeland on the coast of the Black Sea, where Eastern Europe and Western Asia come together. The Lanchava Collection is seeing sales...
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S3 - Episode 13 - Stephanie Hansen
When Stephanie Hansen sold her Twin Cities printing and direct marketing business - she faced a crisis. Who was she? What did she want to do? A decade later, she's just published her second cookbook, and her Emmy-award winning TV show "Taste Buds with Stephanie" is syndicated all over the United...
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S3 - Episode 12 - Nate Burleson
He's the co-anchor of CBS This Morning, NFL Today, host of Hollywood Squares, and a former Minnesota Vikings player. But Nate Burleson is coming to Minneapolis as he puts in the work to support his new vodka, created with Detroit micro-distiller Valentine Distilling Co. Lionblood Orange Vodka is...
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S3 - Episode 11 - Brett Anderson, NY Times food writer
What Is Great Hmong Food? These Chefs Have the Answer" wrote New York Times food reporter Brett Anderson. So what got Anderson interested in Minneapolis chefs Yia Vang and Diane Moua, and their restaurants Vinai and Diane's Place? He was born in Minnesota, has family here, and spent 5 years…
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S3 - Episode 10 - Quang Restaurant
The road to Minnesota's most recognized Vietnamese restaurant started with a St. Cloud family sponsoring a refugee couple and their 7 children. Lung Tran escaped Vietnam during the War with her husband Quang Truong. Her daughter Heather Mandanas and her grandson Andrew Truong share their family's...
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S3 - Episode 9 - Yia Vang
Keep Moving Forward Together: advice from Yia Vang's father's experience fleeing war-torn Laos that he uses to run his restaurant, Vinai in Minneapolis. Yia talks with Jason just days after his TPT show "Relish" won a James Beard Foundation Media Award in the lifestyle visual media category. We...
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'Is this who we are?' Reaction to political shootings in Minnesota, plus the latest on how the killing spree unfolded
A detailed 20-page complaint filed by federal prosecutors reveals chilling details about the actions by Vance Boelter, the suspect in targeted, political shootings that left former Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead, and State Senator John Hoffman and his…
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S3 - Episode 8 - WineFest
How a Chicago man went from making wine in his dad's basement to living the Sonoma County dream: Justin Harmon gives us the lowdown on his Argot Winery, and find out why his most famous wine is named "Bastard Tongue." Justin is in Minnesota for a fundraiser for M Health Fairview Masonic…
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S3 - Episode 7 - Fellers Ranch
What is American Wagyu beef? Fellers Ranch, based in southern Minnesota, is trying to elevate American beef and sell premium cuts directly to restaurants and consumers. Troy Kopischke grew up on a farm and partnered with Conger Meats butcher shop owner Jeremy Johnson to help Fellers grow.…
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S3 - Episode 6 - Gavin Kaysen
A conversation with Minnesota-based and nationally known chef Gavin Kaysen. The chef and owner of Spoon and Stable, Demi, Bellecour and Mara is sharing stories about mentoring in his new book “The Synergy Series.” 25 chefs who came to Minneapolis to cook talking about their stories, their...
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S3 - Episode 5 - William H. Macy
You know William H. Macy as an actor. But he's also in the whiskey business. He's in Minnesota on behalf of the Woody Creek Distiller and joins Jason for DeRusha Eats!
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S3 - Episode 4 - The Food Dolls
The Food Dolls are two Minnesota sisters who loved creating cooking videos. Alia and Radwa Elkaffas started on Facebook in 2005 and now have more than 4 million followers. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube versions of Food Dolls make up another 5 million followers. Now the Elkaffas sisters have their...
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S3 Episode 3 - Joshua Hedquist
From young felon to successful owner of Minnesota pizza chain OG ZAZA - Joshua Hedquist's life story is astonishing and inspiring. How he went from in prison and a 9th grade dropout, to fine dining kitchens in Florida and Minnesota, to opening the most buzzed about pizza restaurant in the Twin...
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S3 Episode 2 - Karyn Tomlinson
St. Paul chef Karyn Tomlinson has been named one of the Best New Chefs of 2024 by Food and Wine magazine. It's the latest national honor for the Minnesota-native who took a winding path towards owning her own restaurant nestled into a small neighborhood, Myriel. She joins Jason to talk about her...
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S3 Episode 1 - Restaurant Alma
Alex Roberts and Margo Roberts, Restaurant Alma The most awarded restaurant currently operating in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Restaurant Alma celebrates 25 years in November 2024. Alex recalls the early days with 7 reservations on the books pre-social media; spotting his now-wife in a nearby coffee...
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S2 Episode 18
On this DeRusha Eats, Jason asks you what food you're afraid of.
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S2 Episode 17 - Food and Wine Classic
DeRusha Eats is on the road in Aspen, Colorado at the 41st annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen. Hear from the three finalists in Bravo's Top Chef TV Culinary competition: Milwaukee’s Dan Jacobs, North Carolina's Savannah Miller and New York City's Danny Garcia. Plus, are restaurants taking...
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S2 Episode 16 - Sameh Wadi
Sameh Wadi was a culinary prodigy in his low 20’s.Competed on Food Network’s Iron Chef at age 24. Had his own fine dining Mediterranean restaurant, Saffron at age 23. But after a decade, he was burned out and closed it. In the interim, his fast-casual World Street Kitchen and ice cream shop…
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S2 Episode 15 - Minnesota Barbeque
What is Minnesota barbeque? Is it a thing? We have seen more and more success in the upper midwest as pitmasters try to create their own flavors and businesses. In the North Metro, both Smokey’s BBQ and Jellybean and Julia’s have found large audiences and more than a decade of success. Chris…
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S2 Episode 14 - Redefining St Paul
Two of my favorite restaurants in the 651 of St Paul Minnesota share their stories of Refining St. Paul food in DeRusha Eats. Jason Hansen and Peter Sebastian talk about their Spanish-inspired bar and restaurant Estelle and their sandwich and pizza shop Mario’s. Meanwhile on the East Side, Tongue...
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S2 Episode 13 - Coffee
Let’s talk coffee. From the biggest coffee company in Minnesota… innovating around the world. To one of the smallest roasters, growing throughout our cities. Sam Kjellberg is a third wave coffee roaster at SK Coffee. How does he go about crafting flavors- and how did he start SK Coffee? We’ll get...
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S2 Episode 12 - Leaving the Big City for Small Towns
Chefs Mateo Mackbee and Erin Lucas left Minneapolis for St. Joseph, a small central Minnesota college town, where they’re bringing New Orleans cuisine, racial diversity, and a lot of love to their restaurant Krewe. Josh Petzel spent his career running restaurants in the Twin Cities, and left for…
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S2 Episode 11 - Suburbs Post Covid
Maple Grove. Minnetonka. Eagan. Suburbs of the Twin Cities with restaurant owners who are there to sponsor the football and basketball and volleyball teams. The owners of Malone’s, Scoreboard Grill, Jimmy’s Food, and Brianno’s share what it takes to make it work and make it last in the suburbs.
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S2 Episode 10 - Taking a Risk
Jumping into small business ownership can mean taking a big risk. Karl Benson and Marie Dwyer teamed up with chef Gavin Kaysen to build a bakery into their home goods and kitchen store. Vanessa Drews credits an encounter with Prince for helping her leap into owning her own cheesecake business,...
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S2 Episode 9 - Icons Celebrating Decades
They are legends! Two family-owned restaurants, one with 50 years in the Twin Cities, the other with 90. It’s hard to imagine our food scene without Keys Cafe - Barbara Hunn is now on 4 generations of family working at these spots, with legendary breakfast. And think of anniversaries, proms, any...
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S2 Episode 8 - The Road Trip
Hop in the car and get out of the Twin Cities Metro with two iconic stops: King’s Bar and Grill in Miesville in known for 100+ burgers on the menu. Located across from a corn-flanked baseball field, people travel from all over to King’s. And on the banks of the St. Croix River in Wisconsin, Pete...
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S2 Episode 7 - From High School Speech Champions to Celebrity Chefs
Both Ann Kim and Justin Sutherland were high school speech competitors, both at Apple Valley High School, in the Minneapolis suburbs. That foundation of storytelling has served both well as they’ve become celebrity chefs. Ann Kim was featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, she’s just opened her first...
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S2 Episode 6 - The Entrepreneurs
Two entrepreneurs building their restaurant empires. Randy Stanley has two high-end modern steakhouses in the Twin Cities suburbs. Mark Toth is building a fast-casual chain of restaurants called Urban Wok. How do they find inspiration? What challenges have they overcome?
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S2 Episode 5 - The Farmers
Two farmers for this episode of DeRusha Eats: One is a cheesemaker, Alise Sjostrom, her cheese company Red Head Creamery wins awards all over the world. What’s life like in the central minnesota town of Brooton? Trisha Zachman’s farm, Feathered Acres, isn’t that far from Brooton- Stearns County,...
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S2 Episode 4 - The Butcher and Grocer
She’s a woman who owns a butcher shop! An unusual combination, but Teena Matson joins us to talk about why she thinks women have an advantage in this traditionally male-business. She owns Anoka Meats in the north suburbs of Minneapolis. Plus Jill Holter, talks about how one of the oldest co-ops…
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S2 Episode 3 - James Beard Award Winners
Two of our most awarded chefs, both James Beard Award winners, talk about the challenges in their businesses. Sean Sherman’s Indigenous-focused restaurant Owamni was named Best New Restaurant in America by the Beard Foundation. What is Indigenous cuisine? Why has it been so hard for Native Chefs…
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S2 Episode 2 - Innovators in the Drinks Space
A national bartending competitor, a CEO driving innovation in CBD, THC, seltzers, sodas and beer, and a founder who's started multiple drinks companies. What's new, what's hot, what's coming? GUESTS: Jessi Pollak, Bar Manager, Spoon and Stable; Janet Johanson, CEO of Bev Source and The Lab; Joe...
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S2 Episode 1 - Icons of Minnesota
Since 1950. Al’s breakfast has been part of the fabric of the minnesota food scene. What are we without our icons and classics. The spots that have been a part of life since before we were around. The spots we take our kids so they understand that they’re part of something bigger. Al’s Breakfast…
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Episode 30 - Suburban Innovation
Two risk-takers. Innovators. Building an audience for great food in unexpected locations. Justin Ahlstrom and his wife opened Margie’s in a North Suburb of Andover. Craft cocktails. Food from scratch. Live music. Just a great scene. And Mik German - a master of the burger… who’s carved out a…
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Episode 29 - Growing Latino Culinary Scene
Two men who both should be in the mix for the next cycle of the James Beard Awards: Jorge Guzman has been there, Gustavo Romero should be there. Jorge Guzman has been a beard award nominee for his work as the executive chef at Surly Brewing’s A Brewers Table… an awesome restaurant. He’s been at...
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Episode 28 - St. Paul Pride
Three powerhouse women making a real difference in St. Paul, Minnesota. One - the daughter of a founder, Milissa Silva is running her family’s business, El Burrito Mercado. We talk grocery, we talk the pain that comes with change, as she is mixing up the way her store does food service. Plus, two...
About this show
WCCO Radio’s Jason DeRusha is a known foodie in Minnesota. In DeRusha Eats, Jason takes you around the hottest food stories in town.
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