The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It is time for Episode 165. My guest today is Christina Mitchell. Christina is the creator behind MANDUBRE, a food and lifestyle project that brings together the food she grew up with, the places she's lived and worked, and all the flavors she's picked up along the way. She's spent more than 20 years working with photography and visual design, so she's always been interested in how things look, feel, and tell a story. Food is just another way into that. We talk about how food informs the friendships in our lives, what really defines fusion cuisine, and the beauty of the legacy you will leave behind and things you want to accomplish now. Be on the look out for Christina's projects, the kitchen manuals and upcoming nutrition app. Go find her at @mandubre.kitchen on Instagram. Thanks so much for listening!

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's time for Episode 164 with my special guest, Michele DiMeo. Michele, aka "The Restaurant Diva," is a restaurant executive, entrepreneur, franchise leader, speaker, and host of the syndicated Dine & Dish Podcast. With more than 30 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Michele serves as COO and co-founder of MONTE Restaurant Development Group and President of Squisito Franchise Enterprises. Michele and I talk about getting into the hospitality business, what hospitality really means to us, and we swap some war stories. Michele was a delight, and I know you'll enjoy getting to know her. This episode was a blast. Check out the Dine & Dish podcast on all platforms, and thanks so much for listening to this one.

Hey there food fans! Happy Thursday and welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast , it's time for Episode 163! Today I'm talking to Andy Ellwood. Andy is the founder of Stretch, a new AI platform reimagining how families navigate the grocery aisle. A serial entrepreneur behind companies acquired by Facebook and Google, Andy has built everything from global learning communities to purpose-driven tech startups. His philosophy—Make Room For Many—guides his work as he uses technology to create more access, clarity, and opportunity for everyday consumers. We talk about how grocery prices have changed over time and the shared experience of wondering how the cart will be paid for each month. Download the Stretch app in the app store and stay tuned for all of the exciting developments to come. Andy is changing the way we shop for groceries, one item and one price at a time. Find the pod in all the usual podcast places, and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe.

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, Episode 162. Today I welcome Ana Olson, Co-Founder of Fuerza Divina Tequila. Ana has spent several years in the hospitality business, working both front and back of house, as a tequila educator and as a restaurateur. Now, she's taking everything she's learned and bringing it to her next adventure in the tequila industry, with Fuerza Divina. We talk about women, restaurant culture, food, drink, entrepreneurship, and what it means to create your own path while staying true to the experiences that forged that path and helped make you who you are. We also get into tequila—how it's made, what makes premium additive-free tequila different, and some simple ways to pair tequila with food. This is a fun conversation with lots to learn. I can't wait to taste the tequila when it hits the market. I have a blast making this podcast and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for listening. 

Hey there food fans! I'm so excited to welcome Mauricio Velázquez de León! He's a longtime food writer, publisher, and the founder of duopress (now part of Sourcebooks), and his work has been featured in Saveur, Gourmet, Escala, and Lonely Planet. He's joining me on Episode 161 of The Food for ThoughtCast to talk about his new book, An Illustrated Guide to Tacos and Burritos: A Comic Book with Stories, Recipes, and More (it comes out August 11, 2026!), and it is going to be incredible. This book mixes authentic recipes, history, and comic-book /graphic novel type illustrations into a fresh take on two of the world's most iconic foods- tacos and burritos. This conversation was loads of fun and truly inspiring. From hearing about his great aunt, the famous Josefina Velázquez de León who pioneered the unprecedented 1947 Mexican Cookbook, to discussing the most famous flavors that go into the foods we love- this was one for the record books! I enjoyed getting to know Mauricio and I know you will too! Be sure to check out his book (support your local bookstore) and thanks so much for listening. The first listener to share this post on social media and tag the podcast will get a free copy from me. 

Hey there food fans! It's time to travel to Madagascar today for Episode 160 of The Food For ThoughtCast. I am honored to speak to Emmanuel Laroche, the author of A Taste of Madagascar: Culinary Riches of the Red Island, this Flavor Explorer and Culinary Storyteller uses the lens of food—wild black pepper, zebu meat, pink peppercorn, each intimately described and explained—to journey through and celebrate this faraway place that most of us know little about. Appreciating the food ingredients that are cultivated in and exported from Madagascar helps give back positively to one of the poorest communities in the world. Emmanuel and I talk about caviar and vanilla and the importance of food and beverage to creating ritual and community. This was an incredible conversation that introduced me to many things and places I'd never heard of. That's the real perk of doing this podcast, for me, is meeting incredible people and hearing their stories of food and life and helping to share those stories for all of you. Thanks so much for listening. 

Hey there food fans, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. Episode 159 brings us Morgan Smith from Kalm with Kava. Morgan is the CEO of Kalm with Kava. He has spent the past decade immersed in the world of kava. What is kava? Listen to find out! It is as much ritual and tradition, as it is beverage and ingredient. His work regularly takes him across the South Pacific, where he works directly with growers in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Hawaiʻi to learn from local communities, collaborate with farmers, and help preserve traditional kava practices. On the Big Island, he grows kava, taro, and sugarcane, giving him a hand-on perspective that's rooted in the land and the people as much as the business. Morgan teaches me about his journey to finding kava, the historical importance of "canoe crops", and the social value of slowing down. Find all things kava at Kalm With Kava on Facebook or Instagram. Morgan was a delight to talk to and is a stellar human being. FFTC approved! Thanks for listening.

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. I'm glad you're here! You're just in time for Episode 158. Today I'm talking to Brittney Miller. Brittney is the CEO of Manchester Farms, America's first and oldest quail farm. This was an amazing conversation. More than 40 years ago, her dad started raising quail as a backyard hobby. Today, that small family project has grown into a thriving business that raises 80,000 quail every week, all without antibiotics or hormones. Since stepping into the CEO role, Brittney has helped grow the company from $7 million to nearly $20 million in revenue while staying true to the values her family built it on. She explains the realities of leading a second-generation family business. She shares what it's like to grow quickly without losing sight of what matters. We talk about the protein in quail, having fun with quail eggs, why it is still underrated as an entree. I have a full circle moment involving bacon-wrapped quail breast that feels me with glee. Find this episode wherever you get your favorite food podcasts. Find Brittney and Manchester Farms in Columbia, South Carolina. Thanks for watching and listening!

Hey there food fans! After a short hiatus, I am glad to bring you more of The Food For ThoughtCast. Thank you so much for listening and for following on social media. I am joined today for Episode 157 by Wayne Swanson Jr. He is the Founder and CEO of Swanson Family Farm, a Black-owned, multi-generational farm dedicated to producing premium, pasture-raised meats while advancing sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty. We discuss getting to know your food supply, the hype around organic, and how one becomes a farmer and rancher. This conversation was intriguing and completely mesmerizing, I could have talked to Wayne for an additional hour and I hope to have him back on in the future. Find him on social media at Swanson Family Farm on both Facebook and Instagram. I can't wait to buy some beef!

In quite possibly the most "Seinfeld" episode ever of The Food For ThoughtCast, Steve and Melissa take a soft glance at random pasta shapes, talk briefly about pasta sauces, go on rabbit trails galore, and explore lots of other tangents about absolutely nothing. Sometimes we need a break from the hard-hitting journalism to just catch up. Jimmy Dean waffles ain't it. Welcome back to the pod, food fans, it's time for Episode 156! Find us wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. 

After a bit more shenanigans than usual, we're back for Episode 155 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Melissa returns from a trip to Atlanta and surrounding areas, visiting a couple of dear friends, and tells Steve all about it. If you're around the area, be sure to check out Marietta Fish Market, Rocket Fizz, Dough In A Box, Rumi's Kitchen, Douceur de France, Piedmont Provisions, Bottega Italian Market, and Bantam & Biddy. Thanks so much for listening. Sorry for the language, food fans. Some flavors should just never be made into saltwater taffy. If you enjoy the show, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or subscribe to the weekly episodes wherever you get your podcasts!If you enjoy the show, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram or subscribe to the weekly episodes wherever you get your podcasts!

Hey there food fans, we have a special guest returning for his third time on The Food For ThoughtCast- Chef Dominic Hawkes! You may remember him from such favorites as Episodes 67 and 100. He's the incredible culinary educator , all around food hero, a master chef of Great Britain, and foodie extraordinaire. Not to mention, he's a super nice dude. There were stories, there were tangents, there were numerous updates about the state of culinary education- and most of all, we talked about lots and lots of food! Episode 154 is out now, with a round of refrigerator roulette and plenty of talk about marinara sauce. We miss Chef Stephen today, but he'll return on the next episode. Always a great time with Chef Hawkes! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. As always, thanks for listening!

Did you think we forgot about you today, food fans?! Fear not, Episode 153 is here- hot off the presses and better late than never! That's right, if it's a Thursday, it's time for The Food For ThoughtCast, so don't you worry. Today's episode is a travel recap of Steve's Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. He did his best to eat his way through the entire city, and did a pretty amazing job! From El Ideas, their epic tasting menu, and meeting his culinary hero Chef Phillip Foss (our esteemed guest for episode 108),  all the way to the best burger at Au Cheval,  the mini lobster roll with caviar from 3 Arts Cafe at RH, the simple yet incredible prosciutto sandwich at JP Graziano, and much more. Thank you so much for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. We are so thankful for our listeners, whether you have been here since the beginning or found us later on, we're stoked that you're here and appreciate the support. 

Hey there food fans! Episode 152 of The Food For ThoughtCast is shaping up to be mighty tasty, because our guest today is a master of flavors! We're talking to Blackwell Smith, he is a Southern cook who believes in honest flavor and hands-on practices, always grounded in real kitchens and real food. He is currently launching the No BS Cookbook series, including the latest No BS Holiday Cookbook and the upcoming No BS Seafood Cookbook, which features custom blends made by Lucky Cajun Handmade. These seasonings are ground fresh for each batch, and they are amazing! Steve and Melissa both got samples and got right to work using them in everything from wings, to tacos, to pasta salad, and even popcorn. Blackwell is an intriguing conversationalist and a really great guy and we had a fun time getting to know him. The Food For ThoughtCast highly recommends these seasonings! Go find Blackwell and all of the seasoning blends, at https://theluckycajun.com/. Thanks for listening! Go season something, you won't regret it.

The allure of the 90s is back, baby! In snack form, that is. It's that time again- The Food For ThoughtCast is kicking off Episode 151 by welcoming Yousuf Ahmed to the show. Yousuf is dedicated to infusing joy back into snacking. B-SIDES crafts allergen-free , accidentally vegan, protein puffs using upcycled ingredients, prioritizing taste and experience above all else. Their vibrant and whimsical branding draws inspiration from the nostalgic snack brands of the 90s. With three great flavors and more in the pipeline ( we know because we tasted them! Thanks Yousuf for the samples!) this snack is soon to be on shelves everywhere. We had an amazing time talking about everything from branding and supply chain, to what makes a Cheeto great, all the way to ramps on pizza and how terrible protein breakfast cereals can be. Check us out anywhere you find your favorite food podcasts. Thanks so much for listening. Make sure to give B-SIDES a follow on social media, and buy some for yourself. Your tastebuds (and the planet) will thank you.

Hey there food fans! It's time to eat your veggies. Today on Episode 150 we are talking to Heidi Herman, author of The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook: 90 Tasty Recipes for Veggie-Averse Adults. Heidi takes us on her cooking and literary journey and we talk all about the ways we love to use vegetables to add nutrition and fiber to everyday items. Rather than urging readers to learn to love spinach or zucchini, Herman's cookbook works with existing taste preferences. The recipes cleverly disguise vegetables in familiar dishes, giving adults a way to enjoy the foods they love while quietly boosting their daily nutrition. Everything in this cookbook looks amazing and we can't wait to report back. We had a great time getting to know Heidi and are eager to support her work. We hope you will enjoy this. Find us everywhere you find your podcasts, and don't forget to share with a friend.

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, food fans! Today on Episode 149, we are joined by Brian Baumal, a registered psychotherapist who specializes in food addiction. This is a bit of a different episode, really focusing on the "thought" part of the "cast." We explore diet culture, the stories we tell ourselves about food, the mindsets that determine how and why we eat, and Brian helps us understand the connection between the brain and all things sustenance. This was an incredible conversation and we had a great time learning from Brian and honestly, we could have probably gone on for another hour or so. We all had a chance to be a bit vulnerable, and we hope that you have as great of a takeaway from this chat as we did. Takeaway, that's a food reference. But anyway, share us with a friend and don't forget to watch us on YouTube! Now with more facepalms.