Culture & Cuisine The Podcast

Husna Pasha is the charismatic, engaging female behind Alisha’s Cafe collective, the community restaurant where you can enjoy quirky, authentic vegetarian dishes, weekly cultural events, and the best Chai around. Today, Husna leads us on a journey through her childhood as the only Indian, Muslim in her town to her time as an occupational therapist and ultimately, to the talk-show host, mother, and restaurant owner that she is today. Enjoy wisdom, laughs, and a few tears as we learn about life, love, and what it takes to be Australia’s answer to Oprah Winfrey. Stay with us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by the Muslims.

Today, we meet with Barbara Nicole, a PhD and expert in the emergence of Chinese restaurants in Australia from the late nineteenth century through the 1950's. We sit with Barbara in the Chinese Museum in Melbourne where she volunteers and discuss her research to understand why you can find a Chinatown in most cities in Australia, how Chinese restaurants came to be in even the smallest of Australian towns, and the impact Chinese had on the immigration policies of Australia. We begin to understand Melbourne’s roll in this emergence and see how legislation, war, and business led to the prominent cuisine so cherished by Melbourne residents. Stay with us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by the Chinese.

Today, we sit with Peter Laliotis, managing director and part owner of Hellas Cakes, a Melbourne Greek sweets staple since 1962. Melbourne not only has the largest Greek population in Australia, they have the largest Greek population of any city outside of Greece. Located in the heart of Richmond, formerly a primarily Greek suburb, Hellas Cakes has proudly served the residents of Melbourne for over 50 years. Through that time, they have had to adapt their business plan and alter their service style to accommodate for the changing times and diversifying area. Today, we learn how a restaurant works to retain authenticity and history while adapting with a city through sharing stories, food and the passion passed down through generations. Stay with us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by the Greeks.

Today, we sit with Greg Hampton, head chef of Charcoal Lane, and Troy Krillin, program manager for social enterprises for Mission Australia. Although they are the oldest, ongoing living culture in the world, indigenous Australians have almost become foreigners in their own lands. Missions where natives were forced to be housed and “Christianized”, the Stolen Generation where approximately 1 in 3 children were forcibly removed from their families, late 20th century laws restricting land ownership, maternity leave, pensions, inheritance, and more all contributed to an aboriginal unemployment rate that is 3 times that of the average non-indigenous person. To help combat this statistic, Mission Australia created Charcoal Lane as an opportunity to train Aboriginal youths in the service industry. They create a safe, healthy environment where their trainees can learn about their culture, honor their traditions, and learn valuable skills that they can take into the workforce. Charcoal Lane also incorporates native Australian produce and animals into their food and press to educate people on the benefits of cultivating these products for food sustainability in Australia. Today we discuss recent history, current events, personal stories, and exotic cuisines to understand more about the native culture and cuisine of Australia. Stay with us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by Aboriginals.

Today, we sit with Salvatore Malatesta, founder and creative director of St Ali Coffee in South Melbourne.   As a former British settlement, tea used to be the main household brew of Australia. It wasn’t until the first espresso machine was introduced to Melbourne at Cafe Florentino, the predecessor to Grossi Florentino who we speak with in a former episode, that coffee began to emerge in the city. Now, Melbourne is world renowned for its specialty coffee shops, and Salvatore Malatesta is credited with being at the forefront of the movement in Melbourne. He shares with us the journey that led to his passion, the catch 22 of coffee costs and labor conditions, and Melbourne’s coffee evolution over time.    Stay with us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by coffee.

Today, we sit with John Burn, former owner and chef of Ebi Fine Foods. John is Scottish by birth but Japanese by interest. After visiting Japan, becoming enamored with the culture and cuisine, and making a spur of the moment purchase of a specialty grill, John traveled down a path that led to the opening of a Fish N Chips - Japanese Cuisine joint shop in the suburbs of Melbourne. His love and passion for Japanese cuisine and his unique approach to introducing locals to that earned him rave reviews and stunning accolades. Through his story of luck, dedication, and curiosity to a culture not of his upbringing, we can learn that we aren’t all that different after all. And we begin to see the miracles that can occur from being curious by something unfamiliar to us. 

Today we sit with Guy Grossi, owner and chef of Grossi Florentino. Grossi Florentino, formerly the Florentino Cafe, has been a staple of the Melbourne community since the 1920s. Sitting in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District, it has seen a vastly diversifying and evolving city. It stood at the forefront of educating the community about Italian customs and cuisines before a large post-WWII Italian immigration to the city. Since then, the cafe traded hands to the Grossi family who has further expanded and diversified their influence in the community. Today we sit with Guy Grossi who educates us on Italian influence on local laws and policies, shares stories of success and family legacy, and shows us how circularly foreigners impact local cuisine while locals are influencing foreign cuisine. Join us as we learn how the past and the future of Melbourne is shaped by the Italians.  

Today we sit with Shanaka Fernando and Jessica Tana from Lentil As Anything. This pay-as-you-feel concept opened its first restaurant in Melbourne in 2000, and you won’t find any prices on the menu. They have a donation box and credit card machine off to one side where you can pay for what you can afford. Those who can’t pay are encouraged to volunteer their time with the friendly, inviting staff whom are mostly volunteers themselves. The restaurant also works to eliminate food waste in Australia by partnering with grocery stores, fresh food markets, and their own personal cultivation plots. The concept is simple: share what you can, take what you need, and everyone has a spot at the table. 

Sit with us as the hosts of Season 2 discuss what to expect as we take on Melbourne, Australia. Get some insight into the season where we recognize "Everyone is from somewhere. Even the locals of today are shaped by the foreigners of the past."

Our tenth and final episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast features Don Jante, one of the founding cousins of Flip'N Patties Food Truck. This episode is our first SHORT where we tell Don's story ourself in a condensed version. Don didn’t grow up wanting to be a chef nor does he now dream of unique food creations. Don loves what he does because of the working family he has created, the customers he interacts with, and the challenges unique to the industry. Don and his cousin left their 9-5 jobs to pursue something on a whim. Their love of burgers and the memories they have of childhood led to a unique fusion of American and Filipino flavor. As one of the only Filipino cuisines in the city, they expanded from food truck to brick and mortar and continue to grow in an effort to increase and support their community involvement. With a core mission around building family and supporting our neighbors, Don reminds us that regardless of where we are from, we aren’t all that different after all. Stay with us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Filipinos. Visit Don at Flip'N Patties: http://www.flipnpatties.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/

Our ninth episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast features Margarita Mandizabal, owner of Lemon Tree, and her son Augusto Mandizabal who translates her story for us. Margarita preps desserts while her husband cooks the meals for one of the most authentic Peruvian restaurants in Houston. Through love and passion, they built restaurants in Peru and ultimately, decided to take a risk and create a restaurant in America to build a better life for their kids. With little knowledge of the language and without many friends or family in the area, they managed to build a life that produced successful careers for their children. We discuss what it means to leave the family business, the emergence of Peruvian cuisine in the culinary space, the transformation of Houston over time, and what it takes to bridge the gaps between cultures. Augusto shares relatable recountings and amusing anecdotes that remind us we aren’t all that different after all. Stay with us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Peruvians. Visit Margarita at Lemon Tree. Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/

On our eigth episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast, Mary Cuclas, employee of Pondicheri, is Greek by descent, American by birth, yet has found her way into one of the most reputable Indian kitchens in Houston. Mary sits with us today to discuss the things she’s learned about Indian cuisine that has had her fall in love with the food and the culture. We discuss the countries she has lived in and the experiences that she has had to land her in a cuisine not of her heritage and continue into the unique aspects of Pondicheri’s cuisine that has kept her around for the past seven years. Stay with us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Indians. Visit Mary at Pondicheri: https://www.pondicheri.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148

On our seventh episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast, Jimmy Trinh, chef and entrepreneur, shares Naughy Noah's Noodles, his healthy, Vietnamese-inspired vegan pho that can now be found on the shelves of Central Market Jimmy ventures from his move to San Diego at two years of age to the release of Naughty Noah’s Noodles. From a parental divorce through the transition from electrical engineering to culinary arts school, Jimmy shares stories of humanity, self-discovery, and triumph. We try to understand the impact of culture on choosing entrepreneurship and the current obesity crisis in America. Through all of these discussions, we can relate to the search for a passion, the discovery of love, and the birth of a child, and realize that we aren’t all that different after all. Stay with us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Vietnamese.   Find Jimmy's Pho at Central Market or online at: www.NaughtyNoahs.com Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148

Our sixth episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast presents Tina Ambelue, owner and chef of Blue Nile, one of Houston's only Ethiopian restaurants. Tina takes us on the journey through her cleaning career, back injury, and ultimately, restaurant opening. This is the story of the power of community and the struggles that come from leaving friends and family behind in the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Although many of us are fortunate enough to avoid refugee-ism, the idea of making sacrifices to find happiness is something that remind us, we aren’t all that different after all. Join us as we discover the culture & cuisine of the Ethiopians. Visit Tina at Blue Nile: http://bluenilerestaurant.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148  

Our fifth episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast presents Yessica Molena, event planner and right-hand woman of Cuchara, one of Houston's most authentic Mexican restuarants. Yessica explains how she left home to follow love and stumbled into the restaurant industry from there. Through twists and turns, she made her way to Cuchara, an authentic, seasonally inspired restaurant with cultural roots and exciting events. She shares Mexican traditions, explains how Cuchara staffs its cooks, and shares the passion behind the clientele experience. The love Yessica has for Cuchara shows us that we can find a home away from home and reminds us that we aren’t all that different after all. Join us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Mexicans. Visit Yessica at Cuchara: http://www.cuchararestaurant.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148

Our fourth episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast presents Cuc Lam of Sing and Lisa Carnley from Cajun Stop. Although both Vietnamese by ancestry, they decided to pursue other passions in their restaurants. Through a live discussion, Cuc & Lisa remind us that in our evolving nation, where the minority is the majority, we can’t assume that people have one place that they call home. From building relationships with customers to maintaining culinary authenticity, Cuc & Lisa laugh and share with us how they navigate social stereotypes and remind us we aren’t all that different after all. Visit Cuc at Sing: https://www.cravesing.com/  Although Lisa has since sold Cajun Stop, you can still check it out: http://cajunstop.com/ Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148 

Our third episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast presents Roberto Crescini of Fresco! Cafe Italiano who introduces us to Northern Italy. Roberto's passion for cooking is almost rivaled by the stories and history behind the cuisine. He is committed to enlightening Americans to traditional Italian cooking and traditions by sharing his freshly maded pasta and sauces daily. This week, he discusses with us his personal memories that inspired his career as well as some of his favorite stories from Northern Italian culinary history. From the role of his mother’s kitchen in forming his career to the role of salt in the origin of the word salary, Roberto shows us that we all have stories and memories that shape us and shows us that we aren’t all that different after all. Join us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Italians. Visit Roberto at Fresco: http://www.frescocafeitalian.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148 

Our second episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast presents Yunan Yang of Pepper Twins who introduces us to Sichuan China. Yunan shows us what it takes to leave a successful career for a passion you know little to nothing about. Through sickness, parental strife, personal growth, and love, Yunan takes listeners on a journey through a story that many can relate to. We learn that at the end of the day, we aren't all that different after all. Join us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Sichuanese. Visit Yunan at one of her six Pepper Twins locations: http://txpeppertwins.com/  Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ Mark your calendars for our annual Cultural Thanksgiving happening September 30th at 8th Wonder Brewing: http://guestli.st/575148 

Our first episode of Culture & Cuisine the Podcast introduces us to Yakeya Mohamad of Tarim Central Asian Grill who introduces us to the small Muslim minority in Western China known as the Uyghurs. Mohamad introduces us to the unique cuisine that developed due to their location along the Silk Road and shows us that fusion cuisine isn't unique to Texas. The immigration and travel along the road yielded a cuisine analogous of Mediterranean and Chinese and a culture unique from both. Join us as we discover the culture and cuisine of the Uyghurs. Join our mailing list from our website for future episodes and events: http://cultureandcuisinehtx.com or like us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cultureandcuisinehtx/ UPDATE: Tarim Central Asian Grill has closed since the recording of this episode due to lack of knowledge about it’s cuisine. Help keep our city’s diversity thriving by searching out unique foods and flavors.