Dirty Spoon Radio Hour

Jon takes a look at some of the highlights from the more than 300 artists playing at this weekends' AVL Fest in Asheville.

Joe Baumann looks at two important tables in his family history. Henry Boyd asks you to take some chances the next time you eat out. And Tricia Stearns resolves a rivalry with brownies.

Gwen Francis-Williams recalls a powerful story of her mother being brave enough to ask for help. Emily Brisse finds encouragement in tough times from a hearty vegetable. And Pat Tompkins explores the wonder of an old cookbook.

Jon talks with Karalyne Winegarner, lead singer and keyboardist for the Nashville Avant-Pop band Flight Attendant. They talk about the band's album, their background in the service industry, and their upcoming show at the Grey Eagle.

Mike Howard recalls the wisdom of the ages for inflation proof foods. And Rachel Odinak remembers her mother and grandmother, the women who caught the fish for the family fish fry.

Sabina Stark recalls the ups and downs of a particular seder night from her youth. Jean Feldeisen recalls the horror of tasting margarin for the first time. And Jon talks with Chef William Dissen about his James Beard nomination and his upcoming book Thoughtful Cooking: Recipes Rooted in the New South.

Molly Grossman finds cooking as a love language. Henry Boyd explores baking as an act of self improvement. And David Hangman curates a menu inspired by those with whom we are forced to dine.

Janelle Carlson takes a look at the mighty maples of Canada. Sumitra Mattai recalls her husband's first attempt at baking. And Jamie Burke digs into her culinary heritage.

Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Ramsey joins Jon to dig into his music, discuss his time with Band of Horses, and discuss his forthcoming album, New Lost Ages.

Juanita Mantz tries to make tortillas from scratch for the first time. Debi Lewis sorts through her child's diagnosis and resulting restrictive diet. And Carolyn Cohen helps prepare former inmates for job interviews in the culinary workforce.

Chris Carbaugh reflects on his mother's love through the humble foods he grew up eating. Christine Venzon feels a warm embrace in the form of cold cake and Lori Barrett connects at the drive through.

Patricia Smith discovers and grapples with her mother's dementia through her recipes. Nathan Crawford discovers his love for fresh pasta after locking himself out of his apartment. And we revisit Jon's exploration of what it means to be Appalachian through a simple mantra.

Ellen Scolnic calls a hotline about tater tots. Rachel Gray recalls the evolution of her grandmother's cooking. And Ryan Wells remembers bartending in the UK. All far more exciting than they sound!

Season 6 of Dirty Spoon starts next month! To tide you over, we've got a collection of some of our favorite stories from the past five years. While in transition, Andy Winder learns about masculinity from reflecting on their father's behavior in the kitchen. Tricia Stearns learns to love her enemies -- and that they can often become your greatest teachers -- through brownie pie. We venture into the Hillbilly Vegan realm with Kim Freeman. And Shana Bestock rediscovers her connection with food by cooking for foster kids.

Smitha Murthy recalls the wonders of her mother's kitchen in Bangalore. Laura Brennan finds respite in home made soups while on tour. And Rebecca Brothers makes her peace with pie.

Sumitra Mattai explores the joy and sorrow of Pirate's Booty. Lydia Kwateng Eppic explores the deep story behind recipes. And Jeanine DeHoney recalls her father's red eye gravy and all that jazz.

Jon explores the strange and storied saga of the worlds most controversial seasoning, Mono Sodium Glutamate, chatting with Chef Chris Koetke, and Dr. Tia Rains of Ajinomoto.

Our annual rebroadcast of our Holiday Special is an ever growing project. Each year we hear some of the same stories and music, while sprinkling in a few new ones. Happy Holidays!

Erica Goss recalls life lessons from learning to make zucchini bread as a child in a commune in San Francisco. Mackenzie Jackson looks back on the ever-evolving family dinners in her family. And Rachel Bucci pays tribute to the often overlooked British staple -- beans on toast.

Christine Venzon explores the roots of comfort food. Jon talks with Chef Steven Goff about the legacy and future of the Tastee Diner, a restaurant with nearly eighty years of history in Asheville, and just why the hell anyone would take on the responsibility of a legacy restaurant?

Lucy Zhang explores language and food minutes before a menudo shop closes. Elana Rabinowitz learns some valuable lessons from two different tea parties; one imaginary and one very real. Vanessa David dives into the world of the school cafeteria in a chapter from her book "The Lunch Teacher." And author Carol Ungar explores the deeper culture behind a simple Jewish dish of root vegetables.

For the second year, Jon has been invited to host the Food Stories dinner at this year's Chow Chow gathering. This special dinner pairs storytellers with chefs who attempt to communicate their stories through food and serves as a fantastic look at how food can be a vessel for story. This episode teases some of the stories from the event's guests, Allison Scott, Ponkho Bermejo, and Stu Helm. The dinner will be held Saturday, September 8th. For tickets and information, please visit: https://www.exploreasheville.com/chow-chow-culinary-festival/2022-schedule/food-stories/

Server Michael Parker hilariously recalls his most trying customers. Journalist Kate Oczypok shares the inspiration of an annual culinary tradition. And travel writer Nikita Ephanov finds a culinary commonality that transports him through both time and across oceans.

Nate Crawford draws a lesson on the curse of bureaucracy from his time at a donut shop in a Philadelphia grocery store, Jeremy Fredricks explores the oldest farmers market in America, and Gina Cornejo walks the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Haley Fohr is the artist known as Circuit des Yeux. Since 2007 she has released 7 albums under that name while also releasing Americana inspired songs under the moniker Jakie Lynn. Her latest album entitled "-io" is a stark and dark work of modern compositional rock that wrestles with the emotional upheaval of the untimely passing of close friends. She plays in Asheville Sunday, June 5th at the Grey Eagle. For more information visit: www.circuitdesyeux.com

In our celebration of Catherine's time at Dirty Spoon, we revisit a story in which she explore's her step mother's roots in the Moravian traditions through the manufacturing of a famous cookie.

At the end of our last season, our beloved cofounder, Editor-at-Large, and cohost Catherine Campbell announced that she would be leaving the show to focus on her own career. Jon plays back through some of Catherine's greatest hits. We love you and will miss you immensely, Cat! We couldn't have done any of this show without you!

Journalist Mandy Shunnarah talks to TikTok drinks sensation Jessica Furniss about synesthesia, activism, and navigating the social media oceans. Kristin Russo gets one last taste of her favorite food. Jon and Catherine have a major announcement.

It's the Dirty Spoon Christmas Extravaganza! We visit our first Tamalada, learn about table manners, discover forgiveness, and take a trip to Granny's crowded kitchen counter.

Jonathan Ammons talks with indie guitarist and songwriter Steve Gunn. With stints as both the guitarist for indie icon Kurt Vile and folk legend Michael Chapman, Steve Gunn has released over 20 solo albums and garnered a reputation for being one of the best guitarists in the game. Jon sits down with him ahead of his new tour on the heals of his latest album "Other You". Steve Gunn plays the Grey Eagle in Asheville December 10th. Grab a copy of his record for yourself here: https://stevegunn.bandcamp.com/album/other-you

Journalist Zanny Steffgen explores the effects of the pandemic driven rich-kid diaspora on the tiny ski city of Telluride. Zoe Grace Marquedant ponders the perils and pleasures of dumpster diving. And Peter Hoffman wonders why dinner parties aren't a thing in NYC.

Catherine takes the helm as Jon talks with James Beard nominated journalist Hanna Raskin about her new venture, The Food Section. Jeremy Fredricks looks at NYC's first Singaporean restaurant, and Kristi Eaton tracks the trend of major hotels and resorts establishing gardens for their bars and restaurants.

In this special podcast extra in partnership with Chow Chow, Jon takes a look at the way chefs tell stories using their food. Conversations include Cherokee forager Tyson Sampson, author and Seasonal School of Culinary Arts director Susi Gott Seguret, and Author and Chopped food stylist Michele Gentille. For tickets and information on Chow Chow's September 26th Food Stories dinner, visit: https://www.exploreasheville.com/chow-chow-culinary-festival/2021-schedule/food-stories/

Jon talks fermentation and sustainability with French Broad Chocolates owner Jael Skeffington. Adrienne Pilon rediscovers the retro goodness of Jell-O. And Kate Oczypok introduces us to the wonders of the Pittsburgh Cookie Table.

A special podcast extra made in partnership with Chow Chow, Jon explores fermentation with author Meredith Leigh, French Broad Chocolate Lounge's Jael Skeffington, Fermenti's Meg Chamberlain, and Miso Master Joe Kato. For tickets and information on Chow Chow's Fermentation Feast, August 26th, visit https://www.exploreasheville.com/chow-chow-culinary-festival/2021-schedule/fermenting-feast/

Essayist Kirsten Hernandez retraces Anthony Bourdain's steps through Seattle, Shana Bestock cooks for foster kids, and Ellen Levitt talks to former summer gig workers, "sand walkers," of New York's beaches.

Jon talks to Nate Walcott, founding member of iconic indie rock band Bright Eyes about their new album, "Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was", about returning to songs they wrote when they were in their 20's, and about the continuing evolution that keeps a band labeled "their generations Bob Dylan" by Rolling Stone vibrant and innovative 20 years later.

Jon talks with legendary skateboarder Clyde Singleton about his transition to becoming a chef, and his reason for leaving the restaurant industry in favor of popups.

Seattle's Luke Brennan takes us on an epic Pizza Odyssey, while New York writer Sumitra Mattai explores her strained relationship with her father through tea and sweet pastries. Author Ruth Kogen Goodwin takes a look at convenience foods and the ill effects of food shaming.

There's been a lot of talk about the lingering labor shortage that has been plaguing the restaurant industry as of late. Jon has digs into the true origins of the shortage, tracing the roots back much, much further than the pandemic.

In our first episode of the 4th season of the Dirty Spoon Radio Hour, Jon takes a look at what's causing the national labor shortage that is shaking up the restaurant industry. Dr. Michelle Lee highlights the work of NYC's Antwoin Gutierrez, aka Chef Fresh. And Christine Estel explores the down sides of being a mystery diner.

During our break before our 4th season, Jon put together a collection of some of his favorite stories from our first 3 seasons. Andy Winder learns about healthy masculinity by learning to cook for his friends. Annilee Newton explores the difficulty of relationships through hollandaise sauce. And award winning author Piper J. Daniels explores her lifelong relationship with disordered eating.

Kate Oczypok talks to World Central Kitchen CEO Nate Mook about the international aid organization's work during the pandemic. Klay Dyer takes a look at the story behind Monashee Spirits in British Columbia. Pat Tompkins explores the simple joys of picking fruit. And Mackenzie Filson explores her drinking habits as an essential worker in the middle of a global pandemic.

It's the Dirty Spoon Christmas Extravaganza! We visit our first Tamalada, learn about table manners, and take a trip to Granny's crowded kitchen counter.

Michele Clark explores her grandfather's legacy as a Jewish butcher in NYC. Gina Beach moves to Bristol England during lockdown, so she learns to forage. Ellen Levitt takes a look at how the pandemic is effecting college cafeteria workers. And Beth Copeland takes us back to the summer of 1970 for an epic showdown at a Shoney's.

NYC writer, director, and actor Amy Berryman explores Pandemic Etiquette in restaurants. LA's Nicole Horowitz takes a look at the cultural explosion of the Popeye's chicken sandwich. Writer Kim Freeman talks about race and veganism in Appalachian culture. And Catherine talks with Chef Jacob Sessoms about the cookbook that inspired his career.

Catherine learns what cookbooks inspired Charleston's Jill Mathias of Chez Nous. London's Adrienne Kennedy has a hatred of Jello that goes back to her battles with Crohn's disease growing up. Caroline Chirichella gathers us around her family table in Italy during the Covid lockdown. And Jon talks to David Arant Jr. whose Delta Blues Rice farm produces American grown rice.

Jon talks to Gypsy Queen Cuisine owner and Chef Suzy Phillips about the explosion that devastated her home town of Beirut, and what's being done to help. Plus, Suzy talks about what it's like to try to keep two restaurants running during a pandemic. To donate to the Beirut Blast Victims Relief Fund, visit gypsyqueencuisine.com

James Beard Award-winning Chef Greg Higgins (Higgins Restaurant, Portland) reads his essay, "The Grains of Optimism," while author and journalist Becky Garrison takes a look at how farmers and restaurants are innovating in the Pacific Northwest to stay afloat during the pandemic. Elisa Shoenberger digs into the indie chocolate scene in Chicago, and Micah Ling profiles L.A. sommelier Ryan Kraemer, as he works to make the wine world more accessible.

Stories of hope from the heart of the lockdown: Anna Nguyen bakes treats for her neighbors, Ted Clyde wanders the empty streets of Chicago to check in on an old friend, Elizabeth Helmich learns to make sourdough bread, and Michelle Tom figures out how to protect her mother-in-law from Coronavirus despite the oceans between them.

For Anthony Bourdain's birthday, we revisit one of our first stories, which also happened to be his obituary. We miss you, Tony. Every day.