Gourmand

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Mike Puma from Gotham Burger Social Club. We discussed how Gotham Burger started as a community burger tour, the pop-up to brick-and-mortar journey, how they built their iconic smash burger, building relationships and mutual trust in the industry, and so much more. So let's dig in! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Kevin Cardenas from Solo Diner. We discussed his experience working in fine dining and how the skills translate to his pop-up, how Solo Diner presents Filipino American cuisine through embodying nostalgia while incorporating elements from their position in NYC, the collaborative nature of pop-ups and those who supported them during their first year, and so much more. So let's dig in! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, we sat down with Rishi Talati from Hotplate. We discussed how Hotplate began out of a college dorm, their business model and how they help small food businesses, the trajectory of pop-ups since the pandemic and their importance to the food scene, and so much more. So let's dig in! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Steve Raggiani from the 8it app. We discussed how he got his start in experiential marketing, his experience of building the app and finding their niche in the culinary industry, thinking from the perspective of a hungry New Yorker, how they use the app to build community, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Alexis Sicklick from Syncopated. We discussed her roles at several iconic NYC restaurants and the importance of women-run kitchens, her Nutcracker themed cookbook, how she implements thematic elements and rhythm into her pop-up menus at Syncopated, and so much more. So let's dig in! 

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Reid Webster from Bad Larry's. We discussed how Bad Larry's started with an epic pizza party in Central Park, how he keeps a fun and lighthearted brand while also honing his techniques as a chef, the camaraderie and community of the pop-up scene in New York, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, we sat down with Vero and Tessa from YESBABE. We discussed how they both got their start in the industry, how YESBABE became both the name of their brand and their guiding mantra, how they honor heirloom recipes and curate experiences through their events, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Grayson Samuels from Guest Check. We discussed their experience working in bakeries in NYC, how they experiment with seasonal produce and savory influences to develop unique pastry flavors, the role of pop-ups and micro bakeries in the NYC food scene, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On this week's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Shom Mazumder from Ego Death. We discussed his take on New Immigrant cuisine, the intricacies of closed loop kitchens, the intersection of food and his academic interests, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Grace Model from Cicada. We discussed her journey of working in restaurants all over the country, her process of highlighting Mid-Atlantic cuisine and all its deliciousness, her use of nostalgia when building her menus, the vision for her future restaurant, and so much more. So let's dig in! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Eduardo Cuenca from Arroces Street Paella. We discussed the crazy story of him starting his pop-up, his mentorship and collaborations in the culinary world, how he creates community and a celebratory experience at his events, and so much more. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In this week's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Isabel Lee from Forsyth Fire Escape. We discussed the origins of their iconic scallion pancake burrito, their experience selling burritos from their fire escape during the midst of the pandemic, and their transition and expansion to their current space in Olly Olly Market. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In this week's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Lauren Tran from Bánh by Lauren. We discussed her work as a pastry chef and her unique niche of classic French and Vietnamese baked goods. Lauren also gave us  an exclusive look into their brick and mortar coming soon to Chinatown. So let's dig in!  This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

On today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Charlene Luo from The Baodega supper club. We talked about her process in planning menus for her supper clubs, how she uses food as an act of preservation, her famous Sichuanese sausages, and so much more! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Karina Garcia from Cocina Consuelo. We discussed her journey of opening a pop up during the pandemic, how community and connection is formed through food, the process of opening their future brick and mortar, and so much more! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In today's episode of Gourmand, I sat down with Nadia Agsen, the chef at Pica Pica, a Filipino pop-up and supper club! We discussed her career as a chef, her approach to sustainability, how she uses her dishes as a mode of storytelling, and so much more! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In this week's episode, I sat down with Leah Guadagnoli from Fancy Feast Supper Club! We discussed the art of veggie-forward cooking, her process of planning menus and themes for her dinners, sustainability, and her homestead Upstate, and so much more!

In this week's episode, I connected with Stephanie Bonnin of La TropiKitchen, a chef and self-taught food ethnographer! We discussed her journey as a woman in the culinary industry, her process of connecting with traditional Colombian flavors, the new flavor of food nostalgia, and more!

The Gourmand Podcast is back! In the first episode of this season, I sat down with Phoebe Tran, a chef, farmer, and storyteller, to talk about street food, sustainable food systems, and her current project which is a roaming Vietnamese food pop up called Bé Bêp. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In today's episode, we sit down with Award-Winning Chef Michael Mina and Brent Bolthouse to chat about their new concept that combines Chef Mina's culinary prowess and Bolthouse's deep industry background to recreate the chic and luxurious feel of an exclusive clubhouse on an accessible community level, Bungalow Kitchen. A culinary expansion of Bolthouse's premier concept, The Bungalow - an iconic bar and lounge with two locations in Southern California - The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina, will offer a menu of elevated California fare, heavily inspired by local, seasonal ingredients. Intended to serve as an extension of guest's living rooms, diners can expect to enjoy adaptations of conventional, craveable dishes, in addition to discovering new flavors and preparations. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Have you ever wondered what it's like to go to Culinary school in Paris? How to Veganize a Fried Egg? Balance school with a passion project like Chez.Jorge? Stay tuned for this and more in today's episode with George Lee. Check out George's blog at This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

We're here with second-gen piemaker Petra Paredez, owner of cult NYC bakeshop Petee's + author of the recently debuted cookbook, Pie for Everyone. Pie is second nature for Petra -- in 1981 her parents founded the legendary Mom's Apple Pie Company in Leesburg, VA, which they still operate today -- but it was only later in life, after several years teaching special needs children in NYC public schools, that she decided to take the plunge and open her own bakeshop with her husband. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh are the co-owners of Coffee Project New York, the award-winning coffee brand, roastery and training center. Based in New York City with cafes in the East Village, Chelsea, and Brooklyn, and a roastery and training center in Long Island City, Coffee Project New York aims to promote an inclusive and sustainable coffee culture by prioritizing thoughtful sourcing practices, the welfare of their employees and communities, and increased access to educational opportunities for people to pursue careers in the coffee industry.

In this episode, we chat with Suzy Karadsheh from The Mediterranean Dish, the number one online resource for Mediterranean recipes & lifestyle. Tune in to learn about Suzy's childhood in Egypt, starting her blog, and more!

In this episode, we chat with Ashley Rouse from Trade Street Jam Co. We cover all things jam and entrepreneurship, from Ashley's career in the food industry to the inspiration behind her unique jam creations. Hope you enjoy xx This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Meryl Feinstein is the founder of @pastasocialclub and a resident pasta maker at Food 52. In this episode, we chat with Meryl about the beginnings of pasta social club, going into food from a nontraditional background, and all things pasta :) This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Jeff Miller and Yoni Lang are the chefs and owners at Rosella, a new sushi spot in New York City’s East Village. Together, they’re working actively to reduce their carbon footprint by sourcing locally, using sustainably-caught fish, and minimizing food waste.

Today, we're sitting down with Michelle Norako. She is the winemaker at Koehler Estate, a winery located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. Koehler is a small but dynamic family winery, known for their distinctive, estate-grown wines, crafted entirely from fruit grown on their 100-acre estate. In this episode, we speak to Michelle about her interest in the intersection of wine and chemistry, harvests around the world, and her role as the winemaker at Koehler Estate. Receive 20% off your first order with Koehler Winery using the code GOURMAND. Visit koehlerwinery.com This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Today we are here with Cedric Nicaise, co-founder of Vivanterre and Director of Operations at Make it Nice. In today’s episode, we chat with Cedric about his upbringing and interest in wine, his time at Eleven Madison Park and rising to #1 in the world, and also cofounding his wine brand, Vivanterre. Curious to hear what Cedric learned from his first job at McDonalds and more? Stay tuned! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Erika Chou is a Managing Partner of Rivers and Hills Hospitality Group. They own and operate different restaurant concepts in NYC such as Northern Tiger, Lotus and Cleaver, Wayla, and Little Wayla. Today we chat with Erika about her upbringing in the South, starting her first restaurant, and reflecting on the past 10+ years of being a restauranteur! This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

Today we’re sitting down with Chef Taka Sakaeda, Chef and Partner at Nami Nori, a Japanese Temaki Bar in the West Village. Previously, Chef Taka was a chef at the acclaimed Three Michelin Star Masa Restaurant in NYC. Today we chat with Taka about his upbringing in a Japanese household and his passion for food, his time at Masa, and the origins of his new temaki concept Nami Nori, one of our favorite restaurants in NYC. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In episode two of the Restaurant Series, we're chatting with Buddha Lo. He’s the Executive Chef at Huso in NYC, a fine casual caviar restaurant located inside Marky’s Caviar retail shop on the Upper East Side. Today, we speak with Buddha about his experiences in restaurants around the world, winning the cook battle at Eleven Madison Park, and what he's up to now at Huso. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com). This episode was edited by Delali Bruce.

Today we’re sitting down with Ellen Yin, the James Beard Award-nominated founder and co-owner of High Street Hospitality Group. She’s the restaurateur behind some of Philly’s most acclaimed spots, from Fork to High Street on Market. In today’s episode, we chat with Ellen about her journey to becoming a restauranteur, how you can support restaurants at this time, and the future of restaurants after COVID. You can find Ellen on Instagram on @therealellenyin. & If your in Philly, be sure to visit Fork, High Street on Market, or High Street Provisions. And Calling All Penn Students! On March 25th, 34th street will be releasing an issue of the spring dining guide called Reality Bites. It centers how COVID-19 is shaping the industry and includes tales of restaurants rising to the challenge of staying open through innovation, philanthropy, and justice. To support these local businesses, please pick-up a copy of the dining guide at either the compass, Paris baguette or high rise field. As a bonus, every issue comes with the chance to win a golden ticket This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

Today we’re here with Alice Cheng. She is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a professional networking and job matching website for professionals in the food, beverage and hospitality industry. Their growing community includes over 900,000 members and 28,000 businesses nationwide. The platform is dedicated to helping talent succeed in their careers within the hospitality industry. In this episode, we chat with Alice about the challenges and rewards of building Culinary agents, her 12 year career at IBM, and what she sees for the future of the industry. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com). This episode was edited by Delali Bruce.

We are so excited to release this special episode with TV personality, culinary traveler, cook and author Adam Richman. You may know Adam from his time on the Travel Channel’s Man Vs. Food or Secret Eats with Adam Richman. In this episode, we chat with Adam about the intersection of food, history, and culture, breaking into the world of food TV, and his two upcoming series: "The Food that Built America," which premieres on the History Channel on Feb 14, and “Modern Marvels,” premiering on Sunday, Feb 21. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

We're excited to wrap up our inaugural season, Sweet Treats, with Paola Velez, the Executive Pastry Chef at Maydan, Compass Rose, and La Bodega Bakery in Washington, DC. She is also the co-founder of Bakers Against Racism, which united professional and home bakers alike in what has become the world’s largest bake sale. In this episode, we chat with Paola about storytelling and culture through the lens of food, Bakers Against Racism, and the future of the restaurant industry, all while Paola is baking burnt tahini cookies. Let’s dig in. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com). Headshot by @mojalvo.

In this first episode of 2021, we’re sitting down with cookbook author, recipe developer, and award-winning food stylist Erin Jeanne McDowell. Erin’s work has been featured everywhere from Food52 to The New York Times, and her new book, The Book on Pie, just launched this past fall. In this episode, we chat with Erin about entering and navigating the food media space, must-have cookbooks, and all things pie. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

Today's guest on the show is Elisabeth Holder, President of Ladurée North America and Innovation Director for the brand. Ladurée dates back over 150 years as one of Paris’s first tea rooms. Now, with over 100 stores globally, Ladurée is world famous for bringing a bit of Paris worldwide with their beautiful macarons. In today's episode, we chat with Elisabeth about what it's like working in a family business, how innovation intersects with keeping true to the Ladurée brand, and what the world's most expensive macaron is. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

Today we’re so excited to chat with Kimberly Camara, founder of Kora Doughnuts, an online-only bakery out of Queens, New York. Started during the pandemic, Kora has quickly become known for their creative take on donuts, inspired by a wide range of Fillipino flavors. And these are no ordinary doughnuts––take a look at Kimberly’s Instagram and you’ll see what we mean. They look and taste like works of art, and have attracted quite the fanbase. In this episode, we talk about cuisine and culture, what Kim's job interview for the number one restaurant in the world was like, and starting an online doughnut business that now has a waiting list of over 10,000. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

Get excited, because this week’s guests are Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald of Levain Bakery. You know those thick, huge, decadent-looking cookies you’ve been seeing all over Instagram? That’s all thanks to Levain. Started in 1995, there are now 8 Levains around the country for all your cookie fixes—like our favorite, the world famous chocolate chip walnut cookie. In today’s episode, we hear about the story of how Pam and Connie first met, what it was like opening the bakery in NY’s UWS 25 years ago, and how Levain is advocating for world peace, one cookie at a time. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

Today we are here to talk about all things ice cream with Pooja Bavishi, founder of Malai in Brooklyn, NY. You may know Malai for their unique take on ice cream, with flavors ranging from rose with cinnamon roasted almonds to red chili chocolate. Today we chat about Pooja’s childhood and her love of desserts inspired by Mrs. Fields cookies, how a Friendsgiving kicked off Pooja’s ice cream journey, and flavor combinations inspired by Pooja’s upbringing. Let’s dig in. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

On today's episode, we’re sitting down with Chef Eunji Lee. Eunji is the executive pastry chef at two Michelin Star restaurant Jungsik in New York City, which has been dubbed “the most elegant Korean restaurant in America” by Eater. Most known for her “baby banana” dessert, Eunji's style combines classic French techniques with Korean flavors in what may be one of the best dessert tastings in New York. Listen to hear all about what it was like moving to Paris at 19 years old, Eunji's experience making it to the finals on a French cooking show, the unexpected magic of corn desserts, and what the world of fine dining looks like during the pandemic. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

In today's episode, we sit down with Bobbie Lloyd, Chief Baking and Operating Officer at Magnolia Bakery. Magnolia is a bonafide New York City institution—you probably know them for their cupcakes (complete with that signature Magnolia frosting swirl!) or their famous Banana Pudding. While they started as a small bakery in NYC, there are now 25 stores worldwide. Today we chat about Bobbie's wide-ranging experiences coming up in the food world, favorite flavor combinations at Magnolia Bakery, and what the process of writing a cookbook looks like. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com)

On today's show, we’re speaking to pastry all-star Anna McGorman. She’s the co-creator of the cronut, ex-executive pastry chef at the Dinex Group, and now serves as culinary director at Milk Bar, a beloved powerhouse in the dessert world helmed by Christina Tosi. You’ve probably (or, definitely) seen their iconic birthday cake, truffles, and cereal milk soft serve all over your Instagram feed. Anna’s done it all, from large restaurants to fine dining to bakeries. Stay tuned for stories involving life-changing bonbons and mountains of onions. We’ll also chat about Milk Bar’s newest project which, hint, promises to bring their treats even closer to home. Thank you to Eion Rogers and Dide Olmez for your help on the team. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com).

In this first episode of Season 1, Sweet Treats, we chat with Joanne Chang, founder of Flour Bakery in Boston, MA. Joanne went from Harvard grad & consultant to renowned pastry chef, 5 time cookbook author, and sticky bun queen! As the recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker, she now operates 9 Flour bakeries in Boston and Cambridge, in addition to sister restaurant Myers+Chang. Today we chat about her time at Harvard as the Chocolate chip cookie girl, the challenges and struggles of opening a new bakery, and what she’d do if she won the lottery. Thank you to Eion Rogers and Dide Olmez for your help on the team. This episode uses Royalty Free Music - (Music: www.bensound.com); photo of Joanne is by Kristin Teig.