The Food For ThoughtCast with Melissa Reagan

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 112, Melissa and Steve are talking about breakup foods, first date foods, and a smattering of other off-topic rabbit trail tidbits- -you know, the usual! What do you eat when you are stressed, when you are sad? We've had an episode based on comfort food but today we want to look at this from a bit of a different angle. Do we think foods can really help change the way you feel? It's a strong resounding "maybe". We also go see what Reddit says, in a quiet bid for Steve to get a new bit on this show. Enjoy this quick episode where we get in our feelings. Thanks so much for listening and for watching us on YouTube.

Or yes Contest? You Decide! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 111. Today Melissa and Steve are chatting about the most outrageous restaurant eating contests. What would we do? Do we think we could win? What could possibly be worth all of the acid reflux? Hint: It's going to take more than a free T-shirt to get Steve to eat ghost peppers again. We recap Steve's recent trip to Amarillo and his steak adventure at The Big Texan. Melissa is dreaming about eating watermelons week by week, while Steve waxes poetic about ice cream backwash. Don't miss it! We may not be in the running for a medal for eating 15 lbs of nachos, but we know we've already won a spot in your hearts. Find us in all the places and don't forget to click on all the things. Thanks for listening and for watching us on YouTube!

Hey there food fans. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, today is episode 110 and we are extra feisty. Sorry moms! Melissa and Steve are talking about favorite recipes, what we do or don't use, how we come up with recipes, favorite cookbooks, and so much more. We go way off the rails in some spots, and hopefully it's entertaining because we sure had a great time. Sometimes a recipe is just a guideline, and sometimes you really have to follow it-- for the science! Find the pod anywhere fine pods are carried, and thanks for watching us on YouTube! For the love of Pete please don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe.

Hey there food fans! School may be letting out across the country, and certainly the graduations are going to be in full swing- but today on The Food For ThoughtCast, school is very much in. Steve and Melissa are taking a ( not comprehensive in any way) look at school lunches. What are your favorites? What would you burn in a raging pile of remorse and lighter fluid? What do school lunches look like around the world? Warm up your most special frozen fish stick and get ready for some square pizza, because it's time for Episode 109 and you don't wanna be tardy. Thanks so much for listening and for watching us on YouTube!

Hey there food fans, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! Melissa and Steve are honored (and Steve is so excited!!!) to talk to Chef Phillip Foss today. Chef Phillip is not only one of Steve's culinary idols, he's also got one heck of a story pioneering his way through the food world. He is currently at El Ideas in Chicago- an incredible restaurant that hopes to flip the script on fine dining. From their home page:  Paying homage to Chicago's elevated train system, EL ideas is an abbreviation for ‘elevated ideas in dining'. With the mantra of ‘redefining fine dining', EL is all about putting in fun and removing pretension from elite cooking. A full and immersive collaboration between Chef Foss and his culinary team, guests are invited to come back into the kitchen and mingle with the chefs as their meal is being prepared.  Isn't this amazing?! We had an incredible time talking to Chef Phillip about Michelin stars, playing with flavors, burnout and mental health, and tasting your way through a city one dish at a time. Enjoy this fine chat anywhere you find your podcasts, and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For Thoughtcast! It's time for Episode 107. We are honored to be joined today by Angelo Carotenuto from LivTours. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to learn how to cook authentic Italian food from somebody's Nonna right in her own kitchen? Today's guest tells us all about the real deal Italian food, how to find the best food travel opportunities for you, and why food is so important when learning about a new culture. We had an amazing time talking to Angelo. He has an incredible perspective and insight into food and customized tours and a keen understanding of how to curate an experience. Not only this, but he knows how to eat the good stuff and is a great conversationalist.  LivTours is more than just another travel tour company. Take a listen and you'll soon see the heart, soul, and long -lasting personal touches they pour into every trip. Check out LivTours on Facebook or at LivTours.com. We had a great time chatting with Angelo and we hope you are inspired by his knowledge and experience. Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube. 

Hey there food fans! Have you ever wondered about the snacks and meals available in Walt Disney World? Us too, apparently! It's time for a travel recap. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- you're just in time for episode 106. Thanks so much for listening! Stephen patiently tolerates this as Melissa drones on and on and on about her magical trip to Disney World. We're talking hot dogs, corn dogs, sammiches, waffles, shakshuka,  hotel breakfasts, snacks on the go, All- You- Care -To- Enjoy BBQ with a Toy Story theme, the folly of caramel apples, what to do when you're just too full, sashimi, the delicious grey stuff from Beauty and The Beast, amazing lamb chicharrones not found in Disney, and of course to round things out- a little upscale Mediterranean. The puns are strong with this episode. Huge shoutout to friend of the show and fellow podcast host extraordinaire David Dollar. Contact him at Upon A Star Travel for all your Disney (and everywhere else) travel needs! If nothing else, head to Disney to try #allthethings. There is something to eat for everybody. Find us in all the usual podcast places; and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Watch us on YouTube, we are extremely good looking and Melissa talks with her hands. By the way, Stephen can never own a greyhound. 

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today is a travel recap episode. Melissa and Stephen catch up with each other and then discuss the most amazing things they ate. He just visited Hawaii recently and had an incredible culinary journey. There was tuna poke , sushi, amazing donuts, fruit, and all sorts of drinks. With a food landscape as beautiful as the actual landscape, I really enjoyed hearing all about it and I can't wait to go someday. Thanks so much for listening. You know that we travel to eat, and we eat to thrive so these episodes are a ton of fun to record and share with you. Thanks so much for listening and for watching on YouTube.

Hey there food fans! Today we are talking to Aaron Shapiro of Grillicious. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. Melissa and Stephen are celebrating 104 episodes today, and we are chatting about what it takes to make an idea a reality. Aaron tells us the story of Grillicious. From the evolution of an idea about not only how to flavor the grill, but also to help keep it nonstick- all the way to flavored spritzes for crafting beverages with less waste. We really enjoyed talking to Aaron, and we know you'll enjoy this episode! Head to https://www.grilliciouswipes.com/discount/FoodFans20 and use the promo code FoodFans20 to get 20% off and free shipping for being listeners of the Food For ThoughtCast. These things are insanely good (and really neat), so be sure to try them! As always, thanks for listening and for watching us on YouTube.

Today we have the honor of talking to Shawn Walchef, the owner and founder of Cali BBQ restaurants and Cali BBQ Media. It's time for Episode 103 of The Food For ThoughtCast; welcome back! Steve and Melissa want to know what California BBQ looks like , and how the whole thing started, and Shawn challenges us to go find our whales for this podcast (surprise and hint: it happens!). We talk about how dreams come to be, and the power of storytelling in relation to food. Shawn is an incredible visionary and entrepreneur with a gift for helping us restaurant and hospitality folk realize our full potential and find platforms and our voices. Enjoy this week's episode, and find Cali BBQ if you're in the San Diego area. Find Shawn on these podcasts: Restaurant Technology, Digital Hospitality. Thank you so much for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe.

Hey there food fans! It's time for Episode 102 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today Steve and Melissa are talking to Veeda Bybee, an accomplished author of both fiction and nonfiction and a food enthusiast - not to mention the mastermind behind the cookbook A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Family Friendly Musicals. We talk about the stories to be told through our families and the way food experiences help us learn and grow. We talk about culinary heritage and the way that food shapes us and unites us. We really enjoyed learning from Veeda, and hearing about her journey from journalism to food. We hope you will, too! Find her books, and her cookbook on Amazon or at Veedabybee.com. Thanks for joining us! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe and make sure you watch us on YouTube as well.

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- We are excited to be joined today for Episode 101 by Dennis Turcinovic of Delmonico's, Tucci, and Boogie Lab USA. Yes THAT Delmonico's, in Manhattan! Delmonico's is credited with being the first restaurant in America to offer individual dishes à la carte, rather than a set menu, a concept that revolutionized the dining experience. We talk about the food heritage and incredible restaurant legacy in Dennis' family, the importance of simple, quality sourdough bread, and the incredible dishes and history that make up the Delmonico's story. We are briefly interrupted by an appliance repairman, but the show must go on! We were honored to talk to Dennis today and hope that you will enjoy this episode! Find us in all the podcast places- and thanks for watching us on YouTube!

This is it folks, we've reached 100 Episodes! The Food For ThoughtCast proudly welcomes back Chef Hawkes- the incredible culinary educator and all around food hero- the master chef of Great Britain and foodie extraordinaire, and just an amazing guy. You first met Chef Hawkes in Episode 67 and he is back to give us an update on what is happening in the world of culinary education, studying to use food as medicine, and the exciting things that can be made with MREs. We had a great time talking to Chef Hawkes and could listen to him celebrate his students and talk about food and his travels for hours and hours. Thank you for celebrating our 100th episode with us! Whether you've been listening since the beginning, joined somewhere in the middle, or have just found us today- we appreciate you! Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to find us on YouTube. 

Welcome back to a very special episode of The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 99, Stephen and Melissa are talking about mental health in kitchens and the hospitality industry. We discuss what we do to cope, some of the better and worse experiences we've had in the business, and what we hope the future holds for the people in this business. We usually bring you some tasty recipe ideas or tales of where we ate on our travels, or just general food information- but none of these amazing experiences happen without being first connected to a human being. Until the AI takes over the cooking process, it will always start with a person! We hope you enjoy today's episode, even though it is different, and thanks for letting us be vulnerable. Find us in all the podcast places and on YouTube. Thanks so much for listening and watching.  For immediate mental health support anywhere in the US, dial or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text "HOME" to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. You are not alone.     

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 98 and life just got a little sweeter. Today we are talking to the Willy Wonka of The Midwest, Dan Abel! He is the Chief Chocolate Officer at Bissinger's in St. Louis, Missouri- not only is he an incredible podcast guest and natural conversationalist, this guy really knows chocolate- and he should, after all- this chocolate-making tradition has a history that dates all the way back to 1668! We ask Dan all of the burning questions- does he still have a sweet tooth after all this time? Does he eat other people's chocolate? And what about his new adventure into food and beverage pairings? All this and more on today's episode. Stephen and Melissa had a chance to try the amazing 1668 Collection, a 9 -pc offering of some of their signature chocolates- and we are smitten. Find the chocolates and other confections at Barnes & Noble , Central Market, and online at www.bissingers.com. Thanks for listening!

Today we have the pleasure of talking to Carolyn Haeler, the Executive Baker and mastermind behind Mightylicious. Their mission is to create flavor packed, gluten-free cookies made for everyone. Melissa and Stephen dive into the chemistry of gluten-free baking and hear all about how Carolyn created the brand and the amazing products after her own experience with Celiac Disease and the sad offerings in the world of gluten-free goodies. Everybody deserves to eat delicious foods! Whether you have a medical reason, are avoiding gluten just because, or just love delicious baked goods- we think you'll enjoy this tasty episode of the Food For ThoughtCast. Find all of Carolyn's products at www.mightylicious.com. You won't be sorry that you did! Thank you for listening and watching every week. We are so excited to have you with us on this journey. Don't forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share us with a friend or two. 

Get ready for Season 3 , ya'll! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It's time for Episode 96- the culinary trends of 2025. Today Stephen and Melissa are looking at the lists that the experts compile of what is going to be big in food for the rest of 2025. We talk about flavors, sweets, savories, movements, popular snacks, and so much more. We agree with some of this stuff and end up heavily judging and even openly mocking the rest of it. Thanks for listening and for watching on YouTube.

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for the Season 2 finale of this podcast, can you believe we have been podcasting for two years?! Thank you so much for listening and watching every week. It means so much to us. During these last two years we have talked to all sort of guests: chefs, home cooks, professionals, bakers, fans, other podcasters, and then there's this guy- David Page! Incredible journalist, producer, and now friend of the show and fellow podcaster. We were so honored to have been on David's podcast, Culinary Characters Unlocked, late last year. We would like to share it with you now, and we hope you love it as much as we loved talking to David. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe and we'll see you in Season 3!

Welcome back to Episode 94 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today, Steve and Melissa are tackling all of the questions you never asked about eating leftovers, reheating togo food, and using the air fryer for fried stuff. Melissa doesn't know how to record a podcast today and has a fight with the computer in the middle of the pod. Meanwhile, Steve is crushing life by smoking three meats at once, no rolling papers required. Please let us know if you sous vide your leftovers at home because that's weird. We are exploring the ways to use restaurant leftovers, when to use the microwave, effective ways to freeze and thaw, and so much more. Thanks for listening and for watching on YouTube.

Hey there food fans, we're back! It's a Friday release of your favorite food(ie) podcast.   Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for episode 93! Today it's a tale of three cities as we explore the culinary delights of Kansas City, Philadelphia, and New Orleans-- just in time for Super Bowl Sunday! Thanks for joining us, random microphone issues and all. Melissa is a monster who likes to eat tiny cute animals, and Stephen is just trying to figure out what to do with all the venison. Find us in all the usual podcast places and don't forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share with a friend. At the end of the day, the real winner is the food you eat this Sunday.

This week is a bit of a wildcard on The Food For ThoughtCast. It's time for Episode 92! When you hear this episode, Melissa is in Disney World and Stephen is probably at work, womp womp. We're chatting today about New Year's Eve, what we've eaten, and what we're cooking. We're talking ostrich wings, pork chops, and birria. Please put down the sweet chili sauce, for the love of everything. Thanks so much for listening to the show and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Hey there food fans, we're back from the holidays and we missed you so much! It's time for Episode 91 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We couldn't wait to catch up with each other and see what happened over Christmas- and since we recorded this during the Christmas Season ( celebrate all twelve days, you cowards!) - we decided to take a look at Christmas dinners from around the world. Melissa is gefilte fish-curious and for some reason Steve is mad about tamales, but just kidding. Enjoy and we're so glad to be back. Thanks for listening, and for watching on YouTube! Download us and tell your friends, would ya?

Hey there food fans, this is a snack-sized episode of your favorite food podcast- It's episode 90 of the Food For ThoughtCast! Today Steve and Melissa are checking in with each other and doing a little review of brines and cures. What makes a turkey into a pastrami? Listen in to find out! If you like what you hear don't forget to rate, review, or subscribe and tell a friend! Thanks for listening and for watching us on YouTube!

When the dog bites, run. And when the bee stings, you should probably get it looked at. But anyway, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today we are pulling an Oprah ( and a bit of the Grinch!) to tell you about our favorite things! This episode probably has enough rabbit trails to qualify it for national park status. Episode 89 is all about gifts for food fans and chefs alike, and also things we have no use for. Melissa says no shade to Pampered Chef (but there is) and Steve says he's not a Grinch but we all know the truth. Thanks for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Don't let the title fool you, we talked about both of these things for no good reason, but not served together. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- Steve and Melissa are catching up today on Episode 88 and talking all about what we made for those non-Thanksgiving events we attended and hosted last week. Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

It's that time again, it's Turkey Day! (or Thursday for those who celebrate it) Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, episode 87! Melissa and Stephen are ready for the big day, and both feeling ready for pie and all the things. Today we are talking about retro and vintage Thanksgiving dishes, and tackling the important issues- like where celery doesn't belong. Thanks so much for listening and have a most excellent Thanksgiving!

What is the one convenience item you always have in the house? For me, it's cream of chicken soup. At any time, I always have at least two cans in the pantry. No shame in my game! It's time for episode 86 of The Food For ThoughtCast- today Melissa and Stephen are talking about conveneince items. Chefs use them too! From jarred pesto, to rotisserie chicken, there are all sorts of things we like to use at home to either get food on the table faster or make something really tasty with a little less work. What is in your home cook arsenal? Are you ashamed of a cake mix, or does your freak flag have some cans and boxes on it? Join us on this episode, and be proud of feeding yourself and your friends and family. That's the important part! Thanks so much for listening. 

Are you content with your content? See that? It works two ways- just like our conversations! Lol! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 85! Today, Steve and Melissa are pondering what it takes to make amazing food content- whether audio or video , or both. We discuss how we decide what we will cook or post and we also chat about how we get ahead of the algorithm, as it were. Thank you so much for listening!  Find some of our favorite food content creators below:  Binging with Babish Arnie Tex Lilyloutay Beardo Weirdo  So Vegan Your Barefoot Neighbor Liam Layton (The Plant Slant) Mississippi Kween Cooking w/ Cajun Ian Fujimoto IthinkIcancook (FB) Chef Hawkes (YouTube)

What's the difference between a shallot and a scallion? Are red or yellow onions better for burgers? These questions and lots more answered on today's episode-Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! It's Episode 84, where we talk about onions and their uses (and their flavors, and their names). Melissa and Steve are excited to peel back all the layers of this topic, leaving no allium unturned. Whether you are just onion-curious, crazy about caramelized, or cautious about chives- you'll enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening. Find us where all finer podcasts are served. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

This week's episode of The Food For ThoughtCast is a thought-provoking look into the world of bartending and its connections to food and the service industry. We are joined by Chef Stephen's pal Phil, for Episode 83. Coming to us from St Louis, he clues us in to the musician- to-service industry pipeline. We talk about why he hates the word "mixologist", a little bit of the science behind choosing food and drink together, the non-alcoholic beverage movement, Japanese whiskey, and most important of all- our feelings. Truly though, it is a fascinating cross-section of humanity that you will find in our business- and Phil leaves us with a lot of food for thought. Thanks for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Donuts and hoagies and kibbeh, oh my! It's time for a recap of Chef Stephen's recent trip back to Philly. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's Episode 82- A Return to Reading Terminal! We are talking all things saganaki, Thanksgiving sandwiches, and Steve celebrates crabfries! Today's episode is a personal victory for Melissa as Steve finds crinkle fries he actually likes, and truffle flavor that he doesn't. We travel just to eat and we can't wait to tell you all about it. Don't eat terrible airport food if you can help it. Find us in all the usual podcast places and thanks for watching on YouTube.

Melissa and Steve are reminiscing about birthday meals past, present, and future today! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It's Episode 81! We kick things off by hearing about the amazing meal that Steve recently made for his lovely better half's birthday. We ponder the many ways to cook chuck ribs, how to make friends without salad, and how to make people feel special on their birthday. What is your ultimate birthday meal? Thanks for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Hey there food fans!! Arguably this is just as important as the ingredients-- sometimes it all comes down to the gagdets and tools we use to make all of the tasty things. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- episode 80. This week finds Steve and Melissa chatting about gadgets, gizmos, tools, and appliances today. We find that we are often asked what our favorite brands or recommendations are for the home kitchen. While we aren't sponsored by any particular company, we definitely have some we prefer over others. This episode is a broad look at the topic. Which appliances are the workhorses? What things did we buy and never use? What can we live without? Join us today as we talk about all of the hardware in our home kitchens. Find us in all of the usual podcast places and don't forget to watch us on YouTube. Thanks so much for listening. 

Welcome back food fans! We missed you all week but today's the day. It's a big first for The Food For ThoughtCast, join us on episode 79 as we welcome one of our fans, Angela Standafer, to the show! We're calling this a Fan Feature! Melissa, Steve, and Angela discover the allure of lutefisk, the stress of The Bear, the best ways to prepare octopus, what makes a food Norwegian, and so much more! Thanks Angela for coming on, and for supporting the show! Thanks for listening and watching- you know where to find us- don't forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share #allthethings!

Welcome back to the Food For ThoughtCast, today we are talking all about food trucks. When did they start? What are our favorites? On episode 78, Steve is sticking to his sandwich shop, but this time fantasizing about it being on wheels- while Melissa wonders if anybody is doing frozen donuts yet. We are discussing the most popular for us, what's nearby, and the ones that (maybe) don't exist yet. We give a little shout-out to friends and past guests of the show, Team Fat Kid Food Truck -they are working on a new project called The Shmitt Sandwich, once it opens be sure to give it a visit if you find yourself in the 757- basically Norfolk and Virginia Beach, that is. Thanks for listening! Tell us what your favorite food truck is and where we can find it!

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, episode 77! Sometimes we just need to tell you what we ate. It's not just one amazing thing in a week, sometimes it's an entire trip or even a food crawl - both near and far. Steve is back from his trip to Pensacola and Melissa is busy being a tourist in her new town. We're talking about amazing sandwiches, seafood, Italian, desserts,  and all things tasty. Join us as we recap our week (and weekend) of all the good eats and where to find them. 

I scream , you scream, we all scream......for AT&T to figure out their WiFi. Oh! And ice cream! Today we bring you episode 76 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Welcome back! We've missed you. This is the episode that nearly never happened, due to audio and internet issues but we soldiered through to bring you the podcast content that you know and love. This week we are talking about ice cream. As usual, we start with a little history then bring it into the modern day. We talk about our favorites, local spots, and the big brands and then inevitably all of this talk makes us hungry and we have to leave to go find some. Thanks for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! 

What does it take to be great? We're about to find out! Welcome back to episode 75 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today Melissa and Steve are talking about wind-powered brisket (and other delicious meats) with Jim Lenzen from Jimmy L's in Sidney, Nebraska. Join us on the journey to learn how Jimmy L's came to be and get to know the man and the team that make it a success. They travel across Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, featuring their food truck at large events while still taking part in the local communities that they are serving. Whether it's a local festival or the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, you'll find Jim and his team bringing tasty food to the masses and absolutely crushing it. Find Jimmy L's on social media or on their guest page on the Food For ThoughtCast Website, and find this podcast in all the usual podcast places. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe and thanks so much for listening!

What's better than checking in with a friend? This is our Seinfeld, the literal episode about nothing ( and everything!). The chefs are playing catch-up with each other today about the food they've been eating, the food they want to eat, and everything in between. Melissa figures out the quintessential things she must try in North Carolina, at least, according to the Internet. We talk about chili and slaw on dogs and the oldest BBQ in the United States. Stephen tackles Terlingua with no Boy Scout cooking badge but surely he has defied the odds. Stephen kisses all the food in his kitchen first to bring out the best flavors. More to come on that but for now enjoy two friends just catching up. We did it first ,Matt Mink!   

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- Episode 73! Today we are joined by Gerardo Rodriguez, the owner of Decasa Pizza in Midland, Texas. You're in for a treat. We start out with some small talk about pizza toppings and the most amazing things we ate- but then, move on to the big stuff! This is an awesome story of faith and food all the way from the oil field to the food truck to their very own brick-and-mortar. I have to add, we are all awaiting the Chef Stephen pizza collaboration! Thanks so much for talking to us Gerardo, I'm still trying to figure out how I can buy a frozen pepperoni pizza in the mail and have it to eat here in NC! Find us everywhere and thanks so much for watching us on YouTube. Tell a friend, and don't forget to subscribe.

You've heard us hype his sauce and dry rubs for ages now, in countless references and episodes---- Today it's finally time for Episode 72 of The Food For ThoughtCast, featuring none other than Chris Finch! Chris Finch is the owner and founder of Finch BBQ and we are talking to him today all about the journey and some amazing things happening in his world- including a story about the World Series, some details about his fabulous new smoker, and tips about where you can find all the products. We are so glad we finally had Chris on The Food For ThoughtCast! Try the Lone Star Beef Rub on beef and everything else, you won't be disappointed. Thanks so much for listening. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Find all the information for Finch BBQ , including products available for order as well as upcoming events at https://www.finchbbq.com/

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today is Episode 71! We've got a return guest today- David Page. David is a two-time Emmy award winning Executive Producer whose credits include: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Beer Geeks, and Tailgate Warriors. David is also the author of Food Americana and pretty soon, will release his food podcast- Culinary Characters Unlocked. Steve and Melissa had an amazing time talking to David about everything from Dim Sum to Michelin stars to Jewish red sauce. Don't know what that means? Listen to find out! Thanks so much for your support- find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Today we are joined on The Food For ThoughtCast by friend of the show Jonathan Hile, a foodie and adventure coordinator for Pirate and Mermaid Vacations. It's episode 70!  Random rabbit trails abound as we discuss the various foods of Pennsylvania, cold pizza toppings, and gas station sandwiches. Melissa's facial expressions cannot be excused and Stephen's dislike of cumin begins to wane but the show must soldier on. Find us in all the podcast places, and don't forget to watch on YouTube!   Find Jonathan's travel business here: https://www.facebook.com/share/dGhavtX9vnY3bN8L/?mibextid=LQQJ4d   Like Star Wars or Star Trek? Find his podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0h44WzqUlc726aafvwwlD4?si=fdfd8b46de9545df 

Hey there food fans! It's time for episode 69 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today we are talking about sushi. What is maki? Where did sushi come from? When did it become popular? Steve and Melissa basically obsess over sushi, as we both love it. We give some fun facts and also some cooked "starter" options if you're new to it. Also, if you never eat it or don't plan to try it, that's ok- more for us! Thanks for listening and don't forget to check us out on YouTube!

Today, we're dishing up hot takes with a side of super distracted silly conversation.  Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for episode 68! Steve and Melissa are giving their takes on some classic food debates in today's episode. We discuss all sorts of things from pizza ( to fold or not to fold), to peanut butter and jelly, all the way to the right way to pronounce "pecan." It's obviously "pecan", you just read it wrong again. Thanks so much for listening. Find us in all the usual podcast places and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

That's right, it's a Friday episode drop of your sort-of favorite food podcast because honestly, calendars are hard. Food is so much easier. We are joined by none other than Chef Dominic Hawkes- a pretty amazing guy we found somewhere on the internet! That's not quite the story, but it's still a meat-cute. See what we did there? Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast Episode 67! I'm not sure what we intended to discuss-  but Steve, Melissa, and Chef Dominic went down about fifty rabbit trails and had a great time talking about food and learning about the way he is making a difference in the lives of his students. This guy is great, and so inspirational! Be sure to check out his YouTube channel- @chefHawkes  We are definitely fans!  Find us in all the podcast places, and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Don't know your salami from your salumi? Boy are we glad you stopped by! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's time for episode 66! Tonight we're talking about charcuterie, from 'chair cuit'- French for 'cooked meat'. We cover all of the things that you can pile onto a board- and plenty that you maybe shouldn't.  Steve is being a calf's liver apologist, as per usual. But it's delicious. Melissa thinks she's better than you (she's not) and is too good for regular lunch meat (she isn't). Please don't call Charcuterie boards adult lunchables, Prosper Montagne is rolling in his grave. Whatever you do , make it tasty and pretty.  Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!

Today we're going on a road trip! Kind of. We each already did. Separately. With food! Ok now I'm confused.  Hey but anyway-- Welcome back to Episode 65 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today Melissa and Steve are talking about all of our favorite road trip snacks. Chips, trail mix, gas station coffee, jerky- you name it, anything you can eat in a passenger seat or driver's seat is obviously fair game. We discuss the perils of eating sunflower seeds while driving, getting food all over the car, and whether or not breakfast burritos are worth it. What is the treat you can't live without on a road trip? If you make a stop while on the road, what is the one thing you won't pass up?  Thanks so much for listening!   

Fresh off of a storm-induced power outage and finding our way back to very questionable Wifi, it is Melissa and Steve in rare form. Welcome back to Episode 64 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today we are talking about what to cook when you've got no electricity, which foods don't need to be refrigerated, and the tragedy of folks that don't know how to use a manual can-opener. Now that we have power maybe we can fax them directions. Did we record this in the woods with cans attached to string? Maybe. If there's an echo just consider it double the greatness and fine quality that you're accustomed to with this podcast. Thanks for listening!

"Boil 'em, mash' em, stick' em in a stew" - pommes Anna, scalloped, au gratin, potato pave, mashed, smashed, chips, and fries. Nothing is off limits when this potato episode pops off! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it is time for Episode 63! Steve unfortunately hates ketchup, because #rude. Melissa still doesn't like truffles. But they can both agree on The Fisher Price Steakhouse. This episode is off the rails. Potatoes! What else can we say? Find us in all the places and thanks for your support.

We ask each other at the top of every episode: "What is the most amazing thing you ate this week?" This week, though, there was too much to choose from. So many amazing things, in fact, that it became its own episode. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 62! Steve just got back from the Florida Keys, and Melissa did what she does every week--- tried to find all the right food in all the right places! We talk pizza, cheesesteak, conch fritters, pig tails, pork shoulder, and Hemingway's cats. No not for eating, you freak.   Steve's lack of Key Lime Pie disturbs me. Find us in all the podcast places and don't forget to watch us on YouTube! Thanks for listening.