The Food that Binds

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Join Atlanta restaurant critic and food writer Jennifer Zyman as she discusses food, restaurants, and all sorts of relationships with people from all over the food industry. We explore the why instead of the how. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds/@foodthatbinds. www.jenniferzyman.com.

Jennifer Zyman


    • Apr 30, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 56 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Food that Binds

    S3:E10 – Peter and Rachel Kiley of Monday Night Brewing

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2023 49:04


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by Peter and Rachel Kiley of Monday Night Brewing. Formerly the Assistant Winemaker at Chateau Elan, he moved to Monday Night Brewing in 2013, where he worked his way through every position in the production department from an assistant brewer to brewer to lab director and now Brewmaster. He also met his wife, Rachel, there. Rachel Kiley was the first employee hired at Monday Night in 2012 when the company operated out of co-founder Jonathan Baker's home. An integral part of the brewery's history and evolution, Kiley has gotten her hands dirty in every department—from sales to production, operations, hospitality, and marketing—her trademark wit and unparalleled attention to detail have grounded the brewery as it's grown from 2 to 137 employees; 1 taproom, to 5 locations, spanning four states. In addition to COO, Kiley is the President of the @Georgia Craft Brewers Guild and Mom. She has been married to Peter for six years. The Kileys and their team at MNB racked up many awards in the beer competition circuit last year. With 19 beers recognized with 27 awards between seven national and international beer competitions, MNB is the most decorated craft brewery in the South. MNB just launched its Neapolitan pizza programming with a crust made with the yeast culture from Monday Night brews. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman, www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    president mom south coo monday night neapolitan brewmasters jonathan baker monday night brewing mnb assistant winemaker chateau elan georgia craft brewers guild
    S3:E9 – Chef J. Trent Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2023 46:05


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined on The Food that Binds by chef J. Trent Harris of MUJŌ Sushi in Atlanta. Harris, raised in Kentucky, comes to Atlanta from New York City, where he has worked for the past decade. He has worked behind the counter of some of the best sushiya in the world, including as Executive Sous Chef at Shuko in New York City and at Sushi Ginza Onodera in Tokyo and New York City, where alongside Master Sushi Chef Masaki Saito they earned Two Michelin Stars. Classically trained in both Edomae Sushi and Western Cuisine, Chef Harris earned a Michelin Star while serving as the Chef de Cuisine of Aldea in New York City. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman,  www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E8 – Chef Marcus Samuelsson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2023 31:07


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined on The Food that Binds by chef Marcus Samuelsson. @marcuscooks is the chef behind restaurants such as @roosterharlem, @marcusbahamar in the Bahamas, @havandmar, and the recently opened @marcusbarandgrille in Atlanta. Samuelsson has won eight James Beard Foundation awards as a chef, author, and TV personality, most recently for his work as head judge on Top Chef: Family Style and host of On the Rise. He has won numerous competition shows, including Top Chef Masters and Chopped All-Stars, and is currently appearing as an Iron Chef on the Netflix hit Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson also hosts and produces the Seat at the Table on Audible and co-hosts the This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on ACAST. He is the author of several cookbooks, the New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef: A Memoir, and his latest book, The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.

    S3:E7 – Chef Joey Ward

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 54:24


    Chef Joey Ward joins host Jennifer Zyman. Ward is the executive chef/owner of Southern Belle and Georgia Boy in Atlanta. He spent his formative years at Atlanta's Cherokee Town & Country Club and earned his degree in Culinary Arts Management from the Culinary Institute of America in 2005. He returned South to begin his career as sous chef on the opening of The St. Regis Atlanta before working under Woodfire Grill's former executive chef and Bravo “Top Chef” alum Kevin Gillespie. The two worked to open Gunshow in 2013, where Ward served as executive chef for six years. He now brings this expertise to Southern Belle and Georgia Boy, his first solo restaurant ventures that opened in 2019. Both concepts aim to celebrate the diversity of arts, culture, food, and people of his home state.  Ward has been recognized as a James Beard Award semi-finalist in the Best Chef: Southeast category in 2022, named Best Chef by Atlanta Magazine and awarded the prestigious Trifoliate Award in 2021, and named a Rising Star by StarChefs in 2018. In his spare time, Ward spends time with his dogs and his wife, Emily, a spirited Southern belle for whom the restaurant was named. Please subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts if you like the show! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman,  www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E6 – Erika Council

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2023 56:32


    Jennifer Zyman reaches back into the archives to feature an interview with chef and writer Erika Council. Since our interview, Council has opened Bomb Biscuits Atlanta, where you can get her famous biscuits and more. Learn more about her on her personal website or visit her restaurant for breakfast. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman,  www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E5 – Beth McKibben

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 49:24


    Beth Mckibben, the Eater Atlanta Editor, joins Food writer Jennifer Zyman. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman, www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E4 – Neal Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2023 33:04


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by Neal Cohen, co-founder of Tip Top Proper Cocktails in Atlanta, Georgia. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman,  www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E3 – John T. Edge

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 27:39


    John T. Edge joins host Jennifer Zyman. S3:E3 of @thefoodthatbinds is LIVE with @JohnTEdge. Edge hosts @truesouthtv, which airs on @SECNetwork and @ESPN. They discussed his journey throughout the food world, the South, the relationships that made him who he is today, and his upcoming memoir. Edge also wears many other hats. He is a distinguished visiting professor in the MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the Grady College of @universityofga, a contributing editor at @gardenandgun, directs the Mississippi Lab, and serves the @southfoodways as a Founding director. His book The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South, was named a best book of 2017 by NPR, Publisher‘s Weekly, and others. He has won four James Beard Foundation awards. In 2012 and 2020, he won Beard's M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award. You can learn more about his wife Blair Hobbs' art and upcoming art show on her website. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman, www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E2 – Meghan Splawn

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2023 40:51


    Meghan Splawn joins host Jennifer Zyman. Splawn is a Food Editor and co-host of the @didntijustfeedyou podcast. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman,  www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S3:E1 – Chef Santiago Gomez of Palo Santo in Atlanta

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2023 52:30


    Chef Santiago Gomez of Palo Santo in Atlanta joins host Jennifer Zyman. Gomez is. Mexico City native who worked at Nobu in Mexico and Miami. After 10 years in Miami, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and co-created Botanico Hospitality Group. In 2022 he opened Palo Santo, a supper club-style restaurant and rooftop influenced by Mexican modern cuisine and Georgia ingredients. In the spring of 2023, he will open El Santo Gallo Taqueria in West Side Papers Atlanta. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman, www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    We will be back for Season Three next week!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2023 1:09


    The Food that Binds will be back for Season Three! The first episode of Season Three drops on February 26 with chef Santiago Gomez of Palo Santo in Atlanta. Join Atlanta restaurant critic and food writer Jennifer Zyman as she discusses food, restaurants, and all sorts of relationships with people from all over the food industry. We explore the why instead of the how. Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @jenniferzyman and @thefoodthatbinds. Host: Jennifer Zyman, www.jenniferzyman.com Editor and producer: Carson Shanklin

    S2:E18 – Cleophus Hethington

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2022 76:46


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by James Beard nominated chef Cleophus Hethington of Ębí Chop Bar. They discuss Hethington's path to being a chef, his thoughts on the industry and mental health, what the industry is like for black chefs from his perspective, his new business www.ttspices.com, and what is next for him as he moves back to Atlanta. This is the last episode of Season 2. Thank you for listening! We will be back later in the year or early 2023. Please don't forget to rate and review the podcast wherever you listen so others can find it. More of Jennifer's work at www.jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E17 – John Kessler

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2022 46:37


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by Chicago Magazine restaurant critic John Kessler. They discuss Kessler's track from curious kid in a Washington suburb to an award-winning restaurant critic. Please don't forget to rate and review the podcast wherever you listen so others can find it. More of Jennifer's work at www.jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E16 – Jarrett Stieber

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2022 53:52


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by chef Jarrett Stieber who owns the restaurant Little Bear. They discuss going from pop-up to restaurant right before the pandemic no less. Please don't forget to rate and review the podcast wherever you listen so others can find it. More of Jennifer's work at www.jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E15 – Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter of Talat Market

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 74:26


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter who own the Summer Hill Thai restaurant Talat Market. They discuss going from popular pop-up to restaurant, opening a restaurant during the pandemic, how their partnership developed and evolved over the years, and what is next for the duo at their restaurant and beyond. Please don't forget to rate and review the podcast wherever you listen so others can find it. More of Jennifer's work at www.jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E14 – Bryan Rackley, Kizzy Patel, Matt Christison, and Miles Macquarrie of Kimball House and Shiny Dimes Oyster Farm.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022


    Jennifer Zyman is joined by Bryan Rackley, Kizzy Patel, Matt Christison, and Miles Macquarrie of the award winning restaurant and cocktail bar Kimball House in Decatur, Georgia and Shiny Dimes Oyster Farm.

    S2:E13 – Zeb Stevenson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2022 41:10


    Host Jennifer Zyman is joined by chef Zeb Stevenson of Redbird restaurant in Atlanta.

    S2:E12 – Nicole Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2022 60:09


    Jennifer is joined by producer Nicole Taylor to discuss her backstory in food, writing career, and new cookbook Watermelons and Redbirds.

    S2:E11 – Steven Satterfield

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 55:12


    Jennifer Zyman is joined by chef Steven Satterfield, owner of the James Beard Award winning restaurant Miller Union in Atlanta. For more of Jennifer's work, check out www.jenniferzyman.com.

    james beard award steven satterfield miller union
    S2:E10 – Brian So

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 48:12


    Jennifer is joined by chef Brian So of Spring restaurant in Marietta, Georgia. For more of Jennifer's work, visit: www.jenniferzyman.com.

    spring brian so
    S2:E9 – Justin Dixon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022


    Jennifer Zyman is joined by chef Justin Dixon of the popular sandwich shop Humble Mumble. Follow him on Instagram as @HumbleMumble or @Issablackchef. www.jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E8 – Mercedes O'Brien

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2022 41:42


    Jennifer Zyman is joined by Mercedes O'Brien, cocktail expert with experience at restaurants like Gunshow. She now has a company called SippN at Home, which does custom cocktails for events and also offers educational events. For more of Jennifer's work visit: jenniferzyman.com.

    S2:E7 – Giovanni Di Palma

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 61:29


    Jennifer is joined by Giovanni DI Palma, owner of Atlanta restaurants Antico Pizza Napoletana, Gio's Chicken, Pane Antico, and Pala, which he recently opened with his son Johnny.

    S2:E6 – Sarah O'Brien

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 55:49


    Jennifer Zyman is joined by Sarah O'Brien, the owner of Little Tart Bakery and Big Softie ice cream parlor in Atlanta.

    S2:E5 – Sarah Pierre

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 37:22


    Jennifer is joined by Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks wine in Atlanta. 

    S2:E4 – Todd Ginsberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2022 42:29


    Jennifer is joined by chef Todd Ginsberg to discuss his life, career, restaurants, and new concept Dirty Rascal.

    S2:E3 – Katie Barringer and Jordan Smelt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 51:36


    Jennifer is joined by Katie Barringer and Jordan Smelt of Lucian Books and Wine to discuss their respective paths towards the restaurant world and their relationship with each other.

    S2:E2 – Mike Jordan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2022 61:32


    Jennifer talks with Mike Jordan about his backstory, career, and love for Atlanta's food and music scene.

    S2:E1 – Maricela Vega

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022


    Episode Notes Jennifer is joined by James Beard nominated chef Maricela Vega to discuss her past, present, and future with food in Atlanta and beyond.

    S1:E27 – Claudia Martinez

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021


    Jennifer is joined by Claudia Martinez, the pastry chef at Miller Union in Atlanta to discuss her career, mental health in the industry, and what is next for her.

    claudia martinez miller union
    S1:E26 – Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 34:58


    In the 2nd of a two part interview, Jennifer speaks with Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee about how they came up with the idea of their Korean fusion barbecue joint 'Heirloom Market BBQ' as well as what the biggest challenges have been running their restaurant during the pandemic.

    S1:E25 – Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 43:24


    Jennifer is joined by Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee, the husband and wife team of Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta, for the first of a two part interview. In part 1, Jennifer finds out how Jiyeon went from K-Pop star to highly acclaimed chef, how the two first met and then how they find a way to successfully work together.

    S1:E24 – Meherwan Irani

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 62:01


    Jennifer is joined by chef Meherwan Irani to talk about his early cooking influences including his mother's fusion, how he fell in love with the city of Asheville as well as how he juggles family life along with owning several restaurants.

    asheville meherwan irani
    S1:E23 – Tal Baum

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 54:06


    Jennifer is joined by chef and owner of Oliva Restaurant Group Tal Baum to talk about her food journey which includes growing up in Tel Aviv and working in Florence plus how she balances being a mother of 3 and owning multiple restaurants.

    S1:E22 – Asha Gomez

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 49:49


    Jennifer is joined by chef and cookbook author Asha Gomez to discuss how her upbringing in India impacted her culinary journey, her time spent working with David Chang as well as how she's able to achieve work/life balance as owner of The Third Space.

    S1:E21 – Bill Addison Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 29:24


    In part 2 of her interview with L.A. Times food critic Bill Addison, Jennifer and Bill discuss the evolution of the job of a food critic, as well as why Bill continues a dying tradition of remaining a faceless critic.

    bill addison
    S1:E20 – Bill Addison Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 34:10


    In the first of a two-part interview, Jennifer is joined by L.A. Times restaurant critic Bill Addison to talk about his food journey growing up, how travel impacted his relationship with food as well as dining out during the pandemic.

    bill addison
    S1:E19 – Lindsay Moser

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 44:48


    Jennifer is joined by Lindsay Moser to talk about running her popular YouTube account 'The Hunger Diaries', and why she feels like you can eat whatever you want and still feel healthy.

    S1:E18 – Judith Winfrey and Joe Reynolds

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2021 52:54


    Jennifer speaks with the owners of 'Love is Love Farm' Judith Winfrey and Joe Reynolds about how the pair got started and what it means to be land-less farmers.

    love winfrey joe reynolds
    S1:E17 – Jonathan and Justin Fox

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 47:28


    Jennifer is joined by Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q founders Jonathan and Justin Fox to talk about growing up in Texas and bringing barbecue to Atlanta, what it's like to work with your twin brother as well as how they became the official barbecue of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

    S1:E16 – Erika Council

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 52:45


    Jennifer is joined by Erika Council to talk about her burgeoning biscuit empire, why black chefs fail to get their due in Atlanta and the South and how that can change in the future.

    S1:E15 – Besha Rodell Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2021 39:24


    Jennifer continues her conversation with food critic and New York Times columnist Besha Rodell talking about the future of restaurants, how the pandemic will change dining moving forward as well as the difficulties of working as a food critic.

    new york times rodell besha
    S1:E14 – Besha Rodell Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 44:28


    @Jenniferzyman is joined by food critic and New York Times columnist Besha Rodell for the first of a two-part interview. In part 1, @Besharodell talks about how food played a role in her life growing up in Australia before explaining what goes into her annual piece for Food and Wine Magazine on the 30 best restaurants in the world.

    S1:E13 – Shameeka Ayers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 64:52


    Jennifer is joined by author/Jill-of-all-trades Shameeka Ayers to talk about how she went from creating the 'Sugar Coma Festival', to changing her relationship with food after being diagnosed with type II diabetes.

    S1:E12 – Von Diaz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 52:22


    Jennifer is joined by the multi-talented Von Diaz to talk about how her Puerto Rican roots influenced her career and relationship with food as well as writing a cookbook that combines her heritage with growing up in the Deep South.

    S1:E11 – A tribute to Anthony Bourdain with my dad Sergio Zyman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2021 51:54


    In a special episode, Jennifer replays an interview she conducted with Anthony Bourdain in 2014 before she is joined by her father Sergio Zyman to discuss what Bourdain meant to them personally and the world at large.

    S1:E10 – Amor Mia Orino

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 60:29


    Jennifer speaks with chef Amor Mia Orino about her Philippine pop-up/catering company Kamayan, moving into the food business in her mid 40's as well as how her relationship with her mother impacted food throughout her life.

    S1:E9 – Jason Simpson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2021 60:20


    @JenniferZyman talks with chef Jason Simpson, who recently accepted a position as Culinary director for @citrinla and its sister restaurants, has a dreamy California aesthetic on a plate that feels both inviting and sharp in its precision. On this Wednesday's episode of @thefoodthatbinds, @simpaticooks and Jennifer discuss everything from growing up in California as the child of an artist and celebrity, his grandmother, his relationship with food and cooking, mental health, and what healthy kitchen culture should look like.

    california culinary jason simpson
    S1:E8 – Julia Kesler Imerman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 56:58


    @JenniferZyman is joined by Julia Kesler Imerman, the holistic mastermind behind @stopthinkchew meal delivery service who is also opening her first Atlanta restaurant soon. They discuss everything from her famous grandmother (who has been called the Julia Child of South Africa) to her wellness-based cooking to what it means to have a healthy relationship with food when so many of us have disordered eating.

    S1:E7 – Ron Hsu

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2021 63:30


    Jennifer is joined by chef Ron Hsu to talk about working at the Michelin starred restaurant Le Bernardin in New York, the role family played in his career as a chef as well as his Atlanta ventures Lazy Betty and Juniper Cafe.

    S1:E6 – Candy Hom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 53:08


    Jennifer speaks with Candy Hom aka Soup Belly to talk about her role as full-time stay at home mom/part-time food blogger, her work in social activism as well as some of the hidden gems when it comes to Asian food in Atlanta.

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