The Table Underground w/Tagan Engel

A story short with Sandra and Miguel Pittman owners of Sandra's Next Generation Soul Food Restaurant in New Haven, CT. They share on their 32+ year journey as restaurateurs, being pillars in their community, and the family legacy they have fostered. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

A story short with Ms. Kim, owner of the oldest Asian market in New Haven, CT where she's been running this neighborhood institution with her personal touch for cooking and community since 1985. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

A story short with husband and wife team Shilmat & Wub Tessema on serving up traditional Ethiopian food and culture at their restaurant since 1999 plus the 24/7 demands of the kitchen and raising a family of three now grown children. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

A story short with Cositas Deliciosas owners Miguel Xicohtencatl & Cecilia Serrano - Speaking on their business and personal journey to establish this delicious Mexican fruit, juice, and take-out shop in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven, CT. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

A story short with Elisha Hazel & Qulen Wright, owners of Caribbean Style Vegan restaurant in New Haven, CT. Sharing their passion for serving up life-giving Ital food with local ingredients, and learning the business ropes along the way. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

A story short with Francisco Mendez and Zenaida Muñoz on their experiences running their much loved food carts together with brother Carlos Mendez. They share on their evolution from cooks to cart owners, the Colombian style arepas they're famous for, and what it's like working out in the elements. Story series sponsored by Yale School of the Environment. Photos, slideshow and links at www.thetableunderground.com - Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver Music, Photographed by Maza Rey Photography

Digging into farm and food worker led organizing that’s, multi-sector, multi-racial and has the power to transform our food system by prioritizing people and the planet. With guest Navina Khanna. Episode hosted through the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale.

Reparations in practice with this emerging investment fund collectively led by Black food ecosystem experts. Guest Melanie Allen, Program Director for the fund speaks on their work to build transformative supports for Black farmers and food entrepreneurs. This interview was hosted through the Center for Business at Yale. For more info go to www.thetableunderground.com

Digging a little deeper into this Jewish festival of lights with rabbi in training May Ye; Illuminating injustices, sparking change, creating ritual with connections for Jews of Color, her journey and identity from secular Chinese American Jew into the rabbinate, and there's a little food talk too....More info + recipes at www.thetableunderground.com

Youth leaders Jeremy Cajigas and Jamila Washington of the Citywide Youth Coalition in New Haven, CT share their perspectives on organizing protests for liberation and black lives; their groups demands for removing police and security guards from schools; divestment from police and investment in Black and Brown lives and communities; Bomba music and dance for resistance and celebrating #BlackJoy, and much more. Editing and Engineering by Jon Oliver Music.

and the importance of rooting her restaurant in community, which is helping to sustain them through the Covid-19 pandemic.

CT Chefs Avi Sazpiro of Roia Restaurant, Raquel Rivera of A Pinch of Salt Culinary Education & Catering Company, and Aaron Lee of Yale University Dining & Heartfelt Catering speak to the many ways this pandemic is impacting their work and communities. See more at www.thetableunderground.com Produced by Tagan Engel, Edited by Jon Oliver

Insights on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic from a wholesale produce distributor, an urban farmer / food justice educator, and tips on cooking in quarantine. Hear about massive shifts in the produce industry, mutual aid efforts to get free farm fresh food to families in need, and some recipe-free ways to prep food for the week, including what to do with dry beans, roasting veggies and more. With guests Maria Desarbo of Carbonella & Desarbo’s , Disha Patel of Common Ground High School & Urban Farm , and host Tagan Engel.

Fab culinary duo Liz Alpern & Jeffery Yoskowitz of The Gefilteria sit down (pre Covid-19 quarantine) to nosh and kibbitz about old family recipes, the wide spectrum of Jewish ethnic cuisines, Asha-normativity, producing tons of great gefilte fish each year, liberation stories, and passover traditions.

Chef, activist, and author Bryant Terry on his newest plant-based cookbook - cooking for his kids - uplifting Black and Asian food traditions - and collective actions to transform our "messed up food system".

This homemade coconut milk based cocktail is the pride of the Puerto Rican holiday season. Guests Addys Castillo, and champion coquito maker Aida Casanova talk family recipes, parranda (caroling) traditions, and the complexities and joys of Puerto Rican history and heritage.

Three women speak on the realities of hunger and poverty and their inspiring advocacy work through the group Witnesses To Hunger. With guests Susan Harris, Junie Cullum, and Wanda Perez.

Fall food adventures help heal depression, Chicken & Sweet Potato Dumpling soup, front porch living in the Hood, talking to strangers = fun food finds = dosa making and heirloom apple munching in VT. W/ guests Babz Rawls Ivy, Frankie Douglass, and Chef Stephen Ross.

Giselle Cando & Anajja Stevenson talk about starting their own businesses, working in community gardens, and life as teens in the world today. Feat. the Growing Entrepreneurs Program of the New Haven Land Trust.

Host Tagan Engel speaks about her recent trip to Berlin to partner with a group doing transformational education work around the Nazi death camp, Sobibor, her Grandparents escaped form in 1943.

Atticus Bakery & Bookstore manager Charlie Negaro Jr and baker Josh Kanter talk about their glorious infatuation with sourdough bread making & grain growing - two exceptional new ventures for this 2nd generation establishment in New Haven, CT.

An inspired chef shares his mission for bringing life giving food into the Black community, his journey from Dishwasher to Sous Chef in Yale University Dining, and the stereotypes he deals with as a young Black Chef.

Iroquois Strawberry Drink, Mohegan friendship berries, Sexy Strawberry Vinaigrette, Black food wisdom, Grandma's Jam, the berry pickers boycott, and more! Guests Rachel Sayet, Raquel Pablo Rivera, and Farron Harvey dig in with host Tagan Engel on, culture, race, joy, and liberation through strawberries.

Ep. 55 When Women Chefs Run The KitchenRobin Bodak (co-owner and head chef) and Dignity Maille (cook) at the restaurant Next Door in New Haven, CT talk about their women-centric kitchen culture, outstanding and unpretentious food, Tanzanian hummus, popped sorghum, and salty caramel & ash no-dairy ice cream. We also chat about cultural appropriation vs kitchen creativity, race, and the real challenges of running a restaurant that values both their workers and local farmers. More info at www.thetableunderground.com

A collection of short stories on the lives and work of twelve people who explore the landscape of race, change making, education & community around Connecticut. Host Tagan Engel recorded these stories and more as part of a larger multi media project in 2018 to mark the 25th anniversary year of the Graustein Memorial Fund. To learn more go to www.thetableunderground.com

Entrepreneur Ariana Yuen shares the successes and challenges of starting her new single origin honey business based in the Gera Forest in Ethiopia.

Brother Tommy Joshua Caison, co-founder and Director of the North Philly Peace Park talks about transformative healing and fence free food forests within this African American community.

Babalawo, Priest of Ifa, and Clinical Social Worker Enroue Halfkenny, Onigbana Sangofemi (and husband of host Tagan Engel ;-) shares an overview of the traditional religion of the Yoruba people, and what it looks like in daily life. He speaks on this indigenous African tradition as a path towards personal and communal healing and a wholistic framework for healing our broken society.

Rebroadcast of a 2017 three part show: Maple Moon Season with Mohegan educator Rachel Sayet - Tapping maple trees and boiling syrup in the city with 8 year old Sam - and Marshal Cruz shares the wild story of how he started cooking and his dreams of opening a Grits ‘n Gravy food truck.

Entrepreneur Domingo Medina, explains how he’s improving the environment through Peels & Wheels Compost, his bike, solar, and people powered composting business.

Guests from A Pinch of Salt, Dave’s Angry Sauce, and Love Breakfast talk about their passions for food, supporting Black and Brown owned food businesses, and spreading fresh food love in their communities.

Guests Eric Rey and Sumiya Khan talk about their two ventures which use soup as a vehicle for sharing culture, building community, and supporting entrepreneurship. Sopa! is a soup subscription company started by Eric and his brother Alejandro to spread love and build their relationship. Soup & Salaam: Creating Community Over Soup and Conversation is part of Sanctuary Kitchen which works with chefs who are refugees in New Haven, CT.

Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm on her new book Farming While Black, the Afro/Indigenous roots of sustainable agriculture and the work of supporting people of color in finding liberation on land.

Three enthusiastic New Haven, CT food system change agents share their personal journeys, as well as their visions and practices for transformative change...oh and some fun food stuff too... with Guests Latha Swamy, Genesis Vicente, and Austin Bryniarski

Three indigenous educators talk about giving thanks, true history, native foods and how they handle Thanksgiving each year. AND, check www.thetableunderground.com for a new post by Mohegan educator

Co-Editor of The Hood Health Handbook Alife Allah on health wisdom in Black & Brown communities, systemic change, hip hop as inspiration, playing in the park, and his journey into health justice work..

Host Tagan Engel speaks with her husband Enroue Halfkenny, a healer and therapist about her recent trip to Poland to mark the 75th Anniversary of the mass uprising, and her grandparents escape from the Nazi death camp Sobibor.

Pie baker and serial entrepreneur Mubarakah Ibrahim is on a mission to fix local policies to support micro-food businesses like her's. With a step by step conversation on how to start a food business, and being the change you want to see!

Four New Haven, CT Public School students share their experiences and insights on how race shows up in schools and how it impacts their lives and learning, including: the importance of curriculum that centers people of color, overcoming internalized racism, the need for teachers of color, metal detectors and security guards in schools and so much more.

Ceramic artist Rob Lugo speaks on his incredible journey from graffiti to the pottery wheel, the importance of seeing people of color in art, and his inspirations as an Afro-Latino from Kensington, Philly.

10 year-old girl, Tomistela Engel-Halfkenny shares her favorite books featuring inspiring girls and women including many black and brown women in HERstory... and how reading them impacts her view of herself.

4 fab folks dish their food adventures in CT. An incredible new Ice cream trail with Tagan Engel, vegan soft serve with The Fabulous Babz Rawls Ivy, pow wow foods with Mohegan food expert Rachel Sayet, and Acclaimed Chef Franco Comacho shares his favorite spots to eat with his daughters, french pastry, BBQ and a slammin’ new taco joint.

Guests Kay Holness and Nadine Nelson dig into delicious food from restaurants featured in the first ever New Haven, CT Caribbean Restaurant Week. We talk flavors, culinary history and food as a great connector for overcoming an anti-immigrant climate.

Greg Smith, ConnCAT Culinary Arts grad, talks about finding his purpose and joy in cooking, gardening, and foraging food. He speaks to the impact the job training program had on him as a black man trying to find supports to live a vibrant life and better the community around him. For more info go to: www.thetableunderground.com

Guest Kia Levey-Burden shares her struggles with a school district punishing her son due to his learning needs and race.

Chef Gabriela Alvarez of Liberation Cuisine shares her journey into food, cooking for social justice movements and solidarity work in Puerto Rico. Feat music by Taina Asili & La Banda Rebelde. For tons more info go to www.thetableunderground.com

The LoveFed New Haven Duo share inspiring stories about their great grandparents seeding their passion for gardening and their new vision for transforming lives and communities one home garden at a time. Guests Raven Amandla Blake and Dishaun Harris speak on food justice, the importance of working in the Black communities they grew up in, and all the love they have for gardens and food.

A conversation with Tagan Engel and Lucy Gellman of The Kitchen Sync podcast about the importance of telling the passover holiday liberation story and the complications and responsibilities of being a white Jew. Oh and some food talk too...

One in a special series of equity in education stories. Guests Dr. Jessica Powell of Southern Connecticut State University, and teachers Tai Olasanoye and Rebecca Harmon discuss anti-racism teacher education as a foundation for equitable classrooms, recruiting teachers of color, the importance of culturally relevant curriculum, and more. Guests share their personal stories about race in schools and talk about the efforts at SCSU to transform teacher education to better address student needs and racial equity in schools.

Food lover and instagramer Tiffany Jones (CTiff Eat) talks about her family's fabulous soul food, her favorite restaurants in Bridgeport & CT, colorism and her dreams of what's to come.

Geek out on seed keeping, the importance of ancestral seed stories, building vibrant community and undoing racism work with this amazing human and the 20+ farms growing with him at Truelove Seed Co.