Podcast appearances and mentions of rachel zemser

Rachel Zemser from A La Carte Connections is a lifelong food scientist and consultant, dedicated to helping companies formulate and develop innovative food products. She is the author of "The Food Business Toolkit for Entrepreneurs" and holds degrees in food science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Illinois. She has also attended culinary school in New York. Rachel joins The Drip by AQUALAB to explore the intricacies of food science consulting and entrepreneurial challenges in the food industry.00:00 Food Science Consulting Insights05:26 Entrepreneurs Vs. Big Brand Ingredients08:23 Designing a Custom Snack Bar13:02 Finding the Right Co-Packer14:14 Evaluating Co-Packer Suitability19:52 Preparing for Food Science Consulting21:14 Essential Skills for Food Consultants26:51 Food Science Consulting Expertise28:08 Song and Mantra for UpliftmentIn this episode, you'll hear about:Rachel's productivity hacks for self-employment success.Key tips for developing successful food products.Importance of water activity in dry foods.From Unilever to startups: Rachel's career insights.Featured Artist and Song:Here with Me by MarshmelloLinks mentioned in this episode:A La Carte ConnectionsRachel Zemser on LinkedInStrange Currencies by REM, music was chosen by Rachel ZemserConnect with the showAQUALABZachary Cartwright, PhD

A la Carte Connections owner and food scientist Rachel Zemser spoke with Food & Beverage Insider editor in chief Judie Bizzozero to discuss how product developers are adopting a new at-home R&D model during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you haven’t listened to episode 200 part 1, you can find it at myfoodjobrocks.com/200Wow So the past three weeks looked like this: I drove from Sacramento to Texas, met some friends in Los Angeles and Phoenix, and then flew to New York. Met up with my friend David Despain in long Island and then the next week, had an orientation in New York with my Friday getting familiar with the brand new Food Labs in Austin Texas, in the SXSW Center, my new home. There’s a ton of things planned, and I am thrilled to see what happens. For the second part, you’ll get a lot of the same as part 1. You’ll get aspiring new companies, inspiring past guests and everything in between. You can find timestamps on who’s on this section at our shownotes: myfoodjobrocks.com/200Wow2 So enjoy this live recording of the 200th episode at My Food Job Rocks. Thank you Alyssa Pizzaro from the San Francisco We Work Food Labs for the space. If there are any audio quality hiccups, let me know but keep in mind, that some things are out of my control because it is a live recording. But first, here’s a note from a guest who couldn’t make it because she was in another state, Katie Jones from the Food Heroes Podcast. [Timestamp: 1:40] Eleana Hsu – Koji Related Food Products [Timestamp: 3:25] I met Elana the week before this event at a house party hosted by Phil Saneski and friends. Elena will be leaving her job soon to start her own Koji company. Learn a  bit about the Koji world, where it comes from and what common foods it grows on. Learn also how to make your own and the types of experiments to explore further than soy sauce. My Food Job Rocks – You have to do what you love Sohail Nadepour – A La Carte Connections [Timestamp: 14:20] I met Sohail through a mutual friend, a college friend who’s not even in food science. Ken just happened to be in the same company as Sohail and one day they talked about passions. Sohail told him about food science and the first thing that popped up in Kendall’s head is me! After helping Sohail network, he ended up working for Rachel Zemser which is allowing him to start his food science career. Sohail is a really awesome example that it just takes one person to change someone’s life for the better and it makes me feel amazing. This short segment is the sole reason why I love doing the podcast and talking to people so that they too can have a career in food. My Food Job Rocks – Despite having the temptation to eat my products, I get to be creative. Amanda Drexler – Product Developer at CCD Innovation [Timestamp: 3:25] Next up is Amanda Drexler, an alumni from Cal Poly who just graduated this year. Amanda works at a consulting firm in Emeryville and for her first job, she’s gotten a lot of interesting projects. Because she's fresh out of college, I thought it would be a great opportunity to ask how she got her job. We give a shoutout to one of our favorite Cal poly professors too My Food Job Rocks – I can see a product from the first stages to the end Lauren Joyner, Founder of Loca Foods [Timestamp: 30:15] We catch up with Lauren Joyner and a lot of things have happened since about thirty episodes ago. Lauren found a manufacturer, will be launching a new formula, and Loca is growing. It’s so exciting seeing your friends grow so fast in this industry. Lauren also brought a friend, Lindsey, founder of Food-La-La who made these really interesting savory macarons. They are artistically made very well and the flavors are extremely well balanced. We do a live audio tasting with these macarons and they are really good. My Food Job Rocks – Connecting with people in the space that care deeply in what they’re doing Rachel Zemser – Consultant at A La Carte Connection [Timestamp: 38:55] We also catch up with Rachel Zemser, who had a kid! And now she’s learning a ton on taking care of a little human. The great thing about Rachel is that she can control her schedule. Well, sorta. Rachel also announces that she’ll be on TV in the very near future, which is super exciting. My Food Job Rocks – Every job I’ve ever had as a food scientist was fun and exciting Ellice Ogle – Food Safety Consulting Tamdem Food [Timestamp: 45:50] I think I met Elice at an IFT event, but not sure. I see her often in a variety of events in the San Francisco area. She’s a hustler, for sure. Elice recently started her own company and I asked about how she likes it so far. Lots of talk about startup life here My Food Job Rocks – I love food and meeting people who love food Darryl Neal – Podcast Host of Beer Talk Now [Timestamp: 49:00] I met Darryl at an IFT event. Definitively. I had such a good talk with him the first time I met him, he took me out for beer and we talked for hours. At the end of the night, he wanted to do a podcast and started…6 months later! But every time I met him, it reminded him to start step by step. Eventually, he started Beer Talk Now and it’s so amazing seeing his creativity flourish because of this little project. Darryl also had a kid! So congrats to Darryl! My Food Job Rocks – It’s fun to see people get engaged in food safety. Phil Saneski – VP of ReGrained [Timestamp: 55:30] Last but not least, is Phil Saneski, who’s been in two episodes, one where he was an intern at Rachel Zemser’s company and then last year with ReGrained! Phil and I have helped each other out throughout the years, with business, charity events, and other super fun stuff. Phil has been one of my greatest supporters and one of my best friends throughout my time doing My Food Job Rocks and I can’t thank him enough for his support. With some final introspection thanks to Phil’s question, I think this is the perfect ending interview for the night. My Food Job Rocks: Self-explanatory I’ll be taking a creative break from the podcast and will start again with episode 201 at the end of the month. Regarding the future of My Food Job Rocks, all I can say is that I’m seeing the end. I love podcasting, but I think theirs is much more to do than just My Food Job Rocks. There are many many other projects I want to explore using this platform. Because I don’t want to be known as the guy who does My Food Job Rocks, but perhaps the food scientist who does podcasts. But who knows? Like I told Phil, I don’t like to think that far. If I thought far, I would have never have ended up with a  podcast, or starting a company, or working in a beautiful building in Austin, Texas but I’ve learned that doing these things have made my life exciting! I’m just an average person with an average podcast but the people I’ve helped are special to me and perhaps that’s all you need to do something great. Again, I can’t thank you enough for listening to My Food Job Rocks. Whether you’ve consumed all 200 or just this episode, it really means a lot to me that you chose this podcast to listen to. Thanks for joining us, I’ll see you next time on My Food Job Rocks  

Our guest today is Dr. Maya M Warren, Sr. Director of International Research and Development and the Tastemaster at Cold Stone Creamery. I’ve seen Maya twice on TV. One on an episode of the Amazing Race with Amy DeJong (a podcast guest from way back) and last Christmas at my Grandma’s house watching Dr. Oz (my grandma loves the show, not me). Anyways, I had to get her on the show so I asked Amy for Maya’s contact and we went from there. Thanks Amy! Maya is a delight to talk to as the first thing you notice about her is that she absolutely loves what she does. I mean, she has her PhD in ice cream, gets to travel the world formulating ice cream, and gets to be on TV to talk about ice cream! She lives and breathes it. Maya and I talk about the fact that she didn’t even know about food science until midway through college, and even though her college didn’t offer food science, that did not stop her from working mornings at a processing plant and doing her thesis solely on ice cream. You’ll also learn a bunch of other stuff like how Maya and Amy got on the Amazing Race, how to communicate with foreign product developers, and how Maya expresses her passion for ice cream in multiple ways. Also, you’ll learn super valuable tips on creating your own ice cream and how to optimize your home ice cream experience. By the way, if you’re listening to this in July, happy ice cream month! Sponsor People have been saying My Food Job Rocks is a great food business podcast. If you’re a food entrepreneur or want to become one, I highly suggest doing your research. Luckily, my friend Rachel Zemser has the perfect resource for you. She has a book called the Food Business Toolkit that will help you understand everything about starting a food business from formulation to regulation. Use the code MYFOODJOBROCKS at the checkout for 10% off not only the book, but it also applies to an hour of consulting. As someone who’s started their own food business, acquiring knowledge is super important. You can find the book here: https://alacarteconnections.com/shop/ Money will come and go, but you’ll always run out of time so it’s very important to get the knowledge necessary to move forward. Show Notes Winners of the Amazing Race (Season 25) Amy DeJong Interview Dr. Oz and Low-Calorie Ice Cream How do you get on Dr. Oz?: They found me because of being on the race Coldstone Tastemaster How do you describe yourself?: I make people smile Coldstone: 33 countries A big part of what I do is to modify the formulation of ice cream in different countries. How different is ice cream in other countries?: The global landscape of ice cream is different everywhere. For example, US has 10% milkfat and has to be cow milk. Some countries don’t have a legal definition. How did you hear about food science?: I never did until I saw how bacon-flavored soda was made. Carleton College Unwrapped Malt-o-meal company Richard Hartel UW Madison Coldstone was my first job. They found me on the Amazing Race Coldstone uses granite slab Skillsets in your job: Being able to formulate, work in excel and communicate especially in different countries. Sensory science is great as well Skillset for: Bench-top to scale-up: Be aware that things can change Skillset for: Communicating with people in other countries: I mainly communicate with the experts in that country’s field. The dairy and food engineers in that country. Sometimes they use outside consultants to translate. Why Does Your Food Job Rock?:  I love ice cream, and I want to share my love of it to the world. What type of food trends and technologies are exciting you?: We are embracing other people’s foods now McDonald's flavors around the world Turmeric Ube Personalized nutrition Favorite Flavor recently: Brown Sugar Texture Innovations: Gelatinized Starch and Chia textures Chia Pets Flavor is usually showcased through money and exposure Halo Top Is Halo Top actually healthy? Same with Plant-based burgers. Is it healthy? One thing in the food industry you’d like to know more about?: Plant (or other) alternatives for milk Perfect Day Ice Cream Ben and Jerry’s CBD ice cream Ice Cream Maker – Happy Joy Batch Freezer Remember: The freezer can really abuse ice cream My ice cream is really hard and my spoon bends: bad formulation or no overrun Twitter: @mayawarren Maya M Warren Official Website: MayaWarren.com  

Many of you know the story between Kim and I. We started our podcasts at the same time. I was able to reach out to her when I saw her posting on a super secret podcast facebook group. I reached out, because My Food Job Rocks was also in its infancy. We decided to do a podcast swap. I would interview Kim, and she would interview me. I launched episode 12 starring Kim, and now we’re here, on episode 156. Time flies, doesn’t it? But still, we persisted. Kim and my guests overlap a bit. We’ve had interviews with people such as Phil Saneski, Jessica Goldstein, Alan Reed, Rachel Zemser, and plenty more probably. However, Peas on Moss does a much better job on the culinary end of the equation. Since Kim lives the Research Chef life, she does a very good job interviewing high profile culinary geniuses in the industry. Kim was one of the people who helped me in a dark time early on in the podcast realm, I think it was in episode 20’s range, I was dropped from my host provider and was debating on dropping My Food Job Rocks. She encouraged me to stay, and also mentioned that “people don’t listen to you until you’re 30”. At the time, I was 25, and that quote motivated me to keep on going, that I needed to prove myself. Over time, Kim and I have become kindred spirits when it comes to the food industry. We connect with other people, we talk about the struggles of being ambitious and being valuable in product development. In fact, one of the most underrated episodes I did with Kim was just a one-hour break room session where I just rant about ambition. It’s a bonus episode, and it’s on the show notes. I don’t listen to my own podcast episodes after I publish them, but I always enjoy that one. Anyways, Kim is probably one of the hardest workers I’ve known. Her role at Bulletproof means she’s always traveling, making new products and I’m always impressed seeing her churn out episodes. So enjoy this episode, as Kim talks to her mentor, Graham Kerr. If you like this episode, you can find so much more at Peas On Moss.com  

I knew Rachel before I even graduated and she didn’t know me. She might have actually been the first person I’ve ever seen who was a consultant. I think it’s because she took advantage of the online space and I stumbled onto one of her articles, or e-books, or something. Anyways, if you’re in NorCal, and you don’t know Rachel Zemser, you might actually be living under a rock. Her presence online and offline makes it seem like she’s everywhere. And she needs to be as it’s necessary navigating the Bay trying to solve silicon valley’s greatest challenge: consumer packaged food. In the bonus episode, you might have caught a bit on how Rachel networks, but this episode talks much more on being an expert formulator, even if you aren’t already in R+D. Not only that, but she gives some life advice to young professionals who might not want to leave home, gives some amazing insight on new food ingredients, and rants and raves about her favorite restaurants in the world. Key Takeaways On mentorship and being a pro developer Why young professionals should move How to be a regulatory consultant Question Summary How did you find out about food science?: I picked it out randomly How do you become an expert formulator?: If they only make one product, they will get to know all the procedures fast. Books  can help, but you have to live it. You have to learn through mentors. However, if you were in a big company, you can go and be friends with the R+D department. Keep on learning from all avenues How to get Mentors and Mentees: Symbiotic relationship Quick Tips: If an intern is really really new, in general, it’s a negative Return on Investment How long do you think someone should be in a company before leveling off their skill set?: 5 to 6 years Depends on what position you are. There is not a lot of turnover in food companies. They won’t get rid of you. New Jersey and Chicago: a lot of competition. Arizona not so much. Young Professional Advice: if you’re 22 to 32 years old and have no kids, you should go out and explore the world. Don’t be afraid to leave the coop. Tips on Starting your Career: I meet so many graduates from Davis who will never ever leave the Bay Area. Rachel suggests that they should leave and explore. Quick Tip: Keep on going for food science and you can be a consultant for life Food Trends and Technologies: Protein Powders, Fat Powders, Botanicals and Antioxidants TIC Gums, Colony Gums have teams to support you. Ingredient companies have a huge technical support network to help you out What is one thing in the food industry you’d need to be more about?: More education for fats and oils Coconut Oil was bad in the 70s. Palm Oil is bad now due to sustainable concerns U Mass Amherst: Gum and Hydrocolloid class What's the hardest part about being a consultant?: Hard part about being a consultant is that you know a lot of things, but not everything Favorite Kitchen tool: Chocolate Melange: Can make her own peanut butter and chocolate Favorite Quote: Are you a nutritionist? Nutritionists care what you put in your body Do you have any advice for anyone in the food industry?: You have to love it. Where can we find you?: Burlingame, IFT, RCA, World of Flavor Shows, Expo West, Fancy Food Show Website: Alacartconenctions.com @culinologist, facebook page for the ebook, google her Other Links Chenowith Labs Fancy Food Show IFT17 Food Science: The university’s best kept secret Food Blogger Conference in San Francisco Alton Brown inspired Millenials to be food scientists Gen X: chefs and military find out about food science Research Chef Association Free IFT Powerpoint for Food Science Food Science versus Nutrition Regulatory Consultants Love on the ingredient statement Potato Protein Impossible Foods uses potato protein Olestra in fat trends Gelatin, Collagen Supply Side Gums Hydrocolloids World of Flavors El Bulli – but I got food poisoning in Madrid NOMA The Fat Duck Farm to Table MOTO Tablet compressor bench top tablet press Ray Krock McDonalds story

Rachel and I have known each other for quite a while and I am finally glad to do this jam packed episode with her. We recorded over 2 hours of content and I found the first part so good, that I had to share it with the world. In this segment, we talk a ton about bringing products to life, and the practicalities and pitfalls it takes to actually get started making a product. This includes having people overvalue products and undervalue other aspects such as production and marketing. Since Rachel and I are both in the bar space, we talk a lot about this type of product. This ranges from Keto Bars, bar marketing, dealing with silicon valley entreprenuers and how much money an actual product costs No ads this time, this one is a freebie.  Key Takeaway How to make a Keto Bar Marketing is everything for these products Trade Show Tips If an entrepreneur comes from tech, they think they have it all down Question Summary Do you have a network of consultants?: I have a network of independent consultants. For example, people call me for acidified foods and I call a hydrocolloids expert How did you become a consultant?: It’s hard to be a consultant fresh out of college. The more experience you have, the easier it is. How long were you a food scientist?: 1996 until 2009. I had near 20 years of experience before I jumped ship. About entrepreneur clients: Entrepreneurs need a lot of hand holding and they are usually short term clients How to Network - Walk up and down the trade show - Host events - The more resources you get, the better you can succeed as a Consultant Netherlands and the hardcore science Why do you think tech entrepreneurs go into food?: Everyone cooks and eats, they think they can solve the problem What is a big pitfall about food?: R+D is a small percentage of a product cost. People don’t know the costs of production or marketing Other Links Plum Organics Walnut Board of California Wrote an Ebook about Food Product Development to Entreprenuership Unilever Kraft Kagome Creative Energy Foods Ketogenic bar MCT powders Vegan protein powders RXBar bought by Kelloggs Juciero Hampton Creek Soylent U Mass Amherst Food Science Program University of Illinois Institute of Food Technologist SciBabe Food Babe Flavor Producers San Francisco State – Teaching Food Science  

Rachel Zemser is a fixture in the Northern California region IFT and RCA events, and it seems like she knows everyone there. After years in corporate research and development work, she started her own consulting business a few years ago, specializing in commercialization of brand new concepts. She lays it all out and tells is straight on this interview, which we recorded at the IFT conference this year.  This podcast is sponsored by Icon Foods, and we can't do this without them. Find out about natural sweetener systems and how they can help you solve your biggest flavor challenges.  Let Thom know that you found them through PeasOnMoss. Become a partner in the podcast and website by contacting us at Remember to share the show with your friends and write a review so we can featured on the front page of iTunes!  

Rachel Zemser is a fixture in the Northern California region IFT and RCA events, and it seems like she knows everyone there. After years in corporate research and development work, she started her own consulting business a few years ago, specializing in commercialization of brand new concepts. She lays it all out and tells is straight on this interview, which we recorded at the IFT conference this year.  This podcast is sponsored by Icon Foods, and we can't do this without them. Find out about natural sweetener systems and how they can help you solve your biggest flavor challenges.  Let Thom know that you found them through PeasOnMoss. Become a partner in the podcast and website by contacting us at Remember to share the show with your friends and write a review so we can featured on the front page of iTunes!

Today, we’re joined by food scientist Rachel Zemser to discuss C. bot, retort processing and obtaining shelf stability, particularly with respect to cold brew coffee. Rachel bring a wealth of information to the show and gives some good insights on why anyone looking to can or bottle should be working with a process authority. Subscribe: […] The post C Bot, Retort Processing and Shelf Stability with Food Scientist Rachel Zemser appeared first on Drips & Draughts.