The Pittsburgh Dish

059 Amy Knight: From Naval Service to Kitchen Classroom


Listen Later

What happens when a 20-year Navy veteran with a passion for global cuisine decides to trade her military uniform for an apron? Amy Knight's journey from Naval Officer to owner of Flour Power Cooking Studios reveals the unexpected parallels between naval leadership and culinary education.

(1:05) Amy has created a vibrant community space where cooking becomes a vehicle for confidence-building, memory-making, and even community service. "I just love watching the wheels turning," she shares, describing the moment when a child realizes they can create something delicious from scratch. Her weekly classes serve preschoolers through teens, while popular family cooking sessions regularly sell out, offering parents and children the chance to bond over homemade pasta or chicken piccata without worrying about kitchen cleanup.

(18:42) Knight's global travels during her naval career exposed her to cuisines that transformed her palate. These experiences inform the diverse cooking classes she now offers, including adult "Sip and Stir" BYOB workshops featuring international themes and Iron Chef-style competitions that often benefit local charities. The studio also hosts corporate team-building events that Knight describes as opportunities for colleagues to "duke it out in the kitchen" while developing collaborative skills.

What truly sets Flour Power apart is its commitment to service, mirroring Knight's military background. The studio's annual "Lasagna-thon" produces dozens of meals donated to community members in need, while also teaching young people that cooking can be a form of giving back. As Amy prepares for summer camps, she remains focused on creating opportunities that blend culinary skills with community connection. 

(33:50) And later in the show, we ask our resident wine expert Catherine Montest if 'rosé all day' is still a thing. Plus Ryan Peters dishes up a Pasta alla Vodka that rivals any restaurant meal. This episode is a multi-course of culinary delight. 

Support the show

Liked the episode? We'd love a coffee!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Pittsburgh DishBy Doug Heilman

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

16 ratings


More shows like The Pittsburgh Dish

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,287 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,602 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,844 Listeners

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

3,065 Listeners

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio by Milk Street Radio

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

3,018 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,527 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,909 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,984 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,571 Listeners

Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

Fiction - Comedy Fiction

6,448 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,460 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

58,904 Listeners

With Bowl and Spoon by With Bowl and Spoon

With Bowl and Spoon

7 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,575 Listeners

The Headlines by The New York Times

The Headlines

670 Listeners