Breaking Bread with Benn Grim

Dan Flans and Brian Niederhauser are the gentlemen behind The Sunday Morning Hangover Podcast. I sit down with these two and we discuss podcasting, the format and premise of their show, funny awkward sex stories followed by a hilarious game thought up by Dan and Brian. The Sunday Morning Hangover Podcast is available through iTunes and smhpodcast.libsyn.com. Intro/Outro music is an instrumental demonstration by Chef Ed Jones.

Aaron Butkus is is the founding father of the influential Connecticut Hardcore band Death Threat and is also a skilled pizza maker working in restaurants such as Roberta's in Brooklyn New York and Little City Pizza in Avon Connecticut. Aaron and I have been friends for close to 20 years and he has been a huge influence on my musical taste and lifestyle from a young age. Aaron and I reminisce back to the days of yorn when we didn't have to much to worry about, our lives as young pot smoking, acid dropping hardcore show goers and working at the Baja Cafe under the legendary Joey Tata. Intro/Outro track was provided my the Career Crooks with their new single "Crook with a Deal."

Andrea Cortez of Tainted LLC, Mallory Mason of the YUP Network and Mike Marques of Arbor Light Studios are three key players in Hartford's thriving and vibrant art scene. I sit down with these three individuals to talk about the pros and cons of the term "Art District", the future of Hartford's beautiful Parkville section and the dangers of gentrification in our fair city. This podcast opens the much needed dialogue to answer the question of, "What do we call Hartford's art community, on a whole, while being inclusive of all!" Intro/Outro music is an instrumental that I never used titled "Shin Kicker" created by my old friend and NASA Nautical researcher, Adam Gates.

Dimitrios Zaharidis and Chris Parrot are the two men behind the two cocktail bars, Highland Brass Company of Waterbury and Little River Restoratives of Hartford. I sit down with these two local cocktail heros and we chop it up good. We discuss all things cocktails, their influences in the industry, what it takes to stay on top of your cocktail game, the overall bar life and our mutual favorite Greek, John Tsipouras. We had an excellent discussion about the industry so if you would like to see what it's all about and you haven't been yet, I suggest you check out these establishments, even if you don't drink, because they will make you something tasty like they do for me.

The Resistance is a crew comprised of four young Central Connecticut area Chefs. Xavier Santiago of Trattoria Toscana, Manchester CT, Sean Butler of Francesca's Wine Bar and Bistro, Collinsville CT, Mike Touranjoe of Max Tavern, Springfield MA, and Carlos Perez of 4 Eat and Drink, Farmington CT. These gentlemen walk me through their beginnings as chefs and what they aim to accomplish in the years to come. The Resistance are hosting a dinner on May 29th at Trattoria Toscana in Manchester. The Flower Moon, date hailed as the start of the growing season and rebirth of the crops, sets the inspiration for the evening. Seating is limited and this event will sell out. For tickets call Trattoria Toscana at 860-783-5888. Intro/Outro track is a Instrumental by Sammy Marion titled Sloppy Toppy.

Roy Riedl is a successful chef, restaurant owner and food truck proprietor. Ray and his lovely wife Heather run el Pollo Guapo and the Mercado food truck. el Pollo Guapo is known for their fresh and new take on rotisserie chicken and Mercado is defined as "Span-ish" tapas. Ray and I discuss what it takes to be an effective boss and team member. Roy and I get into his culinary roots and map out his ascent from line cook to small business owner with one of the tastiest products out there. Intro/Outro track is an instrumental provided by Sammy Marion.

The 2018 Best of Hartford Magazine winners seemed a bit off when I perused the list this year. The deeper I got, the dumber it sounded, (like McDonald's winning best french fries) and I had a couple friends that contacted me and felt the same. On this episode of the podcast I partner up with 3 awesome and influential personalities that pretty much dominate the field in their prospective markets. Sarah McCoy from Story and Soil Coffee, Ben Dubow of Bistro on Main and Heather Riedl of the Mercado food truck and el Pollo Guapo restaurant. Together we dismantled the list, gave kudos to those that deserved, shouted out the forgotten, and had a hearty laugh at the insanely undeserving. Intro/Outro music is a track by Career Crooks titled "Good Luck With That."

Alaska is a Rapper from Brooklyn New York and Elsphinx is a Rapper from Albany. Both of these gentlemen are from the Pig Food Records camp based out of Albany. Alaska has a new album out with our other friend PJ Katz titled "He's the PJ I'm Alaska." We sat down and discussed all things Rap music and prepared ourselves for Alaska's record release party that was to take place that evening. We had many a laugh at the expense of other rappers. Intro/Outro music is a track called "Work" of of Alaska's new album.

Old Self is a rapper and teacher from Southern Connecticut. Old Self and I try to pinpoint the day we met, we discuss the secret rap FaceBook group that we make jokes in, we talk about music as professionals and being accountable for the youth and we also discuss the threshold of being politically correct in todays ever changing music scene. Old Self has an awesome video out on youtube titled "Word Art" and you can buy his album that drops today here!

Today I joined forces with three of my favorite women from the Connecticut food scene. Kristin Eddy is an accomplished pastry chef that works her culinary magic for such establishments as Millwright's, Cook and the Bear and Porron and Pina. Winter Caplanson is the mastermind, photographer and writer behind Connecticut Food and Farm Magazine. Carrie Carella is the Connecticut Cupcake Queen and founder/owner of Middletown's NoRA Cupcake Company. I sit down with these awesome women to discuss something we do not have in common... and that is being a successful woman! Each one of these women has a firm grip on their profession and I get a glimpse into what it takes to be a respected, professional, business minded woman in todays cutthroat and ever changing food service/restaurant biz. Intro/Outro music is a track titled "12/12/12" and it is a secret song you can only hear if you purchased the "Dry Aged" tape that was released Feb 24th. If you want one send me a smoke signal and wire transfer.