Chef Maria Mazon was a waitress at a Mexican-American restaurant outside Tucson when she found herself in the kitchen giving the cooks ideas for what to make. Today, she is the celebrated owner of Boca restaurant and Sona bodega in Tucson, Arizona, and has appeared on "Chopped" and Season 18 of "Top Chef." Tacos, salsas, and the cuisine of Sonora, Mexico, where she was raised, are Chef Maria’s passions. “I’m here to represent my Mexico,” she explained. “I would not change my story for the world.” 

Chef Maria joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her career, the confidence that helped her excel in the kitchen, the appliance tattooed on her thigh (want to guess?), the Tucson culinary scene, and more. Catch this episode and learn how Chef Maria puts her heart and soul into everything she does, from her food to her businesses to her life. 

Thank you to Graduate Hotels for supporting this episode. If you’d like to hear from Chef Maria in person, join us at the Graduate Hotel Tuscon event happening Thursday, Feb. 23rd. Tickets here. There will be a panel discussion with Maria and other local food personalities plus snacks & sips.

Want to come to Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee on April 15th in NYC? Get your ticket here.

This episode of Radio Cherry Bombe was recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here.

More on Maria: Instagram, Boca Restaurant, Sona Tortillas, Borderlands Brewing Co.

Chef Maria Mazon Of Tucson’s Boca And Sona On Representing Her Mexico

Radio Cherry Bombe features interviews with the most interesting people in the world of food. Each week, host Kerry Diamond, founder and editor of the indie magazine Cherry Bombe, talks to the chefs, bakers, creatives, and entrepreneurs making it happen. Follow @cherrybombe on Instagram for show news and more, and visit cherrybombe.com/radio-cherry-bombe for transcripts and past episodes. Thank you to Tralala for our theme song, "All Fired Up." 

Produced by The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

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Today’s guest is Nadia Caterina Munno, the glamorous Dolce & Gabbana-wearing gourmet known to millions of fans as The Pasta Queen. She’s built a following for her fashion-forward, high-energy recipe videos in which she shares the secrets to one classic Italian dish after another.

In this episode, host Kerry Diamond speaks with Nadia about the “blasphemous lasagna” recipe on TikTok that inspired her to share her own videos, her love for Marcella Hazan, the grandmother who inspired her entrepreneurial journey, and why she’s a fan of Martha Stewart. 

They also talk about Nadia’s new line of pasta sauces, her recipes and tips for pastina, gnocchi, and pasta al sugo, and her advice for c-suite executives (Nadia was in marketing and PR before becoming The Pasta Queen). 

Thank you to Johnnie Walker and Walmart for supporting our show.

Join the Jubilee 2024 waitlist here.

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Content Operations Manager Londyn Crenshaw
Recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Nadia: Instagram, Pasta Queen sauces, website 
More on Kerry: Instagram

The Pasta Queen, Nadia Caterina Munno, Holds Court

Today’s guest is Chef Karla Hoyos, a long-time volunteer for World Central Kitchen and the founder of Tacotomia in Miami. The interview took place several weeks before the tragedy in Gaza in which seven of Karla’s World Central Kitchen colleagues were killed (if you’d like to contribute to the World Central Kitchen GoFundMe for the families of those killed, visit here).

Karla herself was in the region last year with the organization. Over the past several years, she has worked as part of World Central Kitchen’s disaster response teams in Bangladesh, Poland, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Spain, and beyond. 

At the same time, Karla was working to fulfill her dream of opening a spot in Miami that would pay homage to her Mexican upbringing. Last year, she opened Tacotomia in the Julia & Henry’s food hall and has used the opportunity to hire women and immigrants in need of work. Experience is great, she says, but not entirely necessary. Karla has three questions she asks her job candidates: “Are you a good person? Do you want to learn? Can I trust you?”

Stay tuned to learn about Karla’s roots in Mexico, how she became involved with World Central Kitchen, and what Tacotomia is all about.

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Content Operations Manager Londyn Crenshaw

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Karla: Instagram, World Central Kitchen, Tacotomia
More on Kerry: Instagram

Chef Karla Hoyos Of World Central Kitchen And Miami’s Tacotomia

We’re in a Jubilee state of mind here at Cherry Bombe HQ! Jubilee 2024 is taking place on Saturday, April 20th, in NYC (join the wait list here), so we’re bringing you a taste of last year’s talent: the lively panel with the food all-stars from the Magnolia Network. 

Radio Cherry Bombe host Kerry Diamond moderated a discussion with Casey Corn of “Recipe Lost & Found,” Zoë François of “Zoë Bakes,” Jamila Norman of “Homegrown,” Elizabeth Poett of “Ranch To Table,” and Samantha Seneviratne of “Everyday Cooking.” Tune in and learn more about these inspiring women and their shows. 

Thank you to Johnnie Walker and Walmart for supporting our show.

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Content Operations Manager Londyn Crenshaw
Recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Casey: Instagram, website
More on Zoë: Instagram, website
More on Jamila: Instagram, website
More on Elizabeth: Instagram, website 
More on Samantha: Instagram, website 
More on Kerry: Instagram

Magnolia Network Food Stars! Zoë Bakes, Casey Corn, Jamila Norman, Elizabeth Poett & Sam Seneviratne From Jubilee 2023

Italians take snacking seriously. In the first part of today’s show, we’re talking about “spuntini”—Italian snacks—with chef and recipe developer Anna Francese Gass, author of the new cookbook, “Italian Snacking: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Hour of the Day.” Learn why the book is like a trip to Italy in book form, Anna’s Italian vacation tips, and why Italian street food is not eaten on the street. 

Next, we’re flashing back to Jubilee 2023 with an inspiring talk from Maya-Camille Broussard of the Chicago bakery Justice of the Pies and the Netflix series “Bake Squad.” 

Thank you to Johnnie Walker and to Walmart for supporting our Women’s History Month spotlight. 

Click here to learn more about Cherry Bombe’s annual Jubilee conference, taking place Saturday, April 20th, in Manhattan. 

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw
Recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Anna: Instagram, Italian Snacking book, website
More on Maya-Camille: Instagram, Justice of the Pies
More on Kerry: Instagram

Italian Snacking With Anna Francese Gass, And Justice Of The Pie’s Maya-Camille Broussard From Jubilee 2023

We have a special episode for you today featuring two all-star guests. First up is Von Diaz, an Emmy Award-winning radio producer, documentarian, and food historian. Her new narrative cookbook, “Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking,” is a robust and joyous record of the flavors, techniques, and stories that make up the culinary culture of the islands spanning the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. Von joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the process of writing her new book, stand-out recipes to make, and more. 

Later in the show, Chef Kristen Kish, the new host of “Top Chef,” chats with Kerry about the beloved competition show. Season 21 kicked off last week, and Kristen, who was the winner of “Top Chef” Season 10, talks about the perspective she brings to the gig and what it’s like telling chefs to “pack their knives and go.” 

Thank you to OpenTable, Johnnie Walker, and to Walmart for supporting our Women’s History Month spotlight. 

Click here to learn more about Cherry Bombe’s annual Jubilee conference, taking place Saturday, April 20th, in Manhattan. 

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Elizabeth Vogt
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw
Recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Von: Instagram, Islas cookbook, website
More on Kristen: Instagram, Arlo Grey restaurant, Top Chef
More on Kerry: Instagram

Chef Maria Mazon Of Tucson’s Boca And Sona On Representing Her Mexico

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