On this episode of Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie sits down with chef Austin Vetter, founder of Fresh Chef Meal Prep and the newly opened Fresh Chef Cafe in West Allis. Austin discusses his weekly rotating menu, gluten-free options, and popular dishes like chicken marsala, loaded potato chili bowls, and cacio e pepe.

Austin explains how Fresh Chef works—no subscription, order weekly through an e-commerce platform, and delivery within a 75-mile radius—and shares how the business scaled from a few dozen meals a month to roughly 10,000 meals at peak. He also talks about the cafe’s weekday hours, retail pesto made with 100 Acre basil, and the team behind the operation.

Charlie and Austin touch on his personal journey from early kitchen jobs to working with local chefs and building Fresh Chef while balancing a busy family life. The episode highlights Austin’s focus on quality, consistency, and bringing restaurant-style meals to busy Milwaukee households.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/FdwaOQPxZLU 

This Podcast is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. “Munching Around Milwaukee” is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On the Munching Around Milwaukee podcast, host Charlie sits down with Britt Buckley of family-owned Buckley’s in downtown Milwaukee. They discuss the restaurant’s journey from a tiny kitchen to a larger dining space, the family-run operation, and the menu of American classics with global influences.

You can watch the full video here - https://youtu.be/y0JoXfYBOEw 

The episode highlights seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, Britt’s approach to menu changes and pasta, her mother and sister’s desserts, and how Milwaukee’s collaborative restaurant scene helped Buckley’s grow into a neighborhood favorite.

This Podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network. Munching Around Milwaukee is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie cooks up Disney-shaped pancakes with Ian Abston, co-founder of Light the Hoan, Forward 48, and NEWaukee. They discuss Ian's journey from Elkhart Lake to Milwaukee, the creation of community events like Light the Hoan, and his work connecting young leaders across Wisconsin.

The episode blends local storytelling with a family-friendly cooking segment featuring bacon, fresh fruit, and kid-approved Mickey Mouse pancakes. Ian’s 5-year-old son, Bo, joins the fun and has Mickey Mouse pancakes too.

You can see the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/9Mkq-vFMZLs 

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Munching Around Milwaukee host Charlie chats with John Ludwig, co-owner of Riley’s, about launching Riley Sandwich Company, Riley Social House, and Riley Bar + Burger across Milwaukee. They discuss opening during the pandemic, the decision to build a dog-friendly concept, and how the couple built a loyal community.

The episode highlights Riley’s signature dishes — the Raleigh double Wagyu smash, a spicy black bean option, and the Cali-style steak burrito with fries — as well as their commitment to fresh ingredients, collaboration with local businesses, and plans for future growth.

You can watch the full video here - https://youtu.be/y0JoXfYBOEw 

This Podcast is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. “Munching Around Milwaukee” is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

Munching Around Milwaukee presents Saffron's Next Chapter. 

On the “Munching Around Milwaukee” podcast, Host Charlie sits down with Fatima and Hanish Kumar, co-owners of Saffron Modern Indian Dining, to sample their modern Indian dishes.

They discuss their annual menu reinventions and community work, and reveal plans for aya, a larger Middle Eastern/Mediterranean-inspired restaurant opening in The Ascent in Q1 2026. A base of signature dishes forms the foundation of the menu at Saffron, in addition to a rotating selection of appetizers and seasonal dishes.

The menu reflects a commitment to both local sourcing and high-quality, locally butchered proteins. Thanks to a kitchen filled with chefs from various regions in India, the menu will also represent a variety of flavor profiles, including some not currently found in Milwaukee.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/vpMbwWt7AZQ

Saffron website - https://saffronmke.com/

This Podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network. Munching Around Milwaukee is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

Host Charlie sits down with Maria Van Hoorn, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, to discuss her rural Wisconsin upbringing, public service career, and efforts to promote tourism, culinary stories, and partnerships with local and tribal communities across the state.

The episode features a cooking segment where Charlie and Maria make clam linguine, share family and travel stories, and explore how food and events help drive economic development and community connections in Wisconsin.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/wai1nhg809s 

The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/11/10/clam-linguine-or-linguine-alle-vongole/ 

"Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders" is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Host Charlie sits down with Tony Snell-Rodriguez, Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion for Visit Milwaukee and chair of Milwaukee's Equal Rights Commission.

Tony shares his journey from the Navy towns of his childhood to advocacy, hospitality, and a new life in Milwaukee. He discusses his community work, promoting the city through conventions and sports, and the importance of authentic storytelling.

In the culinary part of the episode, Tony also replicates his mother's Spanish tortilla de patatas, explains regional food traditions, and highlights Visit Milwaukee's new cookbook that celebrates local chefs and recipes.

You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/-_ZzX0H_UeE 

The recipe is available on our website at - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/11/06/tortilla-de-patatas-spanish-tapas/ 

"Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders" is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Join a lively tour of the Milwaukee Public Market with host Charlie and Market Executive Director Paul Schwartz, showcasing the market’s vendors, food highlights, and community role. Discover popular vendors like St. Paul Fish Co., Fultz Family Market, Aladdin Middle Eastern Food, Freese’s Candy Shoppe, and unique spots such as the Wurst Bar and St Paul's Tiki Bar. 

Learn how the Milwaukee Public Market earned national recognition as the best Public Market in the US for the last two years. They host events and cooking classes, and help activate the Third Ward with outdoor spaces, concerts, and community programming while serving both locals and visitors.

Paul brings a wide selection of foods from the market vendors to share with Charlie and the audience.

The Milwaukee Public Market - https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/ 

You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/ZFv8Lz001aM 

This Podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network. Munching Around Milwaukee is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

Live from Studio D, Charlie interviews Joe Poeschl, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition. They talk about his Milwaukee roots, dual degrees at Marquette and MIAD, and his work co-founding the Commons and growing the regional tech ecosystem.

They discuss the Coalition’s role in Wisconsin Tech Month, innovation districts, and building inclusive tech-powered economic growth across southeast Wisconsin. The episode highlights community partnerships and strategies to attract and retain talent.

The show closes with a hands-on cookie-decorating segment where Joe shares a family sugar cookie recipe, demonstrates royal icing and decorating tips, and invites the audience to participate and taste the results. Frivolity ensues.

Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition - https://www.mketech.org/

You can find the recipe here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/10/26/best-holiday-sugar-cookies-and-royal-icing/ 

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/ivF2QpWG1tw 

"Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders" is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Charlie meets Jen Hentz, Executive Director of the Urban Ecology Center, at the new Washington Park facility to tour the community garden, forage for fresh produce, and prepare BLTs in the community kitchen.

The episode highlights youth canoeing on the lagoon, summer free meals, volunteer-driven gardening, and the Center’s mission to connect Milwaukee residents to nature, education, and community.

You can watch the interview here -  https://youtu.be/G52JrU40gyw 

The recipe is available on our website at -  

This Podcast is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders. We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.