Edacious

Real food isn't processed food. It isn't created in a lab with flavor chemicals. It doesn't contain preservatives. It's tasty, healthful, and doesn't require a culinary degree to prepare. And yes, it can contain fat and sugar. Kath Younger, a registered dietician, is one of the earliest and most well-known healthy lifestyle bloggers. Since 2007 she has chronicled her daily meals at KathEats.com and for many years, blogged each meal three times a day.

The discipline required for such a feat is astounding to me and I couldn't wait to talk to her about it, and about how she was able to take a hobby and turn it into a profitable online business. What are her challenges and triumphs? When you've been blogging for eight years, and your life changes, how does it affect content? And how do you evolve your content without alienating your readers? Is there a secret junk food she doesn't include in the blog? And why does she put "junk food" in quotes?

We cover all of that, moving on to small changes you can make to improve your health, and why she believes an "addition" philosophy is better than one of "subtraction". We gush over our shared love for butterscotch, and spend a ton of time grieving the loss of Eppie's Santa Fe Salad. We also talk about how we deal with the sometimes vitriolic nature of the Internet, and how advice from Pëma Chödron might help.

What began as a conversation on eating healthy, ended up a therapy session for me on how to exercise more often! There may or may not have been a beer tasting. I wax poetic about Overnight Oats, and how it changed the way I start my day. And I say "insane" a lot. How many times? A prize for someone who can tell me ;) Enjoy! As always, I appreciate your constructive comments and suggestions.

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser Engraving.

SHOW NOTES - Links to items discussed within the episode:

The Squiggly Line Effect - Kath Younger's Approach to Weight Maintenance

Pocket Yoga - I use this app to design/build my own yoga routine, great app!

Amy Tan's Quote Regarding Unkind Internet Comments

To quote NoBull Burger spokesperson Elizabeth Raymond, "Most veggie burgers taste like the cardboard box they came in." Not NoBull. These are not punched-out soybean patties people. You can see the lentils, beans, barley, and vegetables depending on the kind you choose - NoBull has four including a gluten-free option. Throw them on the grill. It's an organic meal in under 15 minutes. Only 3 points on Weight Watchers but tastes like 20. Coming soon, a NoBull crumble for tacos or spaghetti sauce or to throw into eggs. I can't wait!

Crissanne Raymond developed the concept of the NoBull Burger 35 years ago while growing up in The Virgin Islands, because 1) you couldn't really eat the meat there, unless you loved mutton, and 2) the hippie movement and Bob Marley's One Love philosophy made vegetarianism a popular concept.

In five years they've gone from selling at farmer's markets to appearing in restaurants, grocery stores, and university and hospital cafeterias nationwide. All the while their advertising has been mostly word of mouth. Is having a family business all hearts and butterflies? Is Charlottesville finally ready for a dedicated vegetarian restaurant? Listen to find out, and to discover how NoBull is working to change that food behemoth Sysco one veggie burger at a time.

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

Remember how our grandmothers created different flavors of cake simply by mixing up whatever was in the pantry? Apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg would become an Apple Dapple Cake. Add black walnuts and it's Nutty Apple Dapple. After talking with Laurie Blakey of Pearl's Bake Shoppe in Charlottesville (and Richmond), I'm convinced this needs to become a thing. The next dessert trend. Welcome to Episode 12!

Laurie's love of cake comes from her grandmother, Pearl, who had a farm in Greene County. Laurie herself is from Albemarle, and first opened a Pearl's in Richmond with partner Laura Condrey before tackling another shop here on West Main Street. Her commitment to quality and her concept of "Pearl's Perfect" stems from her grandmother's passion for baking and attention to detail. And it's not just cupcakes. Pearl's creates scrumptious pies, tarts, macarons, cakepops, you name it! The "Yam Ham" biscuits (country ham and sweet potato) are not to be missed, and Pearl's wedding cakes have won awards. Virginia Living named Pearl's cupcakes the best in the state. Laurie firmly believes if you cannot do a perfect vanilla cupcake, you might as well not do any others, and after tasting it, I wholeheartedly agree.

Pearl's is also dedicated to making sure customers with dietary needs enjoy her cupcakes by spending countless hours researching ingredients for her gluten-free and vegan options. One of the first awards earned was "Most Accommodating to People With Dietary Needs" and this award remains the most precious to Laurie. Her gluten-free and vegan options go beyond just meeting the requirements, but taste sinfully close to something loaded with butter and flour.

We spent so much time talking about our grandmothers, sharing stories, and pouring over old cookbooks some of which are pictured below. Laurie is an awesome storyteller in her own right, and her tale about her 7th birthday is one not to be missed. I hope you'll join us!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

What if you could eat farm to table on the go? On the level of Chipotle or Panera? Except it's local, not a chain, and all the ingredients come from within 100 miles of Charlottesville? Meet Danielle and Ken Notari owners of Nude Fude on Hydraulic Road. Along with CIA-trained chef Jarrod Brown, who worked with Chef Dan Barber of Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Lemaire in Richmond, this family restaurant hopes to change the dynamic of F2T - bringing it down from fine dining into something more realistic. Their goal is to get you in and out within 5 minutes. If you're in a hurry? They have a great To-Go section. As well as beer, wine, and a great patio! These guys have done their research and it shows in the food and in the passion for their mission. I LOVED being able to interview such nice folks at the very beginning of their journey. Go eat In the Nude! You'll love it. Get the boiled peanuts - they're the real deal. How did a quote from Anthony Bourdain inspire Ken during his planning? Listen to find out and also learn about how they're going to lure, and work with the high school across the street.

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

Welcome to Episode 10. I'm talking with Gerry Newman of Albemarle Baking Company, and I'm not sure who got more out of this conversation, him or me! I'm an amateur bread baker from way back, no-knead method, but of late my anxiety over fallen dough has kept me from this worthwhile past time. Gerry gave me tips on overcoming this, in addition to regaling me with stories of his apprenticeship, his passion for baking, and his love of Limpa. What is Limpa? You'll have to listen to find out. Gerry has been at the helm of ABC for almost 20 years, and there's good reason why you can find his baguettes on almost every restaurant table in town. He's a fantastic storyteller, a sweet man, and a Charlottesville treasure. Hope you'll listen. This one is great folks!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

In Episode 9 of Edacious, we meet Hunter Smith of Champion Brewery. Hunter is a brewmaster extraordinaire dedicated to experimenting and creating new flavors of beer and providing a comfortable space with which to enjoy them. He collaborates often with local chefs and his favorite musicians to bring you the most inventive, tasty brews around. I found his passion infectious. Champion Brewery is a meeting place with huge amounts of space inside and out to hang out, talk, and of course, sip your favorites including his Missile IPA, Megalodon, Maibock, Stickin' in my Rye IPA, and my personal favorite the Black Me Stout. For years, I've wished for a Downtown Mall meeting place slash beer garden. Champion delivers. In this interview we talk about all the great food trucks that converge here (a different one every night!) and of course the best pairings. How is starting a brewery like buying a house? Where did he take food writer Josh Ozersky for a burger when he was in town (before his untimely passing last month). Can I ever learn to like sour beer? What is the pig for Hunter's yearly Champion barbecue raised on? This and other important questions answered in Episode 9! I found Hunter to be engaging, thoughtful and you can hear his enthusiasm and fervor for his craft. I hope you enjoy it. Cheers!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

In this episode, meet a woman with a degree in Biology (with a concentration in Molecular Genomics!) who bought a gelato store. Splendora's Gelato ain't ice cream. Nor is it frozen yogurt. No dump and mix here. No ice cream dasher which adds air. Gelato is a fantabulously rich, thick, decadent frozen concoction from Italy which makes all the rest look like amateurs.

An awesome conversation touching on subjects like the concept of FOMO as it relates to gelato. What's FOMO? Look it up. I had to LOL! We also discussed savory gelatos, how owner P.K. Ross creates her unique flavors, what challenges are faced by women-owned businesses today, and beer. Learn the story of the day she signed the papers for Splendora's. It's a great one. Is a good palate something you're born with? Or can it be developed? What's her most popular flavor? What region of Italy is on her bucket list to travel to someday? Are there some ingredients that just don't work in gelato because of its cold nature? Who gave her the idea for her popular goat cheese, honey, and fig gelato? Her most surprisingly popular flavor? Listen now to find out!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

Food Writer C. Simon Davidson's passion for food began young, ordering an extra appetizer at dinner when the rest of the family was ordering dessert. His website, The Charlottesville 29, is a hall of fame of sorts for restaurants in our area. Named after the road slicing through our community, it names the top 29 restaurants in our area - an impossible task given the circumstances, and one Simon is happy to tackle. In this discussion we talk about the challenges and rewards of being a food writer in Charlottesville, and the changes and growing pains the food writing industry is encountering because of the explosion of interest in recent years.

An engaging discussion for anyone who loves restaurants! What do famous restaurant reviewers like Tom Sietsema do to ensure chefs don't recognize them? How does Simon's "Five Finds on Friday" column promote community and conversations around food in Charlottesville? How did a lawyer find a passion for food and turn it into a rewarding side career as a food writer? What's the reasoning behind Simon's belief that "...a rising tide lifts all boats?" Is a favorite restaurant in town about to close? And may have closed by the time this airs? Listen now to find out!

A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway eats his way through Paris. A food writing classic.

Chicken of the Trees by Mike Sula - Award-winning piece about why eating the urban squirrel makes perfect sense.

Consider the Food Writer by Josh Ozersky - Was MFK Fischer a hack? Does food writing need to undergo a major shift? You decide.

Food for the Thoughtless - one of my favorite food writers, Michael Procopio

How Food Journalism Got as Stale as Day-Old Bread - Chef Marc Vetri of Philadelphia's Vetri, Osteria, and numerous other restaurants laments the state of food writing.

On Food Writing - A Response to Marc Vetri by C. Simon Davidson - Charlottesville food writer and star of Episode 7 responds, wondering if the state of food writing is as bad as all that. Great read!

Plated Stories - Jamie Schler and Ilva Beretta create gorgeous words and photographs that revolve around a single theme.

Remembrance of Things Lost - Is recording every minute of our lives on a device affecting the way we remember things? Walter Kirn thinks so. Thought-provoking and timely.

The Soul of a Chef - The one that started it all for me. I read this book and thought, "I could do that." Michael Ruhlman presents three stories, about Chef Thomas Keller, Chef Michael Symon, and his own journey through cooking school. A fascinating look behind the scenes. Ruhlman is the most talented food writer working today.

The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss - Why Cheetos rock. Hard.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Rachel Khong - The life and times of Chef Jeremy Fox. Published in Lucky Peach, my personal favorite food publication.

Up at the Old Hotel - If there's one writer in this world I dream of being, it's Joseph Mitchell. His collection of essays from his 50+ years at The New Yorker is stunning. And his food pieces bring to life a time long past. They never fail to amaze me. Read them.

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

Are restaurants under more pressure than ever to deliver not only quality food, great service, wonderful ambiance, beautiful plates, but to also cater to every known (and some suspicious-sounding) allergy known to man? Was it always like this? Is this a new phenomenon? Used to be chefs were in the driver's seat, but increasingly the guest steps in the door with immediate demands. How do restaurants handle it without losing sight of their original vision? Join us for Episode 6 where I talk to Harrison & Jennifer Keevil (and baby) of Brookville Restaurant. She works front of house, and he's the chef behind Brookville's famous burger, chicken & waffles, and my personal favorite, The Hangover Cure. Chef Keevil's commitment to local sourcing requires him to purchase his ingredients on almost a daily basis. He cooks the way our Mommas did. From what's fresh and what's available. Join us to find out why, and to learn how the Keevil's are discovering the best recipe is to be the truest version of yourself. And to learn why sour Jelly Belly's and boxed mashed potatoes RULE!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.

Welcome back! In this episode we meet Michele Jones, Co-Owner and Front of House Manager for PastureQ in Charlottesville and Pasture in Richmond, Virginia. Ran a bit long, but we had tons to say. Talked about the importance of customer service and why your chef and front of house wants you to have a good time. It's easy to have a bad time people! Your restaurant staff want you to have the opposite and Michele is here to tell you why. What makes a good host? What makes a good guest? What's the secret ingredient to hiring a great server? Why does good service make a terrible meal better and a good meal great? Why is it better to "do" rather than "stew"? There are lots of strong opinions, but also venture into topics like Molly Ringwald, Clay Aiken, Michele's wonderful charity, A Case for Hope, her work with Books on Bikes, Lemon Zingers, and why Pasture is the Garanimals of tapas. Give a listen!

This episode is sponsored by In A Flash Laser.