This episode of That Ate holds a little more weight.

Host Justin Burke sits down with comedian, writer, and author Gus Constantellis to talk about his cookbook-meets-memoir, My Greek Mom’s Recipes: She Died. I Wrote This Cookbook.

What started as a project with his mother became something else entirely — a way to process grief, honor her life, and keep her presence alive through food. The book moves between humor and loss, recipes and memory, capturing what it means to lose someone and still feel them in the dishes you make.

For many, Gus’s mom was already a familiar presence — “The Greek Mom” — a beloved character through his comedy that resonated with people across cultures and backgrounds.

In this conversation, they discuss Gus’s path from stand-up to writing, what it was like to write this book in real time after his mother’s passing, and how storytelling, food, and queerness intersect in moments of loss, family, and identity.

More than anything, this episode is about connection and the ways we keep people close.

If you’ve ever cooked to remember someone, or are navigating loss in your own way, this conversation offers both honesty and comfort.

The foundation of That Ate is community; supporting the people doing the work, sharing resources, and keeping the queer food community connected.

Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s):

• Gus Constantellis - connect on Instagram or visit him at www.constantlygus.com
• My Greek Mom’s Recipes: She Died. I Wrote This Cookbook - If you haven’t yet, get your copy here

Queer Food Stars Gus wants you to know:

• Edy Massih
  • Edy’s Grocer
• Kate Sisk

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That Ate:

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