Food Farms & Chefs Radio Show

National cheesesteak day lands on March 24th, and we're celebrating the Philadelphia foodie favorite with Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Company's owner, Nish Patel.  Nish, who acquired ownership of Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Co pre-pandemic, completely renovated the space and its menu.  After bringing Chef Gregorio Fierro on as his confer, Chef Fierro implemented changes to the dough that inevitably enhanced the flavor & profiles of their menu.  Included in some of the changes made were artisanal options as well as sourcing their ingredients from the freshest and highest-quality purveyors, which garnered the tastiest Pizzas, Cheesesteaks, and coming-soon: Calazones, around!

We then spoke with one of Bilal's Bakery & Deli co-owners, Chef Jamela Bilal.  This is not the first time one of the Bilal family members opened an eatery, nor their first business. Chef Bilal, whose parents also own and run a cleaning business in the Philadelphia region, has deep roots within the culinary community. Jamela's roots are within the Halal community, of which she owns and operates Halal To Go.  In addition to running her business, Chef Bilal also works with her family to run Bilal's Bakery located in Jenkintown, PA. A year-plus since they held their Grand Opening, the multi-generational family-owned Bilal's Bakery joined us on Food Farms and Chefs to discuss their baked goods; pre-packaged foods; and the impact that they have on their community as well as information on Ramadan and the schedule they'll keep during the month-long period of reflection, prayer, fasting. 

This week's episode of Food, Farms, & Chefs is perfectly timed, since it also falls on International Whiskey Day (March 27th)!  As such, we spoke with New Liberty Distillery's Director of Visitor's Experience, Jacob Looney.  Together, we unraveled the lengthy history behind New Liberty Distillery and their Owners, and even included their close-knit bond with Ireland. Collectively, Robert Cassell and Steven Grasse own several Distilleries in the US, and collaborate with a company called The Connacht Distillery in Ireland.  The duo operates under their parent company, named Milestone spirits Group, offering a wide variety of whiskeys; bourbons; liqueurs and aperitifs.  So if you fancy a flight of whiskey, set up a tour at New Liberty Distillery with Jacob, and afterwards feel free to taste their award-winning libations for yourselves. 

Everyone's Irish! 

Slainte to all of you, and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day we have three Pubs to bring you all the green beer, Irish-friendly menus, and fun on Food Farms & Chefs!

We first hear from friend a of the show, McGillin's Olde Ale House and their amazing General Manager, Gabrielle Rubery.  As one of the oldest pubs in the country, this local favorite has some fame of its own. McGillin's, which is the oldest pub in Philadelphia, has been in Owner Chris Mullins' family since 1958. It's so famous, that people travel from across the globe to dine and drink at McGillin's. On St. Patrick's Day the green beer is kept flowing, and don't be surprised if you find your future love when you visit.  On top of all the festivities that happen throughout the year, McGillin's seems to offer good luck to people's love life...and has seen many couples pop the question in their pub.

Speaking of festivities, we spoke with Dooney's Pub's Director of Operations, Ariane Bonnes to chat about how Jim and Mary Dooney started their restaurant & pub, as well as the menu, events, and how the couple gives back to their community. As for their menu, Dooney's offers seasonal cocktails, so look for their Spring drinks menu (out now), and since they are deeply rooted in all things Irish, look for some traditional items, like Bangers & Mash, Shepards Pie, and Guinness Beef Stew year-round.

Lastly, we spoke with the Co-Owner of Cresson Inn, Tracy Harding and how he and his childhood friend re-established The Cresson Inn as a neighborhood pub in Manayunk.  Originally founded during the prohibition era, the location started as an Inn before being turned into a shoe store with a booming speakeasy in the basement.  Over the years the business changed hands (and purposes) within co-owners Sanders and Hardy's families before Tracy & his wife took over ownership.  Now, Harding & Sanders are preparing to celebrate their One-Year Anniversary (on St. Patrick's Day), and joined us to let you know all the details!

Savor the flavors of this week's guests on Food Farms & Chefs Radio Show, because they're cooking up some hot commodities in their kitchens.  From a self-taught Barbecuer, to a fast-casual burger joint, and some dessert to follow--these dynamic individuals are creating treats for all of us to eat!

We began our episode with Terrell Barkley, who started his BBQ business after he unintentionally became the neighborhood grill master.  He found his passion, and skill, to barbecuing while he was recovering from an injury.  When he started to cook, the neighbors sniffed out the delicious offerings, and soon he found himself feeding all the children and their parents.  As fate would have it, he met someone who wanted out of their business, and soon it became Barkley's BBQ.   His popularity grew with every tasty bite, and soon he expanded to meet the requests of his fans, committing to a food truck in addition to his brick and mortar location.

We next wanted you to MEAT the self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur of Cherry Hill, or his newest endeavor that is.  Mathew Daniel, who is a young, talented, and very driven individual is no stranger to owning his own business; he has formerly owned a Frutta Bowl franchise, as well as Cloud Lounge.  Now, Daniel is the owner of BurgerFi in Cherry Hill, NJ, and he had his General Manager, Nicole Jackson, join us on Food, Farms, & Chefs.  After discussing a little history of her own journey in the hospitality industry, we dug in...to BurgerFi and what distinguishes their brand from all the others.  

Lastly, we spoke with Vanessa Jackson, owner and founder of Philly Cheesecake Lady.  After spending an astounding 34-years without tasting this decadent dessert, Jackson took her first bite of cheesecake during an office holiday party.  To her delight, she fell in love with the rich and creamy treat, committing to a weekly outing to Macaroni Grill for some more. It didn't take too long before she started making them at home, and eventually created cheesecakes that the whole family relished in.  Seeing an opportunity, and not wasting it, she eventually opened a brick and mortar location, and has seen continued growth ever since.  Now, Philly Cheesecake Lady is a family affair with both of her daughters co-owning and operating the booming business alongside her.  

If you would like to know more of the delicious details, tune in at 6pm on WWDB 860 AM & WPEN HD2 97.5 in the Philadelphia listening area on Tuesdays, or 1pm on Fridays in the Hudson Valley, NY, CT, and North Jersey regions on WMLD 103.7 FM, or you can stream our show at anytime by asking your smart device to play FOOD FARMS AND CHEFS RADIO SHOW!
 

During our first segment, we spoke with Chef Tonii Hicks, who is currently participating in Garces Group's Chef in Residency program inside Volver.  Chef Hicks is utilizing her Chef in Residency to raise funds to purchase a large building in West Philadelphia.  Tonii's ultimate goal is to open a multi-level work space, with each level dedicated towards an independent purpose.  In creating this multi-level workspace, she envisions a place where businesses; startups; restaurateurs and artists can collaborate together on projects. Through Garces Group's Chef in Residency Program, which highlights rising stars and offers Chefs a platform to raise monies towards whatever initiative they choose, patrons can dine on a menu curated by Chef Hicks along with offering additional tips and/or donations towards her cause.
 

Our impactful episode continued with Muhammad Abdul-Hadi.  Abdul-Hadi's story begins with his entrepreneurial spirit; as a youth he grew up learning the in's and out's of owning businesses from his older sibling.  Soon after graduating high school, he turned that passion into a budding career.  Years later, after an unfortunate run-in with the judicial system, Muhammad turned his remarkable skills towards restaurant ownership with a mission, and Down North Pizza was formed.  Since its inception, Abdul-Hadi staffs Down North Pizza exclusively with individuals who are entering the work-force after being incarcerated, offering them fair wages, culinary skills, and most importantly--job security where other businesses fail to do the same. However, the best part is saved for last, because the pizza's on their menu are so delicious that they have received attention from numerous publications and mainstream media outlets.

Lastly, we spoke with Christa Barfield, a highly motivated self-starter who is using her self-taught Agricultural skills to continue growing her CSA business: Farmer Jawn. Since she initially began Farmer Jawn, which offers fresh produce to food insecure families and communities located in food deserts, Barfield has continued to grow in all meanings of the word.  After recently acquiring an impressive 123 acres of land, Barfield is now able to offer families on her "wait list" to sign up for her CSA program. 

I'm not sure about you, but with everything that happened around the globe, this is an episode that will uplift your spirits, tempt your taste buds, and hopefully inspire you or someone you know!  Stay tuned this and every Tuesday at 6pm on WWDB 860 AM & WPEN HD2 FM in the Philadelphia listening area, and in the Hudson Valley region on Fridays at 1pm on WMLD 103.7 FM!

We began with restaurateurs, Justin Weathers and Joseph Monnich, who own several dining establishments in Pennsylvania.  They are known for bringing an elevated style to foods that you love. They're joining us to discuss their newest restaurant, Joey Chops.  Joey Chops, which will hold its Grand Opening in the coming week, offers a luxurious dining experience with a cocktail menu tailored to impress.  Located in Malvern, PA, Joey Chops will put a modern twist on the classic American steakhouse--a perfect choice for your next night out.  

Of course, if you're planning a Galentine's or romantic dinner, it's important to choose the perfect beverage to pair with your meal. To help you with your choice, we had a wonderful conversation with Sunshine Foss, owner of Happy Cork located in Brooklyn, New York.  In addition to offering bottles from well-known labels, Sunshine selects, sells, and offers brands that reflect her surrounding community. As a Black and Woman-owned entrepreneur, Sunshine recognized how impactful this was to her neighborhood and customers, and began to curate her selection of wines and spirits from minority-owned vintners and distillers. What is even better, Foss offers tastings for the products she carries; and if you are curious--some of these tastings are co-hosted with the brand's owners as well.  Now that is a great pairing!

Speaking of pairing, Aarti Khosla will entice your sweet tooth with her richly decadent confections.  Aarti, who owns Le Rouge Chocolates in Westport, Ct, creates her heavenly treats by hand.  Originally born and raised in India, Aarti worked and traveled the world before following her passion to become a chocolatier. Once she did, the unique flavors and designs tempted everyone's palates, and Khosla's business went from selling at farmer's markets to owning a brick and mortar store.  In fact, her chocolates are so remarkable that she's won numerous "Best Of" awards from Connecticut-based magazines.  So if you're craving richly decadent chocolates, make sure to stay tuned for the full hour of Food, Farms, & Chefs! 

Guests:

Joe Brown, Brennan Foxman, & Bill Beck

Synopsis:

We begin our show with Joe Brown, Executive Chef and Culinary & Food Bank Director for Harvest Cafe & Abundant Harvest Catering at Bethany Baptist Church.  Chef Brown brought his unique fusion of Cajun & Italian cuisine to the culinary community when he burst onto the restaurant scene with his first location for Melange. Brown grew his name & brand when major media took notice of the culinary community, and found himself within that notable group.  Some of the numerous appearances he made include TV shows like Discovery, National Geographic, & Food Network, as well as in publications like Ebony, Black Enterprise, & Health Quest. Unfortunately he had to close the doors to his restaurants in 2010, but his love of creating delicious meals for people still beat strong. As such, Chef Brown now leads the kitchen as well as inspires future generations inside Harvest Cafe.  In addition to that, he just published his second book, Melange: The Story, the Recipes, the Faith which you can tune in to hear from Brown as he dishes out all the details on this week's show!

Next, we spiced up our show some more with WokWorks Owner, Brennan Foxman.  Foxman Founded WokWorks in 2013 as a brick and mortar store, and has since expanded into various neighborhoods throughout the Philadelphia area.  His most recent expansion, which he established in Philadelphia's Fishtown area, is the 10th WokWorks location and is his flagship store.  WokWorks offers a plethora of vegan, gluten-free, and meat-based dishes, all of which immerse your palate into their menu of richly complex foods, searing in the nutrients with a wok.  Brennan details these delicious techniques, and how he was inspired to open WokWorks with us on Food, Farms, & Chefs!

Lastly, we took a stroll to the best Cajun-based restaurant that's not in N'awlin's!  That's right, we spoke with Owner/Founder Chef Bill Beck of Beck's Cajun Cafe which is located inside of the Reading Terminal Market! Beck's has been a favorite stop for Philadelphia neighbors and visitors to the area since they opened.  In fact, Beck's richly flavored Gumbo's, Jambalaya, and desserts are so beloved that if you ask where to get the best Cajun in Philly, there's only one name that locals answer: Beck's Cajun Cafe! Chef Beck joined us to chat about his menu and how this popular foodie spot has expanded, and now offers more seating and two kitchens.  Just make sure you stay tuned until the end because our co-host Gene Blum and Beck recommend (and describe) their favorites from Beck's Cajun Cafe tantalizing menu!

We begin with our home-base in Philadelphia, with a Philly favorite: Scoop DeVille. We spoke with Spencer Phillips, who is the current owner and operator behind the thirty year-old ice cream spot. Spencer discussed how he came to know Scoop DeVille, and years later became the owner 10 years ago. Initially Phillips stuck to all the original processes. However, Phillips now creates his own flavors, ice creams, and hot chocolate floats which are sought after treats all year long! Stay tuned for more about Scoop DeVille and all that you can look forward to for your next favorite frozen treat!

Tasting fabulous foods and beverages is always on our radar, so we spoke with the Creative Director, Joe Calerone, of New York's famous Serendipity 3. You may recognize the name, as this is a sweet spot for many celebrities, notable foodies, and from their notoriety on the small and big screen. Fame is not the only reason this New York City-based spot gained attention, they're also recognized for holding 9 different Guinness Book of World Records under the "Most Expensive" categories. However what we, and several celebrities are after is their Frozen Hot Chocolate Ice Cream and actual hot chocolate options. Need to hear more? Keep your stereo on, earbuds in, or smart devices playing--there were a lot of opulent items to cover.

Speaking of opulence, Max Brenner International's Director of Marketing, Yosi Coba, joined us all the way from Israel! Yosi began his career as a youth, working as a server in one of the first Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar locations in Israel. Coba later returned to the company after studying Marketing in school and now holds his current position--which we are emphatically jealous of! Chocolate is enjoyed by the masses, however the intricacy of creating chocolate confections that induce an emotional and tasting experience is on another level; that level is where Max Brenner's comes into play. The company is not just a chocolatier, it has become a full dining experience--incorporating palate pleasing culinary delights with everything they offer. Of course, this includes their signature foods, desserts, and beverages to enjoy no matter where you are in the world.

There's a lot to celebrate on this week's Food, Farms, & Chefs Radio Show, as we spoke with Tamas Szene who is the Director of Operations for Fearless Restaurants.  Szene joined us to celebrate White Dog Cafe's 40th Anniversary, and this iconic restaurant that helped bring the farm-to-table movement to the culinary industry.  Fearless Restaurants has even more to celebrate, as they announce their newest location on our show!  So stay tuned to learn more about this trend-setting establishment, and where they are opening next!

To continue with our celebrations, we asked Melissa Fernando to join our family of foodies.  Melissa is no stranger to bringing flavor to every dish, as she grew up learning the piquant flavors behind a variety of cuisines.  Born in Sri Lanka, and growing up in Chennai, India Melissa eventually moved to Philadelphia, PA.  This dynamic self-taught chef made a name for herself when she established Sri's Company and began offering delicious food at pop-ups {markets} around Philly.  She quickly learned that the City of Brotherly Love, loved her back; as word of mouth spread, so did the popularity of her cuisine.  So stay tuned to find out just how many flavors we can celebrate with her now, and hopefully in the future too!

Lastly, we're bringing back the enigmatic, energetic, and always knows how to entice our taste buds--Chef Joe Poon. He joined us in-studio to help celebrate Chinese New Year, and brought a feast along with him.  We celebrated the New Year by delving into a dozen types of dumplings, hand-made candy (inside the studio), and other good luck treats.  Joseph certainly knows how to celebrate in-style, and does so with a zeal while offering an insightful look at the traditions and symbolism of all the dishes presented to us.  

We highly enjoyed our guests this week, and you will too.  So stay tuned until the end as we travel across the globe without leaving our seats!