Food Farms & Chefs Radio Show

Our first guests formed a partnership that's brewing up some fun in Roxborough; Sweet Java Cafe's owner, Victor Young, and Sales Manager for Mermaid Spirits, Joe Berendsohn joined me to chat about the newly-opened cafe & cocktails spot. This is Victor's first time opening up a coffeehouse, and thanks to a mutual friend of theirs, a partnership was formed with Mermaid Spirits. And what was the result? A large space where the community can grab a cup of their favorite coffee on the way to work, or even work remotely inside of while also enjoying some of the scratch-made pastries. And when it's a little later in the day--be sure to try out one of the coffee-infused cocktails or other mixed drinks and enjoy the fun vibes of the space and neighborhood! https://order.toasttab.com/online/sweet-java-cafe

Keeping caffeinated is top priority for most individuals, so we spoke with co-owner Luisa Toro from Roosters Coffeehouse which is located in Ledgewood, NJ. Roosters Coffeehouse is also the first cafe business that Luisa and her family have opened, and they take pride in offering the highest-quality ingredients and experiences for everyone who visits. And it truly is a family business; Luisa's father learned the techniques on how to properly roast every bean from where it was sourced. The rest of the family have roles in the business as well, and take joy in offering menu items not commonly seen--but very much enjoyed--by all who visit. So, if you're looking for a pick-me-up along with an empanada or Pandebono (cheese bread) then Roosters Coffeehouse should be your next destination! https://www.roosterscoffeehouse.com

Lastly, we sat down with Fearless Restaurant Group's Director of Hotel and Restaurants in NJ, Pete Palladino. Pete joined me to discuss all the fun, new, and relaxing aspects regarding Daddy O's Hotel and Restaurant located in Brant Beach, NJ, along with Tucker's Tavern in Beach Haven, NJ. The vibes include decor reminiscent of the 50's and 60's era, with multiple bars including a rooftop bar at both Daddy O's and Tucker's Tavern, and plenty of freshly caught seafood and unique cocktails. Look for their popular Bends & Brunch program on the weekend, the newly renovated rooms to stay & play at the shore, along with two new beers that were brewed for them as a collab from ManaFirkin Brewing Co. There's always something new, exciting, and delicious at Daddy O and Tuckers Tavern--so be shore to check them out! https://www.fearlessrestaurants.com/restaurants

Annette Anthony began her career as a counsel with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and has since become an attorney, executive coach, accredited mediator, founder of a VC fund, a business coach, and now has collated recipes and tales from her travels around the globe. Food is a universal love language; it brings family, friends, and even strangers together at one table...or into one space. And being open to try new things was how Annette was raised, so finding herself traveling to different countries opened her palate to more flavor, experiences, and cuisines. Her journey from family recipes to meals from other cultures are now at your fingertips with her new book, Always Enough: A Global Food Memoir. You can find her, and a link to purchase her book on her website: https://annetteanthony.com.

My next guest, Chef Chad Durkin, is breezing in with a brand-new spot in South Philly called Breezy's Deli & Market. Chef Durkin has a remarkable pedigree within the culinary community, having worked for Le Bec-Fin, Susanna Foo, and at Philadelphia's Water Works (just to name a few). He's also traveled the globe, competing and working along the way, and has taken on numerous jobs and titles in order to really know all of the in's and out's of the industry. And today, he's bringing all of his expertise to the table at Porchetta and Pantry, as well as his brand-new neighborhood deli, smoothie, and grocery store concept! If you're interested in finding out more about Chef Durkin and the newly opened Breezy's, be sure to tune in to Food Farms and Chefs to find out, or visit them at https://www.breezysdeli.com!

Rey Reynosa and David Heredia are two of the partners behind Mamajuana Cafe in Philadelphia which offers a vibrant atmosphere and menus to choose from! As a growing brand, Mamajuana is bringing their latin-based fusions to Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, offering foods from Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Caribbean, and so much more! But the fun doesn't end at what you'll eat--they also offer live music, a private events area, and one of Philadelphia's hottest new spots to be found at! If you want to know more, stay tuned till the end--and also find out where their next location is opening up and be sure to stay in touch by visiting them in-person, or on their website at https://mamajuana-cafe.com.

Brett Naylor and Nicole Barrick are seasoned veterans in the culinary world, and together they opened Wilder in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia.  Their fresh takes on their menus offer diners a delicious array of pizza, raw bar, pastas, cocktails and mocktails, and desserts.  With three floors to accommodate your dining needs, they offer a private event space, brunches, happy hour, and classes that you can take advantage of too!  Stay tuned to find out more about them, their venue and menu, and what's in store for the summer!

Noelle Blizzard made a name for herself and her business, New June Bakery, after she tried her hand at all the pandemic baking trends.  She soon found herself baking in the early mornings as well as late at night after she put in her regular hours as a mother and for work.  As time passed, Noelle began baking for friends and co-workers as a business, quickly gaining notoriety for her delicious and beautiful cakes, galettes, and cookies, and was (not surprisingly) featured in publications as well as on a morning show.  So, if you're a fan of desserts then be sure to stay tuned to find out how you can satiate that sweet tooth!

Our final guest needs no introduction, as a celebrity chef who has been a featured Chef on television shows, at events, and an author of "Beyond My Chef Coat," Culinary Director/Private Chef Kevin Des Chenes (Chef Kev D) joined me on Food Farms and Chefs to cover what he's accomplished, what he has in the works, and what we can look forward to in the very near future.  As the "Chef to the Stars," he has crafted private dinners for VIP's like John Legend, Little Big Town, and a variety of sports stars. Chef Kev D discussed everything from designing creative and intimate menus for your private event or dinner to globe-trotting as a featured Chef at events, along with his philanthropic endeavors to help support the community.  Tune in till the end to hear all about Chef Kev D and what you can look forward to from him next!

Amaris spoke with Dave Welsh, the owner behind Mile Bar and South Jersey Running Company. He joined us to introduce all of you to the newest addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors: The newly-opened multi-dining concept with a bar, Poppy Taco, Chicken Joint, and Local Standards under one roof called Reunion Hall in NJ!

Another fresh offering for the dining scene is from Chef Rob Miskell and his new concept, SauceBoy! Chef Miskell marries a family favorite--scratch-made pastas with sauces (eh-hem...or shall we say, gravy). You can find him online to order your next meal, or feel free to reach out to him if you're looking to have your next get together catered!

Lastly, we spoke with Nick Beam, one of the co-owners behind Phat Jawns. The name says it all...they combine Philly foodie favorites that are large and in charge, with some rather interesting and turn them into hunger-inducing creations--until you satisfy your hunger by taking a big bite!

We began with a round-table discussion with Executive Director of Community Design Collaborative (CDC) Tya Winn, Kiersten Hanna from KLYR Rum, and Kris Parsons of Kris Parsons PR regarding CDC's Leverage Event happening June 18th, 2024 at The Center for Design Philadelphia from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.  

The Leverage Award Reception themed “Our Home, Our Neighborhoods”, will highlight several schematic design projects led by the Community Design Collaborative from neighborhoods across Philadelphia.  And Kris Parsons proudly discussed the details on what guests can look forward to dining on during the event! local Chefs, Attendees can also sample the signature cocktail for the event: The Developer's Daiquiri from KLYR. KLYR's representative, Kiersten Hanna joined us to highlight their new rum which is redefining the industry with its new distilling process.  You can also look forward to meeting Cherri Gregg, WHYY Anchor and Afternoon Co-host for Studio 2 Podcast will Emcee the event. Also look for Philly Current (PC) Magazine, and your favorite host, Amaris Pollock from Food, Farm and Chefs Podcast! And for anyone interested in sponsorship and ticket opportunities, they are available at https://cdesignc.org/events/leverage-2024.

We continued our show by celebrating Mother's Day, and highlighting two amazing mother's who went to great lengths to focus on the health and well-being of their families and friends by starting businesses to offer nutrient-dense foods.
Hillary Stecher and her husband grew up in farming households, and both shared a passion to continue that tradition with their own growing family.  So, when their son refused to eat chicken because of its texture, Hillary and her husband decided to enter into chicken farming.  Today, they raise chickens on the family's original homestead along with vegetables, focusing on sustainability and organic practices, and offering farm-fresh proteins and produce inside The Farmer's Market...a shop on the farm that is located in Mt. Royal in NJ.  The new season opening day is on May 10th, just in time for the weekend!  So make plans for the whole family, as they have an engaging group of livestock for the kids to meet & feed treats to while you pick up some nutritious food to eat!  Be sure to keep an eye out on their socials for any exciting news that might pop up!  Visit https://farmersmarketnj.com for more information and hours of operation!

Being a mother can be exhausting, with all the energy burned from nursing to nurturing your newborn--you need to fuel your body accordingly.  Of course, your loved ones help out when they can but sometimes even the best intentions might not be what an on-the-go mother needs.  Victoria Lindchan experienced the need to feed herself nutrient-dense foods to help keep herself fueled after giving birth to her firstborn, and subsequently began creating nutrient-rich bone broths and stews for herself.  A practice that turned into a business.  Now, the mother of two offers her healthy broths, soups, and other well-balanced meals and snacks through her business, Earthside Provisions.  You can find her products either online or in-person at area Farmers Markets in Philadelphia's suburbs (Weaver's Way, Headhouse, Fairmount Park, Roxboro, etc.) stay up-to-date by following her on Instagram and FaceBook or by visiting her at https://earthsideprovisions.com.

To start, I spoke with the immensely impressive Rhys Powell, who transitioned from Wall Street to Founding Red Rabbit.  Red Rabbit is leading the way to provide meals which represents more culturally diverse cuisines so all students can enjoy a lunch that reflects what they would partake of at home. These meals and menus are curated by professional chefs who live and grew up within the same culture and heritage of the surrounding communities, and those meals are provided through Red Rabbit's lunch programs which are currently being offered within the Tri-State region, with plans to continue to expand. So, what does that mean to you?  Tune in to find out, and share with anyone you know who is a teacher, parent, or advocate for nutritional meals for children in schools.

Speaking of schools and food...my next guest, Zach Poznan, was formerly the math teacher at Conwell Middle School in Kensington.  The math teacher-turned-baker began his path to owning Brass Monkey Bread Co. during the pandemic, and after several mishaps and a fellow friend/sourdough enthusiast asked for help--Zach came to his friend's rescue while re-igniting his desire to try something new.  Armed with more knowledge on how to make sourdough (and their starters), Zach raised the bar to become a sourdough aficionado.  Today, Zach has since transitioned into working as the full-time owner and head baker for Brass Monkey Bread Co, and is excited to join us and share where we can carb-load when he vends at various locations throughout the year.

Lastly, we spoke with what I consider as one of the best comfort foods around.  TuckedIto (pronounced, Tuck-dee-too) is owned by brothers Brendan and James Pinder, and offers several meat-based taquitos and tacos.  We discussed their various options on what they offer, what their personal favorite tacos are, and the in's and out's of owning your own business.  Its a lot to take in, but trust the process...and trust me...they offer tempting descriptions from their menu, as well as an abundance of advice that you may not get from anyone else in the business.

We began with Robert Dumont, owner and Chef behind Farmstead Foods - a mobile catering concept which focuses on locally-sourced ingredients that caters to your preferences. What does that mean? He has a wealth of experience, having previously worked inside the kitchens of restaurants and prepared food markets along the eastern coast. His vast knowledge of various cuisines lends itself to his ability to create any number of menu options that you would want, however he does have some select fan-favorites, especially when he sets up at local breweries or events. If you want to know where he will be at--tune in to Food Farms and Chefs to find out!

Next, we spoke to an owner whose business is located in the heart of East Passyunk Ave in Philadelphia! Nano Wheedan owns Taco Heart off of the food-trendy portion of Passyunk Ave, bringing his love of breakfast tacos from Texas to Philadelphia. Wheedan was enlightened to the delicious breakfast treat several years ago while living in Texas, also learning that tortillas were the equivalent of bread in Texas. After advancing his position within a pizzeria company located in Austin, Wheedan moved back to his native Philly to help open Korshak Bagels, and eventually decided to share his love of Texas-based favorite foods by opening Taco Heart.

Our last guest hails from Northern New Jersey--a short trip for anyone living in Philadelphia or New York. Mohammad Fakhrzadeh aka "Moe Zadeh" has always owned a landscaping business, however, his friends and family have also made sure to let Moe know that his wife's cooking was equally as top-notch as his skill with his business. The result of which led him and his wife to pursue their dream of opening up a restaurant or bakery. So, in 2018 Moe opened Friends Cafe in New Brunswick. Soon thereafter the pandemic hit, so the cafe was put on hold but the dream was still alive! Today, Josephine and Mohammad offer a huge variety of foods to eat, along with sweet treats, and of course all varieties of caffeinated beverages!

Kevin Baxter has always enjoyed the taste of pickles, and noticed how popular pickles have been trending in more recent years.  So, he founded a festival that fans of the brined cucumbers could relish in: The Big Dill Pickle Festival!  Since its inception in 2019, The Big Dill has blossomed into the worlds largest pickle party, with visitors traveling from across the globe to attend.  Kevin joined us to give us the 4-1-1 about this year's festivities happening on June 15th at Xfinity Live in Philadelphia.  To hear all about the festival, along with where to buy tickets, tune in to Food Farms and Chefs!

Our next guest, Shayna Minuto, gained a strong knowledge of running an Italian-based cuisine while working in her father's restaurant.  After graduating college, Shayna found herself drawn further into the industry, and eventually opened her own concept, Hold My Knots, inside the Gansevoort Market in the Meatpacking District of NYC. After finding increasing success, they crossed the bridge into New Jersey, taking over ownership of her father's restaurant to establish a permanent location for Hold My Knots in Bergen County.  Now, Hold My Knots is looking to expand their brand's locations and available Food Trucks to spread the joy of their menu options for carboholics (including GF options) to more areas.
 
We love the combination of food, beverages, and fun! So, we brought Lee Leung (Regional General Manager of Fearless Restaurants) on to help celebrate their Spring menu options, the Kentucky Derby and other special events, and new openings under their restaurant group!  Lee also grew up inside her parent's restaurants, and was drawn back into the culinary world after graduating college.  Soon after graduating, she began working for restaurant groups with recognizable names.  Today, you can find her making all the events at Fearless Restaurant Group's Autograph Brasserie, Triple Crown in Radnor, and Rosalie a delicious and memorable experience!

We began the episode with Morgan and Deb Manchester who own CraveWell Cafe in Pennsylvania. The husband and wife partners began their path to a fast-casual healthy concept after Deb had a medical scare. The duo decided that they didn't want Deb going back to work for someone else, and they wanted to focus on healthy food options--something they found was lacking when they were out and looking for a quick bite to eat. Now, they've just celebrated their 5-year anniversary of owning CraveWell Cafe and are excited to share their healthy smoothies, sandwiches, cold-pressed juices, and more with all of you!

Liam Kelly is no stranger to hard work, and even began helping out a family member's business at the age of 8. Later on in life, he found himself drawn into the culinary world when Ireland competed in the 2010 world cup and was hooked. So, in the late 90's he made the decision to move to the states and was offered a job inside a Manhattan bar. Soon after, he became a managing partner of the place and helped to open Tir-Na-Nog, a well-known Irish Pub & Restaurant chain. After that, he took a break and worked in Australia on boats...but eventually was drawn back to the states with a desire to open his own place in Philadelphia. Today, Liam is the Managing Partner of Con Murphy's Irish Pub in Philadelphia, Con Murphy's Ocean Bar & Grill in Florida, and he is a buyer for Aylesworth's Fish and Bait, Inc.

There's some sweet rewards when you stay tuned for our last guest, Gize Negussie, who owns and operates Negus Winery which is located in Alexandria, VA. Why is this such a sweet reward? Gize is the first Ethiopian Honey Wine maker in the US, with strong familial bonds. The recipe for his signature blend was the one he was raised on. According to Gize, Tej (the honey wine, which is similar to mead) is always on the table when there's an occasion to celebrate. The signature wine also happens to be his mother's recipe but modernized to meet the needs of US regulations, and stamped with his mother's approval. Gize also offers other varieties of wine inside his tasting room, as well as specific varieties available to ship nationwide, so if you want to sip on something originally created for royalty--check out Negus Winery online or in-person!

Cake Life Bake Shop has always been a popular spot in Philadelphia, as a result of Owner and Pastry Chef Nima Etemadi using the highest-quality ingredients with a zeal for the arts. His journey to becoming a Pastry Chef and owner of Cake Life Bake Shop had its ups and downs, as he transitioned from working in the culinary industry to working in the arts. It wasn't too long before Nima realized his true passion was founded in the culinary world. Since then, he has gained world-wide attention after designing and baking cakes for well-known celebrities, and we are happily sharing his journey with all of you, along with baked goods that are Queen Bey approved.

Speaking of celebrities, our next guest has been seen on television, in mass media, and numerous publications. Chef Jen Carroll has achieved a lot in her career, and continues to do so with her self-named brand Carroll Couture Cuisine. Carroll's love of cooking began at an early age, and continued throughout her entire life. Even while pursuing a pre-law degree in college, she still found herself drawn to cooking, so she changed course and graduated with her culinary degree as a Chef. Today, Chef Carroll offers a wide variety of opportunities through her business, along with helping other women in the industry as one of the Co-Founders of Sisterly Love Collective. If you want to learn more about what Chef Carroll offers, and to hear a big announcement--stay tuned till the end to find out!

Our final guest, Chef Christiana Ruiz who owns Manny Vibez, is passionate about serving you some of the best 'Brotherly Love' that you'll find around. Growing up, Chef Ruiz and her brother dreamed of one day owning a restaurant. A passion that Chef Ruiz shared with her grandmother who also inspired Chef Ruiz's love of cooking as she was growing up. After graduating high school, Ruiz joined the military. When she left the military, Ruiz pursued her dream, earning a culinary degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. After working for various catering companies and inside Jose Garces' Buena Onda, she learned how to manage and run her own restaurant. So when the opportunity to own a space in her neighborhood, she took the faithful leap and named the restaurant in honor of her brother. To hear more about Chef Ruiz and Manny Vibez, stay tuned till the end of this week's show!