FoodCrush

Filipino food is having a moment, with awareness and appreciation of the cuisine growing across the nation. And that’s good news for businesses like Meat on the Street, a food truck that’s been serving a broad range of Filipino dishes since 2014.

This week we are talking to Meat on the Street owner Alexa Alfaro about the evolution of the business, the challenges it has faced and the vision for the future, including a pending rebrand that brings its Filipino roots to the fore. Along the way, she offers insights into her experience as an Asian American, her desire to educate customers about Filipino culture and the need for all of us to come together, listen, and use our curiosity to create understanding. 

Most people love the idea of buying local. But seeking out local products and getting to the farmers market can be challenging.

This week we are chatting with Patrick Darrough of Milwaukee Farmers United and Milwaukee Microgreens about how they took the notions of collaboration and support and used them to create a convenient online farmers market and home delivery service that benefits farmers, makers and customers.

During our chat, Darrough shares the origin story of MFU as well as the circumstances under which the business has evolved and grown. He talks about how the pandemic impacted the online delivery business, as well as the positive impact they’ve had on local farms and small food businesses. We also chat about the differences between MFU and national delivery services that claim to carry local products.

When Angie Wierzbinski and Amy Plennes purchased The National Cafe from Nell Benton in 2019, the two long-time friends had no idea that, within their first year of business ownership they’d confront not only the usual challenges of entrepreneurism, but also the uncertainty of a global pandemic.

During this week’s podcast, we chat with the two owners about their decision to take over the longtime neighborhood cafe, the magic that makes their partnership work and the grit they employed to make sure the business survived the first stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, they paint the picture of two friends who’ve made full use of their complementary talents to survive one of the most challenging times in restaurant history.

It’s been over four years since Tamela Green and Anne Marie Arroyo embarked on the career-changing journey which would result in two now-beloved eateries: MOXIE and Trouble & Sons Pizzeria. 

During this week’s podcast, we chat with Green and Arroyo about making lemonade from lemons, as they used their 2015 lay-off from Harley-Davidson as an opportunity to bring their long-time dream of owning a business to fruition. We chat about both the challenges and rewards they encountered along the way, including adapting to the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic and finding creative ways to continue to serve their customers. Along the way, we get to know two women whose fearless determination, spunk and tenacity assisted them in creating a new life for themselves and their family while benefiting the local community.

For over a decade, Katie Rose has been making folks smile from behind the bar (or DJ booth) in Milwaukee. And since 2014, she’s been at the helm of the stellar cocktail program at Goodkind, a neighborhood gem in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As an owner of Goodkind, Rose has also been at the forefront of decision-making for the restaurant, which – like so many other restaurants – has found itself torn between their desire to offer guests the hospitality for which they’ve become known and the desire to keep guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this week’s podcast, we chat with Rose about her journey to the service industry, the commitment to community that has defined her career and the hope she has for a better, more sustainable future.

What’s it like to be a bartender during a time when gathering together in bars is a dangerous proposition? How do you feed your creative spirit? 

Those are just some of the questions we sought to answer when we talked with Matt Tunnell, bar manager at Hotel Madrid, an industry veteran who got his start at Great Lakes Distillery and The Palm Tavern (RIP Palm) before branching out to work with the creative crew at Stand Eat Drink Hospitality.  

During our conversation, we learn more about Tunnell and his career. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to work in the trenches as the bar industry made pivots to attract business, remain relevant and keep customers safe.

Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge has long been a training ground for great bartenders, all of whom get a taste of the industry as they work their way through the bar’s extensive catalog of cocktails and ice cream drinks. 

Among those bartenders is Jeff Kinder, a Kansas City native whose work at Bryant’s led him to a position as bar manager for The Jazz Estate and lead bartender for a longterm cocktail pop-up at Zocalo Food Park during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this week’s podcast, we chat with Kinder about life behind the bar, what it’s been like to adjust service for the pandemic and how inventive pop-ups have proven to be a good solution for serving customers while keeping them safe. Along the way, we learn more about Kinder himself, his career as a bartender and the drinks that inspire him.

For most chefs, opening their first restaurant is both a dream come true and a labor of love. Such was the case for Molly Sullivan, who opened Miss Molly’s Cafe & Pastry shop in 2017.

On this week’s podcast, we chat with her about bringing her dream cafe to life, the work she’s put into keeping it going – even during the COVID-19 pandemic – and the community that’s supported her and her staff through some of the darkest months. She also shares insights into how the pandemic has changed the way she operates (and views) her business, both temporarily and for the long term. 

Relationships matter. Just ask Emerald Mills, founder of Diverse Dining. For nearly three years, she’s been bringing individuals from diverse backgrounds together to share a meal and engage in meaningful conversations about race, gender, segregation and any number of related topics. Her goal? Create connections and relationships that people can leverage, not only to increase understanding, but to incite change.

On this week’s podcast, we’re talking with Mills about the importance of the programming she creates, how vulnerability plays a role in building relationships, and how those relationships can function to improve the world around us. Along the way, Mills shares her experience pivoting from in-person to virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic, offers insights into her new book, “Rejection Uprooted,” and explains how vulnerability helps to set individuals up for success.

What’s it like to be the home of Alton Brown-approved crullers? Just ask Joey Carioti of Cranky’s, a doughnut shop that’s been serving up delicious housemade doughnuts (with a side of community) for over 20 years.

This week, we’re talking to Carioti, who has taken on the role of second generation operator of the business about life in the doughnut shop world. During our chat, he shares the tale of Cranky’s origins, the ups and downs of running the family business and the creative ways they’ve worked to keep the business afloat during a global pandemic. Along the way, we also challenge him with burning questions like “Is Cranky Al really Cranky?”