FoodCrush

"If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him...the people who give you their food give you their heart." – Cesar Chavez

If you need a bit of joy in your life (we all do), join us on this week’s podcast during which we talk with Victoria Sithy, co-owner of Sweet Basil, a bold new Lao restaurant which opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. During our chat, Sithy shares the story of how her family entered the restaurant business, the thinking that went into their menu of street food inspired Lao cuisine and the spirit that has kept them going during these challenging times.

Even if you’ve never enjoyed FoodCrush before, give this a listen. You’re sure to come away from this episode with a smile on your face, joy in your heart and a hankering for some delicious Lao street food from Sweet Basil.

It’s a well known fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has been brutal for bars and restaurants. In fact, that ugly reality is becoming more and more clear as restaurants across the nation struggle to remain open. It’s a quandary that leaves food lovers asking, time and time again: What can be done?

Today we’re talking with L. Maxwell McKissick, founder of Serve 60, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism across the U.S. During our chat, McKissick talks about his organization, his journey as a Black entrepreneur and how his organization is stepping up during COVID-19 to assist independent restaurants, particularly those owned by people of color. Along the way, we discuss the reasons why Black-owned restaurants have been among the hardest hit, the challenges they face and the very real ways that diners can educate themselves and step up to support them.

Seafood is delicious. But much of what makes it to the Midwest isn't as fresh as we think it is. 

Combine that with the fact that the industrial fishing industry has a history of leaving destruction in its wake. Environmental considerations sit side-by-side with the need for fair, safe working conditions for fishermen and traceability for the seafood itself. All of these things create a conundrum for food lovers who’d like to eat delicious food while also supporting a fair, just food system.
This week on FoodCrush, we’re chatting with Nic Mink, Wisconsin native and co-founder of Sitka Salmon Shares, a company which delivers Alaskan seafood straight to Midwestern doorsteps through its community supported fishery program (CSF). It’s an operation which has not only made fresh, ocean-caught seafood available to non-coastal residents, but which has dedicated itself not only to supporting the livelihoods of small boat fishermen, but also to responsible harvesting and traceability. 

During the episode, Mink shares the origin story of Sitka Salmon Shares, some of the secrets behind its ultra-fresh sustainable seafood and how their model of operations helps small fishermen make a good living. Along the way, we discuss the journey seafood takes to the Midwest, the reasons why most seafood flown cross-country is less-than fresh and why equality and social justice matter – not only in the fishing industry – but in our world at large.

Opening a restaurant presents myriad challenges under ordinary circumstances. Owners need to spend time and energy attracting diners to their venue, educating them about the food being served and building a core audience that will sustain their business financially for years to come. Even experienced operators know that it takes time to fall into a groove with service, maintain consistency and find ways of keeping customers coming back time and time again.

Those challenges become even more intense when combined with the uncertainty of a global pandemic. Such was the case for the owners of Triciclo Peru, a Peruvian restaurant which opened just four months before COVID-19 resulted in the mandated shutdown of businesses across the nation.

On this week’s podcast, we chat with Amy Narr, co-owner of Triciclo Peru about the journey that she and her husband, Mario Diaz Herrera, took to open their very first restaurant and the ways they’ve learned and adapted in the toughest business climate restaurants have ever seen.

During our chat, Narr shares insights about the inspiration for the restaurant, describes their unique dishes in mouthwatering detail and offers diners insights into the ways they’ve taken traditional Peruvian flavors and ingredients and adapted them to create their own unique dishes.

Along the way, she relays the inspiring story behind how the restaurant has struggled to survive and attract new customers during these unprecedented times.

Passion is the heart of nearly every conversation we entertain on the FoodCrush podcast. But few guests come to the proverbial table with a more passionate stance than Chef Luke Zahm, co-owner of Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, Wisconsin and host of “Wisconsin Foodie.”

From his upbringing in a small town in Vernon County, Wisconsin to the series of events that inspired him to open Driftless Cafe, Zahm shares not only his story but his fervor for the agricultural roots that make the State of Wisconsin an epicenter for food-based industry. Along the way, he shares stories of his development as a local food champion, the inspiration he gleaned from hometown heroes like Butch Vig, producer of the diamond-selling Nirvana album “Nevermind” and his reluctant path to hosting the Emmy Award winning television show. 

If that weren’t enough, you’ll hear Zahm share both his hopes and optimism for the Dairy State on its journey to recovering from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Everyone seems to love a little bubbly. And that’s likely one of the reasons why the hard seltzer market has taken off in recent years, with industry experts estimating that the beverage segment will will continue to gain momentum, increasing from $500 million in annual sales to $2.5 billion by 2021.

Among the brands making headway in the marketplace is Press, a premium alcoholic seltzer founded by Amy Walberg. The brand, based in Milwaukee, is one of just a few independent woman-owned hard seltzer companies on the market today. And it’s made a name for itself with not only a dedication to high quality ingredients, but also inventive flavors including pear chamomile, blackberry hibiscus and blood orange chili. 

On this week’s podcast, we chat with Walberg about her journey to entrepreneurism and the challenges of breaking into the beverage market. She shares her experience launching the brand from her kitchen, the thinking that went into her branding strategy and what sets Press apart from the crowd. Along the way, we are treated to the inspiring success story of a single mom whose passion for flavor resulted in the launch of a seltzer brand now available in all 48 contiguous states. 

 Natural wine is definitely having a moment. But what is it? How is it different from “regular” wine? And why is it swiftly becoming one of the most sought-after categories in the beverage market? 

On this week’s podcast, we’re going deep with Allison and Bradley Kruse, owners of Nonfiction Natural Wines, about exactly that. We delve into the world of natural wines, a tradition of wine-making that’s been around for centuries, but which saw a resurgence in France during the 1990s. We discuss the processes that make natural wine, the qualities that distinguish it and the reasons why it’s so popular among a new generation of wine drinkers. Along the way, we attempt to dispel some of the myths surrounding the natural wine trend, hone in on some of the reasons to get excited about it, and offer listeners tips and tricks on purchasing, storing and enjoying some of the most interesting wines on the market.

Be sure to stay tuned for the Spirited Second, a special Bar Month feature with Brandon Reyes of Bittercube Bar & Bazaar. This week, we’re sampling a rare riff on Chicago’s favorite shot, Malort, and talking about the role of wormwood in spirits.

Great bars are spots where you can sit back, relax and unwind after a long day. They’re innately social: a place to gather with friends, celebrate milestones and raise a glass to the future. The best of the best are also pushing boundaries with tasty, innovative cocktails. 

On this week’s podcast, we’re chatting with Daniel Beres and Tripper Duval of Lost Whale in Bay View, Wisconsin, a spot which exemplifies the creative, yet casual vibe that characterizes the modern cocktail scene. During our conversation, they share the mythical story behind Lost Whale, the adventures of bar ownership and their perspectives on the changing face of the craft cocktail world. Along the way, we discuss the craft of cocktails, the art of mocktails and a variety of related topics that will not only make you smile, but give you insights into the personalities behind two friends who’ve found their niche behind one of the best bars in the city.

Be sure to stay tuned for the Spirited Second, a special Bar Month feature with Brandon Reyes of Bittercube Bar & Bazaar. This week, we’re sampling and chatting about the wonders of vermouth.

Smokey. Tender. Mouthwatering. Great barbeque is all of those things. And Chef Jason Alston is serving up the goods at Heaven’s Table BBQ in the Crossroads Collective. But what are the secrets behind the smoked meats that bring customers back time and time again?

We chat with Alston about his journey to making some of the best barbeque in the city. Along the way, he shares his thoughts on what makes great barbeque, the family history that inspired his love for smoked meats and a few of his secrets for creating succulent ribs, brisket, sausages and sides.

 Everybody loves pizza. But Milwaukee has never seen the likes of what will be coming out of the kitchen at Flourchild, the newest endeavor from the folks at Merriment Social and Third Coast Provisions.
 
On this week’s podcast, Chef Andrew Miller shares the details on his passion-fueled journey to create the original recipe for the pizza at Flourchild. From the painstaking details of their slow-fermented crust made with freshly milled flour to the inspiration behind the restaurant’s focus on flavorful vegetable-forward toppings, Miller paints a delicious, insightful picture of what’s to come at the city’s newest pizza spot.