Hey, listeners! Somewhere in my notes app is a list of people I’d like to interview for the podcast, and today I get to cross off one of those names–Youngmi Mayer. I’ve wanted to talk to Youngmi ever since I read her memoir, “I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying,” which I picked up after seeing her perform a stand-up routine at the Bell House in Brooklyn earlier this year as part of an abortion rights fundraiser hosted by Padma Lakshmi. Youngmi’s set was heavy on audience participation and she somehow got three white guys to join her onstage for a bit about DEI. (Yes, Youngmi somehow made DEI funny.) I left thinking she was as subversive as she was brilliant. 

Fast forward to the book. This was a story about family, generational trauma, racial identity, and one very complicated restaurant business. (Youngmi was a key player in the history of Mission Chinese Food.) The book title starts to make sense early on. 

Youngmi joins me to talk about all of this. We also chat about the Slutty Cheff, “The Bear,” her one-woman show at Joe’s Pub, and lots more. Thanks in advance for listening to the show and obviously, pick up Youngmi’s book. Let me know what you think. 

–Host Kerry Diamond

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More on Kerry: Instagram

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Hi, listeners! Host Kerry Diamond here. Welcome to the show notes, and thank you for listening. If no one has told you lately, you clearly have great taste in podcasts. Today’s guest is Substack queen, bestselling author & boy mom Caroline Chambers recorded live at Jubilee NYC, Cherry Bombe’s annual conference. (Curious about Jubilee? Join us at the upcoming Jubilee in L.A.)

My favorite thing about Caroline? She doesn’t gatekeep. I’ve interviewed her a few times now, and she is always happy to spill all the details regarding her Substack and how she wound up with the NUMBER ONE SUBSTACK IN FOOD AND DRINK. Amazing. Here’s the leaderboard if you need proof. (For Caroline’s Substack success step-by-step, check out our pod from last year.) She also talks about being rejected by all the cookbook editors when shopping the proposal for “What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking,” which, of course, went on to be a major hit. That must have felt nice when the book made The New York Times bestseller list. (Cue the “Pretty Woman” big mistake scene.) 

Few more things. Thanks to Michelladonna of “Shop Cats” (happy belated birthday, M!) and Alice Ma of Mad Realities for introducing Caroline at Jubilee. Big thanks to Square for supporting our show and taking care of so many small businesses. Check out what they’re up to at square.com/big. And go visit Este Restaurant if you’re in Austin. 

Lastly, congrats to Caroline and her hubby on their new baby–their fourth boy! So many boys. 

If you have a Substack, I want to know about it. Email us at [email protected] and put something funny in the subject line so we have no choice but to open your email. 

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Feminist icon Gloria Steinem was the keynote speaker at our Jubilee conference held in New York City this past April. An inspiration to millions of women around the world for her trailblazing work, writings, and protesting, Gloria was interviewed by her longtime collaborator Amy Richards. They discussed everything from the need for community to the current President to Gloria’s goal of living past 100. While Gloria is not a foodie, as Amy pointed out, she did contribute to the food world during her time supporting farmworker activist Cesar Chavez and through her work to end gender discrimination in prominent restaurants. Gloria and Amy were introduced by author and activist Padma Lakshmi and her daughter, Krishna Lakshmi-Dell. 

Thank you to Square for their support. Learn more at square.com/big

Tickets for Jubilee L.A.

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More on Gloria: Instagram, Gloria’s Foundation, “Dear Ms.” on HBO Max
More on Amy: Books
More on Padma: Instagram, website
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

In honor of The Bear Season 4 dropping in June, we’re re-airing our interview from 2023 with actor Liza Colón-Zayas. Liza plays Tina, the tough on the outside, soft on the inside cook, dealing with change and grief, and learning to find joy in the small moments. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her career, her perseverance, and what The Bear has meant to her. 

If you missed our previous best-of The Bear episodes with Jeremy Allen White and Courtney Storer, be sure to check them out. 

Thank you to Le Creuset and Square for their support. 

lecreuset.com/culinary
lecreuset.com/gourmand-collection
square.com/big

Tickets for Jubilee L.A. and the Summer Tastemaker Tour

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More on Liza: Instagram, The Bear
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

For today’s episode of Radio Cherry Bombe, we are airing an episode of She’s My Cherry Pie, The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network’s baking show. Host Jessie Sheehan is joined by Bobbie Lloyd, the CEO and Chief Baking Officer of the legendary Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Bobbie is also a cookbook author, and her latest book, “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook Vol. 2: Icebox Desserts,” was released earlier this year.  

Bobbie shares the origin story of the bakery and how it became a global dessert empire, including how the show “Sex and the City” turned it from a local cupcake shop to an international sensation. Bobbie also walks us through the recipe for Magnolia’s famous banana pudding—yes!—the recipe everyone can’t get enough of. 

Thank you to Le Creuset and Square for their support. 

lecreuset.com/culinary
lecreuset.com/gourmand-collection
square.com/big

Click here for the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe

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More on Bobbie: Instagram, Magnolia Bakery, ”The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is Adé Carrena, chef and founder of Dounou Cuisine culinary project and the iLéWA Foods spice blend company. A native of Bénin, Adé was adopted at the age of 10 and grew up with a Puerto Rican family in Connecticut. Today, she calls Raleigh, North Carolina, home, and she’s been on a journey of reclamation ever since, raising her daughter, pivoting from banking to culinary, launching her businesses, and reconnecting with her birth mother. In 2023, she was named North Carolina Chef of the Year. 

Adé joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her childhood, becoming a mother, and life in Raleigh. They also discuss her most recent project, a documentary titled “Bite of Bénin,” that details her story. 

Adé calls herself “a bridge, a dreamer, a healer, a chef, a storyteller, and a nurturer.” At the core, it’s all about heart, she says. 

Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. 

Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. 

More on Adé: Dounou Cuisine, iLéWA Foods, "Bite of Bénin" 
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

It’s the final episode of our special Power Miniseries, and our guest is Mashama Bailey, chef and co-owner of The Grey in Savannah and the soon-to-open L’Arrêt in Paris. Mashama is a chef we’ve come to know and love at Cherry Bombe, and she’s one of the cover stars of our new Power issue. She has been the subject of a “Chef's Table” documentary on Netflix, has her own MasterClass on Southern cooking, and co-authored a memoir titled “Black, White, and The Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant.”

Mashama joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about being a late bloomer in the chef world, the start of her mentorship era, her Paris plans, and why she would like to cook for Michelle Obama one day. 

Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot and coincides with the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine, out now. We spotlighted more than 100 women in the worlds of food, drink, and hospitality, including Mashama, who are using their power in interesting, inspiring, and innovative ways. Subscribe to our magazine here and check out the full list on cherrybombe.com. 

More on Mashama: Instagram, The Grey
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is Cheetie Kumar, self-taught chef, rock and roller, and restaurant industry champion. She and her husband Paul are the owners of Ajja, a restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, that celebrates the bold, beautiful flavors she loves. Ajja means “come over” in Hindi and Urdu, as Cheetie explains, and it’s the perfect word to describe their buzzy neighborhood spot. 

Cheetie is also vice president and a board member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which represents indie operators across the country. Cheetie and the IRC are fighting to keep restaurants around the country alive and thriving, a cause we can all get behind. Tune in to learn about her childhood in the Bronx, how life on the road with Cheetie’s band led to her becoming a chef, and what she means by the stupidity of ambition. 

Thank you to Vivienne Culinary Books for supporting our show.

Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. 

Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. 

More on Cheetie: Instagram, Ajja restaurant, Independent Restaurant Coalition
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

Our guest on the third episode of our special Power Miniseries is Victoria James—sommelier, author, advocate, and mother of two. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her memoir, “Wine Girl,” her fight against sexual harassment at the highest levels of the sommelier community, and her role as Executive Director of Beverage & Partnerships at Gracious Hospitality, which includes the COQODAQ and the COTE Korean Steakhouses.

Victoria and Kerry also discuss her Trailblazer Award, presented to her by Cherry Bombe and Veuve Clicquot at the recent Power Awards, her support of pregnant women and nursing moms working in restaurants, beverage, and hospitality, and the organization she co-founded to provide free industry education, Wine Empowered. 

Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot and coincides with the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine, out now. We spotlighted more than 100 women in the worlds of food, drink, and hospitality, including Victoria, who are using their power in interesting, inspiring, and innovative ways. Subscribe to our magazine here and check out the full list on cherrybombe.com. 

More on Victoria: Instagram, “Wine Girl” memoir, Wine Empowered, Julia Moskin NY Times story
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is chef, writer, and Emmy-nominated host Sophia Roe. The culinary creative has lots of pots on the stove, so to speak, including a YouTube channel, a new outpost of her Apartment Miso studio, and her biggest project to date: motherhood. 

Sophia and host Kerry Diamond talk about Sophia’s early years in culinary school, working as a private chef, meeting her fiancé Chris, thoughts on being a working mom, and the surprising phase she finds herself in. “I am happier than I probably have been in my life, and I definitely didn’t think that would happen,” she says. 

They also chat about the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine with Sophia on the cover. 

Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. 

Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. 

More on Sophia: Instagram, Apartment Miso, website
More on Kerry: Instagram

Past episodes and transcripts