Radio Cherry Bombe

Madhur Jaffrey has been a superstar in culinary circles for decades. She’s an author, an actor, and a global ambassador for the cuisines of India. Madhur has won awards for her work in both film and food, authored more than 30 books, and is a food TV pioneer, having taught probably millions of people how to cook over the years through her shows and videos. Since her youth, she has led a life marked by curiosity and adventure. 

This interview was recorded as part of a special Cherry Bombe members meeting on Zoom featuring Madhur. She joined us to talk about Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India, her wonderfully evocative book, plus her garden in upstate New York and some cooking advice. 

Thank you to Sitka Salmon Shares for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe. Visit sitkasalmonshares.com/cherry for $25 off the first month of a Premium Sitka Seafood Share.

Why have famous folks including Maria Carey, Uber founder Travis Kalanick, and Flavortown Mayor Guy Fieri jumped on the ghost kitchen trend? Is this pandemic-era phenomenon here to stay? Joining us to talk about these virtual restaurants and what they’re all about is Florence Fabricant, the legendary food columnist from The New York Times. Florence also shares the best ways for publicists and entrepreneurs to pitch her and how she got her start in food media.

Also, find out why Lia Ballentine of the Yum Day snack company thinks Kaitlin Mogentale of Pulp Pantry is the Bombe.

Today’s show is supported by Mango and Peppercorns: A Memoir of Food, An Unlikely Family, and the American Dream by Tung Nguyen and Katherine Manning, out March 16th from Chronicle Books.

Do you know the minimum wage in your state? Saru Jayaraman does. As co-founder and president of One Fair Wage and director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley, Saru and her team are fighting in support of the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and get rid of the $2.13 minimum wage for tipped workers. Saru joins us to talk about the ongoing campaign. She also explains the connection between wages, food stamps and sexual harassment and why a higher minimum wage is better for everyone. 

Plus, find out why Callie Flynn thinks Tove Ohlander of Tove by Design is the Bombe. 

Thank you to Käserei Champignon, the makers of Cambozola cheese, for supporting this episode.

Jasmine Cho has one of the most unconventional jobs in the food world: She’s a cookie activist. What began as a way to spotlight overlooked trailblazers in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities has expanded to include people of color making a difference in the world, from poet Amanda Gorman to organizer Stacey Abrams to first responders in Jasmine’s hometown of Pittsburgh. She painstakingly recreates their images in royal icing and shares her creations on everything from social media to exhibitions organized by the Smithsonian. Jasmine joins us to talk about her activism, her book, Role Models Who Look Like Me: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Made History, and how it feels to have the mayor name a day for her. 

Thank you to Cypress Grove, the makers of Humboldt Fog and Little Giant goat cheese, for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

When rent negotiations with her landlord were going south, Chef/owner Angie Mar knew it might be time to say goodbye to the historic New York City restaurant space that changed her life. So what did she do? She returned the keys, walked away, and rented the space right next door. Angie joins us to discuss her decision to close The Beatrice Inn, the challenges of 2020, the future of fine dining, and more. As Chef Angie’s fans know, she’s a bit of a glamour puss, so we also asked her a few questions about her fashion faves and her beauty routine. Tune in to learn more about this colorful and creative personality.

Thank you to Catbird, the finest fine jewelry, for supporting this episode.