Radio Cherry Bombe

They’re the daughters of immigrants and the daughters of chefs. So it’s no surprise that Maiko Kyogoku and Emily Yuen got into the restaurant business. These two women are the team behind Bessou, one of the most charming restaurants in New York City. Maiko, whose family had a Japanese restaurant on the Upper West Side for 30 years, is the owner, and Emily, who hails from Vancouver, is the executive chef. Maiko chose the name Bessou because it means home away from home, which describes the atmosphere she wanted to create by serving creative Japanese comfort food in a soothing, minimalist space. Maiko’s mother, who was a passionate home cook, is the guiding spirit of the restaurant, having taught Maiko about Japanese cuisine and customs. Maiko and Emily stop by Radio Cherry Bombe to talk about how they met, how they collaborate, and what the most popular items are at Bessou.

Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu for supporting our show.

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Jen Pelka wanted to open a Champagne bar in San Francisco, but first she needed to raise $650,000. So she came up with a unique investment strategy: organize an all-female investment group. Thirty-three women wound up taking part and The Riddler Champagne Bar opened its doors last year. Hear how Jen went about finding her investors and what advice she has if you’re looking to fund your next project or big idea.

When Jen’s not sparkling things up at The Riddler, she’s taking care of business at Magnum PR, her full service communications and marketing company based in San Francisco. She previously worked at OpenTable, Tumblr, Gilt Taste, and Restaurant Daniel.

Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu and Bob’s Red Mill for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe!

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Laurel Gallucci wasn’t going to let an autoimmune disease hold her back when it came to baked goods. She was on a restrictive diet and decided to start experimenting with ingredients like almond flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup. She shared a chocolate cake creation with her friend Claire Thomas of the blog Kitchy Kitchen and the two decided to launch Sweet Laurel, a specialty bakery and blog. Today, they’re working on their first location and just launched their first cookbook, which features their most popular recipes, including one for The Chocolate Cake That Changed Everything. Tune in to hear their sweet story.

Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu for sponsoring today’s show.

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So many of us are still grappling with the loss of Anthony Bourdain, writer, TV star, and globetrotter. He touched so many lives as he showcased the world and its humanity through the lens of food. Helen Rosner, contributing writer at The New Yorker, shares her experience interviewing him over the years and explains what inspired the title of her article, "Anthony Bourdain and the Power of Telling the Truth." Cha McCoy, wine professional and tourism consultant, tells us why she admired Bourdain and what we can learn from his approach to travel. And Chef Preeti Mistry of Navi Kitchen in Oakland recalls being on his show Parts Unknown and how his open-mindedness and curiosity will be missed. Joining us for the first half of the show is Vanessa Palazio, owner and culinary director of Chicha Cafetin and Cocktails, a new Nicaraguan restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu and Bob's Red Mill for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

From Helen's New Yorker story:

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The most iconic voice in food radio, Lynne Rossetto Kasper hosted The Splendid Table for 21 years, bringing us conversations with everyone from Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child to listeners who would call in for advice about baking, Thanksgiving turkeys, farmers market ingredients, and more. Lynne shares her journey from Jersey girl to public radio personality, and explains how her best-selling cookbook about Northern Italy was the basis for her popular program. "When there's genius in the kitchen... it just sweeps me away," she said. Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu and Bob's Red Mill for sponsoring this episode of Radio Cherry Bombe.

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Imagine having to stay on top of the entire New York City food scene? That's only part of Nikita Richardson's job as a staff writer at New York Magazine's Grub Street. Nikita also has to track the trends and issues shaping the food world as a whole. She's tackled such subjects as why there are so few black restaurant critics to empowering immigrant restaurant workers with English language classes. Host Kerry Diamond talks to Nikita about these issues and more, and finds out her favorite places to eat and drink in NYC.

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Edna Lewis changed the perception of Southern food and remains one of the most influential American chefs ever. A new book, Edna Lewis: At The Table With An American Original, celebrates her life and contributions through essays written by important figures on the Southern food scene, including Chefs Mashama Bailey and Vivian Howard. Three friends of Cherry Bombe gathered at the recent Charleston Wine & Food Festival to discuss Edna Lewis and her impact: Edna Lewis editor Sara B. Franklin; author Klancy Miller; and author and professor Jessica B. Harris. Tune in and find out why this American icon is more relevant than ever.

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Chef Stephanie Izard has been a Top Chef, an Iron Chef, and a Food & Wine Best New Chef. She runs three of Chicago’s hottest restaurants: Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat in Chicago. She’s a mom, wife, dog owner, and sunny human being. And now she’s author of Gather & Graze, a new cookbook filled with craveworthy recipes, from Pork Belly Frittata to Miso-Butterscotch Budino to Sweet Corn Frozen Nougat. She stopped by to talk about her book and the ingredients she swears by (fish sauce, soy sauce, blue cheese…), and explains her fondness for kids of the goat and human variety. Also joining us is Gabi Vigoreaux, baker and culinary director of Smith Canteen, the coffee shop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. She talks about life at the Good Housekeeping test kitchen, Cuban bakeries in Miami, and turning the royal wedding cake flavors into a donut. Thank you to Le Cordon Bleu and Bob’s Red Mill for sponsoring today’s show.

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Gelato, risotto, pistachio butter, anchovies, Prosecco… ? Welcome to the life (and grocery list) of Skye McAlpine, who has called Venice home since the age of 6. She joins us to talk about Venetian cuisine, her love for this magical city, and her first cookbook, A Table in Venice, which is out now. Skye shares her typical food day and walks us through the delicious customs of her city, from gelato time to the tradition of getting a late afternoon spritz with your friends.

Our second guest is Cha McCoy, wine expert, globetrotter, and creator of Cha Squared Hospitality, a lifestyle company with a focus on tourism and gastronomy. Cha, who hails from Harlem, had an Eat Pray Love moment and got her MBA in Italy, which led to her collecting drinking and eating experiences in close to 20 countries. Today, she runs a number of wine education and appreciation programs, including The Communion and Sunday School Series, and joins us to talk about her passions.

Thank you to Emmi cheeses from Switzerland and Le Cordon Bleu for supporting this episode!

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One of the most acclaimed chefs on the planet, Ruth Rogers has spent 30 years at the helm of The River Cafe London, the restaurant she and Rose Gray opened in 1987. Chef Ruth talks to us about her passion for Italian food, her famous chocolate cake, her perseverance, and her approach to running a humane restaurant. We also talk about Rose, Ruth’s friend and business partner, who passed away in 2010 and left a strong mark on both the restaurant and Ruth’s life. Ruth’s new cookbook, River Cafe London, is a celebration of its 30 years, its amazing Italian food, and the strong women who made it such an epic place.

Thank you to Emmi cheeses from Switzerland, Le Cordon Bleu, and Bob’s Red Mill for supporting today’s show.

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