Taste Radio

In his career as a chef, Roy Choi has broken all the rules and written a few new ones. But the award-winning food truck pioneer and restaurateur still respects some time-honored traditions. Take fermentation, for example. While fermented foods have become trendy in recent years, they've been a staple of Asian cuisine and been a constant presence in his cooking. It's one of the reasons that a recent partnership with KeVita, which makes probiotic beverages, kombucha and drinking vinegars, was an easy decision. "In the home, I grew up with this whole refrigerator full of fermentation, and to me it's just called food," Choi said in an interview included in this episode. And while Choi's disposition is more skater than spokesman, it's been his deft ability to bridge the gap between counterculture and mainstream that's made him such an appealing figure in the restaurant business and beyond. In our interview, Choi spoke about his influential role as a celebrity chef and his approach to working with brands, how Los Angeles culture is reflected in his cuisine, and the advice he has for food journalists and critics (it might not be what you expect). Choi is preparing to debut his latest venture, an L.A.-themed restaurant in Las Vegas, in December. The new eatery is likely backed by outside investors, betting that Choi's fame and fare will draw the masses. But what if you're not a well-known and successful chef, but rather a young food entrepreneur looking to raise capital for your idea? If you are a young food entrepreneur seeking investment for you startup who doesn't happen to also be a well-connected celebrity chef, however, there are still thousands of eager angel investors that might be just willing to throw a few bucks your way. And if enough of them do, you might just see your brand get off the ground. Of course, we're talking about crowdfunding, which at a glance seems like a relatively simple concept. But there are dozens of crowdfunding platforms and plenty of pitfalls in the process. How do you best position yourself for a win? Enter Cheryl Clements, founder of Pieshell, a crowdfunding platform specifically designed for food and beverage entrepreneurs. In an interview, Clements discussed the origins of Pieshell and how the service works, along with tips of the trade and valuable advice for anyone seeking crowd-sourced investment. Show notes: 2:31: Interview: Roy Choi, Celebrity Chef/Founder, Kogi -- Recorded by phone, Choi spoke with BevNET Managing Editor Ray Latif about why he aligned with probiotic drink brand KeVita on a new campaign, offered up his take on trendy food concepts, shared his belief about the unifying power of food, and discussed media scrutinization of his restaurants and projects. 17:33: Interview: Cheryl Clements -- Clements visited BevNET HQ for a interview with Project NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and spoke about why she launched Pieshell and mission behind the crowdfunding platform. She also discussed the importance of collecting feedback and data from a crowdfunding campaign and why delivering value to investors is critical to a winning strategy. 41:04: A Project No More -- The hosts banter about a the recent name change for our NOSH vertical, the upcoming Expo East trade show and examine a new energy drink from Welch's. Brands in this episode: KeVita, Honest Tea, Koia, Country Archer, Righteous Felon Jerky Cartel

In his career as a chef, Roy Choi has broken all the rules and written a few new ones. But the award-winning food truck pioneer and restaurateur still respects some time-honored traditions. Take fermentation, for example. While fermented foods have become trendy in recent years, they’ve been a staple of Asian cuisine and been a constant presence in his cooking. It’s one of the reasons that a recent partnership with KeVita, which makes probiotic beverages, kombucha and drinking vinegars, was an easy deci

It would seem that Andrew Zimmern, the host and co-creator of the popular television series “Bizarre Foods,” is willing to try anything at least once. Over the course of the show’s 12 seasons, Zimmern has chowed down on stomach-churning foods like raw pig testicles, a frog's beating heart and cobra penis. Yet for someone with such an adventurous palate, Zimmern is particular about trendy food brands.

In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Zimmern derided the health and wellness food

Take a stroll down the snack aisle of any grocery store in America and there's a strong chance that you'll spot a row of playfully designed pastel bags emblazoned with the words BOOM CHICKA POP in a large hot pink font. One could read the labels from across a room; according to Angie Bastian, the co-founder of better-for-you snack brand Angie's Boomchickapop, that's the point. "It's our job to deliver good food, but let's do something more than that," Bastian said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "Let's celebrate who we are. Let's do it in a way that… reflects the simplicity and fun of the food." Since Bastian and her husband Dan launched the company in 2001, it has evolved from a tiny operation selling kettle corn at farmers' markets and fairs to an ubiquitous retail brand with an estimated $100 million in sales in 2017. Success often yields suitors and last year Angie's Boomchickapop was acquired by ConAgra Foods for $250 million. In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Bastian spoke about the development of the brand, including its foray into retail stores, how femininity and fun were incorporated into a game-changing package revamp and about the company's process for choosing the right financial partners at different stages of growth. About a dozen years before the launch of Angie's Boomchickapop, a couple of Brown University graduates moved to Nantucket and started selling juice blends packaged in recycled wine bottles. Their business was the forerunner to Nantucket Nectars, an iconic brand in its own right, one that's now part of the Keurig Dr Pepper portfolio. One of those co-founders was Tom First, who has since become a respected investor and advisor in the food and beverage industry and is currently an operating partner with Massachusetts-based private equity firm Castanea Partners. We spoke with First about positive business habits that he's adopted during his career, along with those that he's identified in other up-and-coming entrepreneurs We also explore negative habits that he picked up along the way and how he overcame them. Show notes: 3:44: Interview: Angie Bastian, Co-Founder, Angie's Boomchickapop -- Recorded in downtown Minneapolis, Bastian spoke with Project NOSH editor about the origins of her company, including the early days of bootstrapping and selling popcorn at home games of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, why she believes in celebrating "the feminine with food," and how that perspective played into a celebrated package revamp and why she views ConAgra, which acquired the company in 2017, as a partner that could "help make us better." 26:34: Interview: Tom First, Operating Partner, Castanea Partners -- First spoke with BevNET Managing Editor Ray Latif about business habits that positioned himself for success as one of the co-founders of Nantucket Nectars along with those that he's identified in other entrepreneurs. As part of the conversation, First explains why not being defensive about feedback was critical early in his career, why good leaders build great teams and trust people to do their jobs and the importance of face-to-face communication. 52:31: The Cup Runneth Over -- The hosts are joined by Ortenberg, who recently returned from Minneapolis and who spoke about her visit to the offices of General Mills and meeting with the food and beverage division of the MN Cup, which is startup competition hosted by the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. The hosts also discuss PepsiCo's announced agreement to acquire SodaStream, a maker of tabletop carbonated water machines, for $3.2 billion. Brands in this episode: Angie's Boomchickapop, Nantucket Nectars, Pepsi, FUZE, Jeni's Ice Cream, Essentia, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Yasso, Mostly Made, North Mallow, Darling Dill Pickle Dip, Punk Rawk Labs, SodaStream

Take a stroll down the snack aisle of any grocery store in America and there’s a strong chance that you’ll spot a row of playfully designed pastel bags emblazoned with the words BOOM CHICKA POP in a large hot pink font. One could read the labels from across a room; according to Angie Bastian, the co-founder of better-for-you snack brand Angie’s Boomchickapop, that’s the point.

“It’s our job to deliver good food, but let’s do something more than that,” Bastian said in an interview included i

Zach Koff, the chief operating officer of beloved and fast-growing burger chain Shake Shack, is well aware that Americans are increasingly health conscious and savvy about what they eat. Yet when it comes to a good, old-fashioned meal of a burger, fries and a shake, Koff believes that most folks will choose to part with their kale and quinoa and opt for an indulgent experience. That perspective, along with a focus on a high-quality ingredients and great taste, make up the core of Shake Shack's business philosophy and, according to Koff, are the primary reasons behind its success. "Look, I think everybody's super conscious of what they're putting into their bodies and they want real ingredients," Koff said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "And ever since the beginning, we've made it our mission to make sure that's exactly what we're using. We use high quality, premium ingredients… all the things that are going into the indulgent items are great ingredients. And I think that resonates with people who are thinking about just what they're going to eat. But, man, when they want a cheeseburger they still want it to taste great. And that's what we hope they trust us for every single time." Listen to our full conversation with Koff, who also explained how Shake Shack curates its menu and embraces limited-edition items (eel burgers!), the company's strategy for building brand loyalty and why the chain isn't planning on a plant-based burger anytime soon. Also in this episode: Dirty Lemon co-founder/CEO Zak Normandin returns to the podcast to discuss the evolution of his functional beverage brand. Normandin, who first appeared in episode 50, took us on a deep dive into the company's innovative direct-to-consumer model, including its text message ordering system, and explained why experiential moments have been critical to its marketing strategy. He also offered his take on the future of e-commerce and why grocery stores are here to stay. This episode is presented by Symrise Califormulations. Show notes: 2:00: Interview: Zach Koff, COO, Shake Shack -- Since Shake Shack opened its first location in 2004, the restaurant chain has become one of the most hyped and fastest-growing in the U.S. The company now operates nearly 200 stores across the U.S. and internationally and is opening new outposts at a rapid pace. Founded by restaurateur and Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer, Shake Shack is led by CEO Randy Garutti and COO Zach Koff. In this phone interview, BevNET Managing Editor Ray Latif spoke with Koff about how the company has maintained its high standards and rapport with customers while continuing to expand its reach with new locations. 22:38: Interview: Zak Normandin, Co-Founder/CEO, Dirty Lemon -- While Dirty Lemon, which markets functional beauty and detox beverages, is known for an eye-catching Instagram account and its high-profile collaboration with Vogue magazine, the company has caught the attention from many in the food and beverage industry for a direct-to-consumer distribution model that aims to upend traditional routes to market. Following up on our interview with Dirty Lemon's co-founder and CEO Zak Normandin back in episode 50 of the podcast, John Craven and Mike Schneider spoke with him again for a deep dive into the company's business and marketing strategy. 47:31: BodyArmor & The Pillars of a Great Brand -- The hosts chat about a recent visit by Eric Bonin, the founder of Pillars Drinkable Yogurt, to BevNET HQ. They also discuss the news the Coca-Cola Co. has acquired a minority stake in fast-growing sports drink brand BodyArmor and revisit our memorable interview with co-founder Mike Repole in episode 44 of the podcast. Brands in this episode: Shake Shack, Dirty Lemon, Pillars Drinkable Yogurt, Coca-Cola, BodyArmor, Gatorade

Zach Koff, the chief operating officer of beloved and fast-growing burger chain Shake Shack, is well aware that Americans are increasingly health conscious and savvy about what they eat. Yet when it comes to a good, old-fashioned meal of a burger, fries and a shake, Koff believes that most folks will choose to part with their kale and quinoa and opt for an indulgent experience. That perspective, along with a focus on a high-quality ingredients and great taste, make up the core of Shake Shack’s business ph

While debate over the country's travel and immigration policies continues to dominate the news cycle, Christopher Kimball is thinking beyond borders. The founder of iconic cooking show "America's Test Kitchen," Kimball believes that all food has a cultural value with the potential to bypass walls and transcend politics. "You almost can experience a culture through the food," he said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "There's context around [a] recipe, and you learn a lot about the people. And nobody can stop that from coming across the border." Exposure to global flavors and cooking techniques are rooted in the philosophy of Kimball's latest venture, food media platform Milk Street. Founded in 2015, Milk Street, which produces a television show, magazine, website and podcast, expands upon Kimball's long-held belief that -- with the right guidance and well-tested recipes -- everyone can learn how to make good food at home. Listen to our full-length interview, in which Kimball discussed Milk Street's mission in further detail, offered his take the evolution of the American palate and the food industry as a whole, talked about why he believes flavor is more meaningful than any trend, and shared the proudest achievement of his storied career. Show notes: 2:25: Interview: Christopher Kimball, Founder, Milk Street/America's Test Kitchen -- Since 1980, Kimball has built a food media empire, one that includes "America's Test Kitchen" and magazines Cook's Illustrated and Cook's County. In 2015, Kimball founded Milk Street, a company focused on instructional recipes and techniques inspired by global cuisine. In this interview, recorded at the company's headquarters in downtown Boston, Kimball explained his perspective that, at its core, there is nothing "authentic" about food, which he views as a "river that keeps moving," discussed what he learned about making scallion pancakes in Hong Kong and dining in Denmark, shared his stance on trendy buzzwords and meal kits and why flavor "is what's missing in the discussion" about organic food. 40:40: Does Jay-Z Drink Kombucha? -- The hosts discussed news in the booming business of kombucha, including a new line launched by Starbucks-owned Evolution Fresh and moves by leading players Humm and Brew Dr. They also riffed on a handful of new and innovative products to hit the office, including those from healthy and sustainable snack brand Amazi, Shaka Tea and Chameleon Cold-Brew. Brands in this episode: Evolution Fresh, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Humm Kombucha, Wonder Drink, Amazi, LÄRABAR, Häagen-Dazs, Chameleon Cold-Brew, Kanguru Energy, NuttZo, Shaka Tea, Laphroaig

While debate over the country's travel and immigration policies continues to dominate the news cycle, Christopher Kimball is thinking beyond borders. The founder of iconic cooking show “America’s Test Kitchen,” Kimball believes that all food has a cultural value with the potential to bypass walls and transcend politics.

“You almost can experience a culture through the food,” he said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. “There’s context around [a] recipe, and you learn a lo