The Perfect Bite

What does it really take to build a food business from the ground up — and keep it alive for over 16 years?

In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Mindy Crosato, founder of Decadent Creations, Collective Kitchen, and Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon. Mindy shares her raw, honest entrepreneurial journey — from a personal rock-bottom moment at age 20 to becoming a “Chopped” champion, bakery owner, and the largest private employer in downtown Hillsboro.

Mindy opens up about:

• Why getting fired, failing out of school, and a breakup pushed her to trust herself
• Starting a bakery business at farmers markets with just $500
• How winning Chopped accelerated her growth overnight
• The realities of scaling a handmade food business
• Why she built a commissary kitchen to help other food entrepreneurs succeed
• How community, mentorship, and persistence matter more than perfection

This conversation is a masterclass in food entrepreneurship, creative risk-taking, and building businesses that serve both people and place.

If you’re a baker, chef, maker, or aspiring founder — this episode will leave you inspired to start before you feel ready.

You can learn more about Decadent Creations at www.decadentcreations.com and visit the bakery and the Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon. 

You can follow Decadent Creations @decadentcreationspdx, Collective Market @collectivemarketpdx, and Mindy @mindcrosato.

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

This week’s episode is our first ever MINI BITE! You get to learn so much in a shorter episode length. Enjoy!

Building a food or CPG company is never easy—and finding the right investors can be just as challenging. On this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Nate Cooper, founder and managing partner of Barrel Ventures, to talk about what it really takes to build, fund, and scale successful food and beverage businesses.

Nate shares his journey from growing up in a food-industry family to helping launch LYFE Kitchen, co-founding Wise Apple, and eventually becoming an early investor in brands like Olipop. Along the way, he breaks down how founders should think about fundraising, why not everyone needs to love your product, and how venture capital actually works behind the scenes in food and CPG.

This conversation covers:

• How Nate transitioned from operator to food-focused venture capitalist
• Lessons learned from building and shutting down a startup
• What makes a food or CPG brand investable
• Why niche audiences matter more than mass appeal
• The future of functional beverages, CPG consolidation, and emerging categories
• How founders should approach investors—and what not to do
• Why resilience, network, and long-term vision matter more than perfection

Whether you’re building a food brand, exploring venture capital, or just curious how investment decisions are made in CPG, this episode offers a candid, insider look at the business of food.

You can connect with Nate on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected]. You can learn more about Barrel Ventures and its portfolio companies at www.barrelvc.com. 

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

Thanks for being a supporter of The Perfect Bite! I’m gathering info about what you love about the show on this quick survey—I’m picking 5 random recipients for a $10 Starbucks gift card through Tuesday, January 20, 2026! You can fill it out here. Thanks! 

Now back to the episode! Setting a table is about more than plateware and linens—it’s about intention, connection, and creating a sense of place.

In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Kira Corbin, founder of Standard Affair, to explore how a lifelong love of food, prop styling, and visual storytelling evolved into a modern homewares brand rooted in sustainability and timeless design.

Kira shares her journey from working on food and lifestyle shoots for major publications to launching Standard Affair, a line of ceramic dinnerware and linens designed to elevate everyday meals while reducing waste. The conversation covers everything from the emotional power of the table to the realities of entrepreneurship, creative pivots, and why persistence matters more than perfection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Kira transitioned from prop styling and magazine shoots to founding Standard Affair
• Why table settings play a powerful role in hospitality and connection
• How sustainability and recycled materials shape Standard Affair’s production process
• What it takes to pivot careers and “kill your darling” to make space for growth
• Tips for creating meaningful, intentional dinner parties at home
• Why persistence—not talent—is often the key to entrepreneurial success

Whether you’re a creative founder, food-media professional, or someone who loves gathering around the table, this episode offers inspiration for building something beautiful and meaningful.

You can purchase Standard Affair and learn more at www.standardaffair.com. TPB listeners can get 10% off your purchase with code ‘PERFECTBITE10’! You can see more of Kira’s work at www.kiracorbin.com. 

You can follow Standard Affair on Instagram @standardaffair and Kira @kiracorbin. 

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

What if non-alcoholic drinks were just as complex, cultural, and satisfying as craft cocktails?

On this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Benno Nelson, co-founder of Five Corners Beverage Company, a Chicago-based brand crafting deeply flavored, globally inspired non-alcoholic canned drinks for adults.

Benno shares how his journey into sobriety — paired with a lifelong love of food, beverage, and global storytelling — sparked the idea for Five Corners. Rather than creating sugary substitutes or imitation cocktails, Five Corners honors traditional non-alcoholic drinks from around the world, focusing on the five foundational tastes: salty, sour, bitter, savory, and sweet.

This episode explores the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, why Chicago is the perfect testing ground for innovative drinks, and how intentional flavor design can create true alternatives—not compromises.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why non-alcoholic drinks deserve depth, culture, and story
• Benno’s sobriety journey and how it shaped Five Corners
• The inspiration behind flavors like Salted Lemonade and Sangrita
• How global beverage traditions influenced Five Corners’ recipes
• Building a beverage startup intentionally and locally in Chicago
• Why non-alcoholic menus are additive — not cannibalistic — for restaurants
• Lessons in entrepreneurship, patience, and community-driven growth

To learn more about Five Corners or order your own packs around the country, head to www.fivecornersbev.com. Get 10% off your online order with code ‘BITE’!

You can purchase and experience Five Corners Beverage at retailers, restaurants and venues throughout the Chicago area. 

You can follow Five Corners on Instagram @fivecornersbev.

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

What makes a restaurant, winery, or culinary space truly memorable? It’s not just the food — it’s the experience.

In this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Maryam Ahmed, founder of Maryam + Company and partner at PLAYTE Kitchen, to explore how experience design, community, and equity intersect across the food and beverage industry.

Maryam shares her journey from hospitality operations and wine education to founding a consulting firm focused on inclusive, impactful experiences. From her work at the Culinary Institute of America’s Copia campus to launching hands-on culinary programming in Napa at PLAYTE Kitchen, Maryam breaks down how thoughtful design can foster connection, belonging, and long-term sustainability in hospitality.

This conversation dives into food as a unifying force, the future of experiential hospitality, and what it truly takes to build spaces where everyone feels welcome.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How experience design shapes guest connection in food and beverage
• Why community and equity must be embedded into hospitality systems
• The role of education in creating meaningful culinary experiences
• How PLAYTE Kitchen is reimagining hands-on cooking classes
• Why authentic and diverse leadership matters in food, wine, and hospitality

You can visit PLAYTE Kitchen in Napa, California and sign up for classes at www.playtekitchen.com. You can follow PLAYTE Kitchen on Instagram at @playtekitchen.

You can learn more about Maryam + Company at www.maryamandcompany.com. You can follow Maryam + Company on Instagram @maryamandcompany and Maryam @goodfriendsgoodfood.

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

On this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Emily Groden, founder and CEO of Evergreen waffles, the better-for-you frozen waffle brand now sold in more than 8,500 grocery stores nationwide.



Emily’s story is anything but traditional. After graduating from Yale and Harvard Law School, she became General Counsel for The Alinea Group—one of the most innovative and prestigious restaurant groups in the world. But it was pregnancy, motherhood, and a podcast on frozen waffles that sparked an idea that would change her career — and the breakfast aisle — forever.

In this episode, Emily shares how she built Evergreen waffles from her home kitchen into a nationally distributed CPG brand, all while staying true to real ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and steadfast business and nutrition values.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Evergreen waffles was born from motherhood and necessity

• The leap from corporate law to food entrepreneurship

• Lessons Emily learned working at The Alinea Group and Tock

• Building a frozen CPG brand with real, whole-food ingredients

• Scaling manufacturing, retail distribution, and supply chain

• Why shooting your shot — even with a cold email — matters

• The challenges and rewards of building a Midwest-based CPG brand

Perfect Bite listeners—get 15% off your Evergreen order on eatevergreen.com with code ‘TPB15’! 

Visit www.eatevergreen.com to shop, learn more, and find store locations with product near you. 

You can follow Evergreen on Instagram at @eatevergreen. 

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

On today’s episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with globally renowned chef Paul Liebrandt — the boundary-breaking culinary artist known for plates that blend British punk attitude with Michelin-level precision.

Liebrandt became a media and industry legend early — earning three stars from The New York Times at age 24, starring in an Emmy-winning HBO documentary, and redefining fine dining with an unmistakable creative identity.

In this deep and unfiltered conversation, Paul opens up about:

🍽 How English boarding school, Chinatown markets, and early memories shaped his palette

🔥 Why chefs must protect creativity in the age of social media & AI

🤖 His stance on technology vs. the irreplaceable “human intuition” of culinary craft

📈 What most restaurant operators misunderstand about marketing today

🧠 The psychology of taste and why diners are really coming to fine dining restaurants

🌍 His experience working across London, Paris, New York and Asia — and where the industry is heading next

Whether you’re a chef, founder, hospitality professional, or creative of any kind, this episode is a masterclass in artistry, excellence, resilience, and staying true to your voice — even in a noisy world.

You can learn more about Crumpet Management and Paul’s work at www.paulliebrandt.com. 

You can follow Paul on Instagram at @paulliebrandt. 

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with pastry chef, food writer, and cookbook author Justin Burke, whose debut cookbook Potluck Desserts is redefining what comfort baking — and queer food — really mean.

Justin shares their remarkable journey from self-taught baker and restaurant pastry chef to becoming a nationally recognized voice in food storytelling, and how writing about food through a queer lens unlocked a mission of community, identity, and chosen family.

From pop-ups that unexpectedly went viral, to the emotional process of bringing a cookbook in the queer food space to life over 10 years, to building a platform rooted in authenticity rather than algorithm-chasing, Justin offers wisdom for creatives and entrepreneurs across every field.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• What queer food really is — and why it has nothing to do with ingredients

• The cultural history of queer potlucks and how they shaped Justin’s cookbook

• How to build a creative career without “staying in one lane”

• Why authors and creators should focus on community over competition

• Advice for anyone writing a book or building a brand from scratch

You can purchase “Potluck Desserts” at your favorite local book stores or any national bookstore chains. 

You can follow Justin on Instagram @justintsburke and subscribe to his Substack “Taste This.”

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

In this very special LIVE episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Kathleen “Katalina” Day, founder of Katalina’s Café, Columbus’s iconic brunch spot known for its Latin-leaning, Southern-slanted comfort food and 3 million-plus famous Pancake Balls™.

Recorded in front of a live audience tasting Katalina’s delicious menu, Sarah and Kathleen talk about how a tiny corner café turned into a three-location local empire, the story behind her signature dishes, and what it really takes to run a restaurant for 15 years through recessions, pandemics, and changing dining trends.

From Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives to community-driven growth, Kathleen shares her journey of creativity, grit, and heart — all while serving a multi-course tasting menu inspired by her roots in the South, travels in France, and love of Latin flavors. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The real story behind the famous Pancake Balls™
• How Katalina’s built a cult following in Columbus
• What it’s like to be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
• How Kathleen blends Latin and Southern influences into one brand
• The hardest lessons from 15 years in hospitality — and how she keeps going

You can visit Katalina’s locations throughout Columbus in the Harrison West, Clintonville, and Bexley neighborhoods. You can learn more at www.katalinas.com. 

You can follow Katalina’s on Instagram at @katalinascafe and Kathleen at @katalinaday. 

Thank you to the event’s beneficiary Freedom a la Cart for teaming up with us and to our sponsors for the evening, including Middle West Spirits, Rose Bredel, Milligan’s maple syrup and Premiere ProduceOne. 

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Beth Le Manach, creator of Entertaining with Beth and author of Entertaining 101. Beth shares how she turned her love of home cooking and hosting into a thriving digital media brand — from her early days at Scripps and Food Network to building a YouTube channel with over 600,000 subscribers. 

They explore the journey behind Entertaining 101, the art of making guests feel at home, and Beth’s lessons from 13+ years in the creator economy. From surviving long days as a mompreneur to creating content that feels elevated yet accessible, Beth reveals what it really takes to build a sustainable media brand around food, joy, and storytelling.

You’ll learn:

• How Beth transitioned from corporate media to food creator entrepreneurship
• What makes content relatable and evergreen
• The secret to building loyal communities online
• How to monetize across YouTube, Substack, and books
• Beth’s tips for stress-free entertaining and creating your “perfect bite”

Grab Beth’s new book, Entertaining 101, now available at Anthropologie, Amazon, and anywhere books are sold.

You can follow Beth on YouTube, Instagram, Substack and more @entertainingwithbeth. You can buy Entertaining 101 and learn more from Beth at www.entertainingwithbeth.com.

Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!