School has been back in session for a few weeks now, and that means we’re thinking a lot about school lunch. This week, Tyler checks out what’s happening with the midday meal both inside California and elsewhere in the country, from the most well-funded private programs to  government-subsidized public ones. This is about the people who pour their energy into making sure kids are well fed, and who understand the correlation between nourishing lunches and better performance. Tyler chats with a couple of innovative and passionate school chefs, and finishes the podcast with Alice Waters, whose Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley has long set the tone for what culinary education should look like. 

Tyler heads to film with the Food Network in New York City, where he sits down with restaurateur Drew Nieporent. From Montrachet and Nobu on the East Coast to Rubicon on the West, from celebrity partners to unknown chefs, Drew's restaurant experiences and connections are vast and deep, and his memories plentiful. In an industry where the chef has become the more well-known face of the restaurant, Drew - as the front of the house guy - has long held his own. Here is his story, supplemented by some commentary from well-known food writer Ruth Reichl.

Follow Tyler and Wolf It Down on social media:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/tylerflorence/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wolfitdownpodcast/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/tylerflorence

https://twitter.com/WolfItDownShow

The kitchen is one of the last rooms in the smart home to get a makeover, but intelligent cooking devices are now popping up on the scene in a big way. In this episode, Tyler talks to the people behind Hestan Cue (including Stanley Cheng, the king of cookware who presides over Hestan) and Chefsteps, two companies that have brought their smart devices to market and are already changing the way people cook in the kitchen of the future.

We're coming for you Jane Jetson (and/or Rosie the Robot Maid).

A few years ago, news of the honeybee demise was a major topic of conversion. And for good reason - without bees, we were told, there would potentially be no civilization.  While extracting the Spring/Summer honey from his home hives, Tyler takes the opportunity to get up to speed on the situation - plus lots of other information on bee colonies and stewarding - from his bee rancher Mike Vigo.  He also chats with almond farmer Vincent Ricchiuti on the symbiotic relationship (and big business) between honeybees and agriculture.

Wolf It Down is produced by Amanda Gold, Matthew Martyr, and Tyler Florence.

Follow Tyler and Wolf It Down on social media:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/tylerflorence/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wolfitdownpodcast/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/tylerflorence

https://twitter.com/WolfItDownShow

Tyler is winding down his epic southern tour with a stop in one of his favorite cities, Nashville.  Though it’s known first for its country music, the city has exploded in recent years with interesting restaurants and talented chefs.

First up, a dose of history -- and heat -- at Prince’s Hot Chicken.  Then, he’ll kick back at Catbird Seat, where chef Ryan Poli is creating some seriously inventive food.  And finally, he’ll brave a long line in the rain at Biscuit Love for a Dirty Princess and lots of other great brunch dishes.

Tyler’s tour of the south continues as he hops in the car for a trip from Pensacola, Florida to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Along the way, he takes a few detours, first into Fairhope and Mobile, and then to Birmingham.   

He’ll sample beignets and panini, some of the best soul food institutions in the south -- and hear the stories that go along with them -- and finally, he’ll try a new open-fire concept from James Beard Award winning chef Chris Hastings.

Continuing his tour of the south, Tyler lands this week in Pensacola.  His Food Network show, the Great Food Truck Race, is filming at the Naval Air Station.  While getting a tour of the Blue Angels fleet and Naval Aviation museum, he requests a glimpse of the award-winning mess hall, where he hears about the vast array of interesting meals that are served there daily.

Then, it’s off to a couple of the best seafood spots on this part of the Florida Panhandle, and a taste of Pensacola’s signature dish.

Tyler hits the road to film the Food Network's Great Food Truck Race, for which he's the host. First stop? One of the best food cities in America.
In New Orleans, he sits down with the king of Cajun, Donald Link, to get some history and background of the culinary scene. From there, he travels to the coast to meet a fourth-generation shrimper.

Follow Tyler and Wolf It Down on social media:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/tylerflorence/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wolfitdownpodcast/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/tylerflorence

https://twitter.com/WolfItDownShow

In November 2016, California joined several other states in legalizing marijuana. Already, an industry of amazing edibles had been built to serve medical marijuana patients, but now “eating weed” is part of a larger, more out-in-the-open conversation.

In this episode of Wolf it Down, Tyler talks to Rob Weakley of Indus Holdings and Kristi Knoblich Palmer, co-founder of Kiva confections, both of whom are manufacturing upscale packaged edibles. He also chats with JeffThe420Chef, who has made cooking with cannabis both an art form and a successful business.

Follow Tyler and Wolf It Down on social media:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/tylerflorence/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wolfitdownpodcast/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/tylerflorence

https://twitter.com/WolfItDownShow

In the past several years, the world of wine has gotten some new energy, thanks in large part to a generation of millennials that's becoming passionate about the industry. From new packaging to start-up-style wine clubs; from interesting young winemakers to fun marketing tactics, it's no longer all about a point system and expensive grapes.
In this episode, Tyler talks to the guys behind Cooper's Hawk, the largest wine club in the world, during a club dinner in Chicago to celebrate the release of a wine collaboration. He also gets the story behind the hot new 40-ounce rosé from its creator, and spends some time with Esther Mobley from the San Francisco Chronicle -- who happens to be a millennial herself -- to get her perspective on the changing industry.

Follow Tyler and Wolf It Down on social media:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/tylerflorence/ 

https://www.instagram.com/wolfitdownpodcast/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/tylerflorence

https://twitter.com/WolfItDownShow