DiMattia's Food Fight Podcast

On Episode 81 of the Food Fight Podcast, I sit down with Vinnie Archer, owner of The V Spot in Scranton, PA. Vinnie and I talk about the origins of The V Spot, his journey through the restaurant, business, and service industry, and how a late start as a bartender unexpectedly turned into a career and ultimately a successful bar and local staple. We get into the current state of the food and bar in...

In this episode of the Food Fight Podcast, I sit down with one of the creators of SportzWire, one of Pennsylvania’s most active and trusted sources for high-school sports coverage. With over 7,000 posts and a rapidly growing audience, SportzWire has become the go-to home for D2, D4, and D11 athletes, parents, and fans. We talk about: How SportzWire got started The early days of covering local game...

Get ready for a fast-paced, high-energy episode of DiMattia’s Food Fight Podcast as Brian sits down with none other than Johnny Popko — a true NEPA media legend. From his wild days at The Weekender, to the heartbeat of NEPA’s club and entertainment scene, Johnny brings stories that are equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and iconic. We dig into his career in radio, his impact on social media, and how...

This week on the Food Fight Podcast features one of my closest friend and training partner, Keenan Powers from Scranton, Pennsylvania. This “Fight for Life” episode dives deep into Keenan's recovery journey — the battles he fought, the choices he made, and the strength it took to become the man he is today. He opens up about the role his fiancée Patty played as a positive force in his life, and ho...

In this episode, we sit down with the inspiring mother-and-daughter team behind Salt & Honey by Marin, one of NEPA’s most creative family-run food businesses. What started as a passion for making beautiful grazing boards has grown into a full-scale operation — from private events to festivals across the region. We talk about how they built their niche in a crowded food scene, what it’s like runnin...

This week on the Food Fight Podcast, Brian sits down with Chris Coyne of Old Forge — owner of Dooley’s Pub & Eatery and promoter of the upcoming Mohegan Fall Brawl this Saturday at Mohegan Pennsylvania. It’s an episode packed with fight talk, local pride, and a touch of small-town politics — all in good spirits. From growing up in NEPA to running one of the area’s favorite pubs and promoting some...

In this special milestone episode of The Food Fight Podcast, we step inside one of Wilkes-Barre’s most historic landmarks — The Stegmaier Mansion — now home to a new fine dining experience that’s redefining elegance in NEPA. Joining the show are the Mansion’s General Manager and Head Chef, who share their stories of passion, perseverance, and creativity. We dive into the rich history of the Stegma...

I’m sitting down with Chef Dylan from Blackfin in Dallas, PA — a chef who’s bringing new energy and creativity to a local favorite. We’ll talk about how he’s been revamping the restaurant, adding pizza to the menu, and at the same time keeping the tradition alive. His goal? To turn Blackfin into a true Back Mountain destination — a place people travel for, not just stumble upon. 🔥 This one’s got...

I am sitting down with Dean Kline, owner of the Mountaintop Pub & Eatery in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. From transforming the old Shalimar Motel into one of the area’s most popular local spots, to serving up pub-style favorites and live entertainment, Dean has built something special for the Mountain Top and Back Mountain communities. Stay tuned for a great conversation about food, hometown pride,...

In this week’s episode of Food Fight, I’m honored to welcome my longtime friend Johnny Jones, manager of Mangia Bistro & Bar. Johnny and I share roots in Old Forge, Pennsylvania — we grew up just a short drive from each other — so this conversation is as much about home and history as it is about food. We talk about what it’s like growing up in a small town, navigating the food scene “in the stree...

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Wascavage, the owner and baker behind Cinnfully Sweet. We first met at the Wing Fling, where I got the chance to taste his gluten-free product line—and it blew me away. Joe shares the story of how his business started humbly with homemade cinnamon buns sold door-to-door in his neighborhood. What began in a family kitchen has since transformed into a full-scale...

On today's episode of DiMattia’s Food Fight, we’re going beyond food and into something even bigger — the fight for life. My guest’s child is living with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a rare genetic condition that can cause arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the body. These are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that can lead to serious complications. We’ll talk abou...

In this episode, we sit down with Lenny from Little Lenny’s Cheesecake to talk about the highs, the lows, and the fight behind the flavors. Lenny opens up about the heartbreaking decision to close his beloved Dallas bakery while standing by his wife during her battle with cancer. He shares how he first got his start in the food business, the tough lessons learned from the “school of hard knocks,”...

On this episode of the Food Fight Podcast, we’re heading to Scranton to talk about a sauce that started in a family pub and grew into a regional favorite. Peggy’s Marinade & Dipping Sauce began as a house wing sauce recipe at Kelly’s Pub and Eatery, but it quickly turned into something much bigger — bottles on supermarket shelves, Scranton pride on every label, and flavors that have gone far beyon...

This week on the Food Fight Podcast, we’re bringing you the story behind Happy Boy Scotch Sauce, Scranton’s own small-batch hot sauce. I sit down with the founders to talk about how a simple recipe turned into a bottled product with big flavor. We cover everything — from the early days of formulating the sauce, to the challenges of bottling and scaling, to marketing a small business in a tight-kni...

In this episode of Food Fight, I sit down with Jeff, president of the Felittese Association, to dive into the history and traditions of the Felittese Festival—a celebration that has been bringing Old Forge, PA together for over three decades. We talk about the festival’s Italian roots, its connection to Felitto, Italy, and how last year’s event continued to grow the tradition. This year, the Felit...

On this episode of Food Fight, we head to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to spotlight one of the region’s most beloved institutions—National Bakery. Since opening its doors in 1946, National has been serving up fresh, preservative-free breads and rolls that became a Sunday morning tradition for countless families. From their famous hard rolls to crusty Italian loaves and rye, their bread has earned iconi...

In this inspiring conversation, Laura Gentry Carter walks us through her journey—from experimenting with recipes at home to becoming the creator and Chief Granola Officer of My Sister’s Granola. She passionately describes how her brand is built on a mission to deliver the perfect harmony of flavor and texture, anchored by genuine ingredients and craftsmanship. Listeners get an inside look at how R...

This Week on The Food Fight Podcast: Jaka Bird & The Ronald McDonald House In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I sit down with my friend Jaka Bird—Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, community advocate, and proud representative of the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, Pennsylvania. We dive into the incredible work being done at the Ronald McDonald House and how it personally impacted Jaka and he...

In this episode, we sit down with Angelo Genell and Amanda Krappa to dive into the rich history of the iconic Arcaro & Genell in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. We talk about what it was like growing up in Old Forge, the hometown known for its legendary style of pizza. Angelo and Amanda share why the dining room closed after COVID, what it meant to have President Trump stop by for a slice, and break down...

In this episode, we sink our teeth into one of NEPA’s hottest (and tastiest) summer transitions: the Swoyersville Chicken Wing Fling! I sat down with two of the dedicated operators behind the event to talk about how this once small-town idea turned into a sizzling two-day celebration drawing thousands. We explore the origins of the Wing Fling, which launched in 2023 to support local parks and play...

In this episode, we dive into Chef Ryan’s remarkable journey — from Pennsylvania to California with just a few bucks in his pocket, to cooking alongside Gordon Ramsay. We explore his passion for food, his mother’s love for cooking, and how those shared roots brought them together to open their own restaurant. It’s a story of risk, resilience, and the flavors that keep family at the heart of it all...

In this episode of Food Fight, we welcome the family behind R Bar & Grill, a beloved family-owned hotspot in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. What began in 2011 as a tiny space with just eight tables and a modest wing lineup has grown into a local legend—now located in the Alden Manor complex—with room for up to 150 guests and over 80–100 wing flavors on the menu . The journey of starting small and scalin...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with the owners of The Frogtown Chophouse, a celebrated restaurant nestled in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. From how their partnership formed to the creation of a true destination dining experience, we dive into the origins of the business, the highs and lows of running a chophouse, and the impact of COVID on the hospitality world. Whether you’re a food lov...

This Week on the Food Fight Podcast: We’re joined by Joe, the local owner of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels — and he’s not alone. His wife and business partner joins the conversation as we dive into their journey running not only a pretzel franchise, but also a smoothie shop and a Cinnabon location. From managing multiple food businesses to navigating the unique challenges of operating inside a mall durin...