HiddenFandB

Mel Toledo is the chef and owner of the Foundation Social Eatery in Alpharetta, Georgia. Mel was born in Puerto Rico,   but his training in French kitchens made him a bit of a tyrant about how he wanted his kitchen run. He says it took therapy to learn that he'd get a more efficient kitchen if he used encouragement rather than tyranny. Mel Toledo, on the Hidden F&B.

Bob Ryan is executive chef of Little Sparrow and Bar Blanc in Atlanta. Bob started cooking at one of those Taco Bell/KFC combination places, and he worked his way up – REALLY up – to work at the famous Per Se and the French Laundry. He says he loves what he does because he's an adrenaline junkie. But mostly what he loves these days is mentoring his staff so that they're excited to come to work. Bo...

Josué Peña, Executive Chef,  The Iberian Pig Buckhead in Atlanta, started his culinary career breading mozzarella sticks as a young teen. Even though he had blistered hands from working with so much mozzarella without any knife skills, he was hooked. And now, one of his favorite things is mentoring young people in the culinary industry. Josue Pena  on the Hidden F&B.  

Jasmine Norton of the Urban Oyster in Baltimore Maryland is the country's black female owner of an oyster bar. And even though she spends her days with plump oysters, at home, give her a fatty steak. Jasmine Norton, on the Hidden F&B.  

Elizabeth Engelhardt  has written a fascinating book about how boarding houses – and their culture – affected our food traditions and even a bit of our gig economy. Plus she talks about a court case in which a boarding house girl had to prove whether she was just a good-time girl or a victim of a scoundrel. Elizabeth Engelhardt on the Hidden F&B.

We talk with Ashli Hazel and Brit Lancaster of Cultivation Brewing. Britt owns Cultivation in tiny Norcross, Georgia, and Ashli is the only female brewmaster in the whole county. They talk about the process of making new flavors, what it's like to be a female in a male-dominated industry, and why neither one keeps a lot of beer at home. Ashli Hazel and Britt Lancaster of Cultivation Brewing, on th...

The traditional Valentine's pairing is red wine and chocolate. You see it on all the ads. But Lauren Patz used to pair wines with chocolate for a living and she'll tell you red wine really isn't the best wine pairing. Today, she's head distiller at Purple Brands and she's creating flavors that she hopes will be as classic as Valentine's Day. Lauren Patz on the Hidden F&B.

Art DeCaro is the trainer at Waters Edge Winery and he has a lot to say about pairing wine and cheese, and the one wine and cheese pairing he would NEVER do. Art is a big advocate of using technology smartly in the wine business. Art DeCaro,on the Hidden F&B.

Pork, cornbread, seafood...Marcie Cohen Ferris looks at a place's history and culture through its food. She talks about that in her book, "Edible NC," and on the Hidden F&B!   

We're talking with Jon Murray and Wilson Brannock of Noko Nashville. They've joined with a third partner to create their dream restaurant in Nashville. Besides the food, they want nothing less than to change the whole model of the hospitality industry. They are offering their employees health insurance, a travel stipend, and more. As Murray says, "We want our guests to be happy, but we want our pe...

Ryan Mitchell and his dad, Ed, of North Carolina, have just released a book about whole hog barbeque. Ed's first time cooking a whole hog came when the older guys in the family were passed out from a bit too much moonshine, but his son, Ryan, says cooking a hog can be an almost spiritual experience. Ryan Mitchell, on the Hidden F&B.

Zak Melang, one of the owners of 10 Matador Restaurants across the country, says he's done everything you can do in restaurants, from washing dishes to managing. Owning seemed a natural extension.

 Ashleigh Fleming is the chef at the Blue Jay Bistro in Littleton, North Carolina. How little is Littleton? Well, in the town proper, the census says there are around 600 people. But Littleton is also known as the little town with the big heart and part of that big heart is the Blue Jay Bistro and its chef. Ashleigh Fleming on the Hidden F&B.

Sam Hart, owner of Counter in Charlotte, North Carolina, didn't know during this chat that he'd shortly become a finalist for a James Beard award. In a world where restaurants often struggle to survive, he's succeeding with his restaurant by deciding the customer is NOT always right.

Marcus Hammond started the Black Food Truck Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, and he may not be a chef, but he loves to eat, and he wants everyone to try the food coming off these food trucks! He started the festival because he got tired of going to food fests for and by people who didn't look like him. Marcus Hammond, on the Hidden F&B.

Chitra Agrawal sells achaar – and, if you are like I am and weren't familiar with this condiment, it's like an Indian pickle relish, only Chitra uses American produce and about 75% less salt than you find in most of the stuff on the shelves. She talks about building her New York business – love the pun, the name is Brooklyn Delhi, but Delhi like in India – about how getting laid off gave her the p...

I first heard about Alak Nanda from Keya Wingfield (Episode 83) of Richmond, who raved about the podis – or Indian seasoning blends –  that gave Keya a taste of home. This is an Atlanta, Georgia business that was began as a way for Alak and her mom to reconnect during COVID lockdown in India, and it's grown from there. Alak Nandi, on the Hidden F&B.    

Byron Bradley's in New Orleans and he spent some time with legendary chef Leah Chase, learning and even teaching her a few tricks. Now he's quietly trying to build his own empire…cooking, coffee, rum…Byron Bradley on the Hidden F&B podcast! 

Keya Wingfield talks about winning a Food Network competition, her baking, and those Masala chips that are to die for!  Keya Wingfield, on the Hidden F&B.  

Reem Assil has won plenty of awards for her restaurants – she's in the Michelin Guide, she's been a semi-finalist and finalist for James Beard awards – but it's her work to bring justice to the food and beverage community that you should hear about. This is a woman who wants to do, as she says, "all the things," and talking with her is an inspiration. Reem Assil, on the Hidden F&B.

 Lauren Darnell talks about the way her organization, Made in New Orleans, or MINO, is bringing racial equity to the restaurant world. And, when I told her that lots of restaurants have told me they can't find qualified people of color for the really big jobs? She called  bullshit. Lauren Darnell on the Hidden F&B podcast.

Her influence is French, but she's also drawn to the inviting and casual influences of her American mentors. Megan Forman owns Gracious Bakery & Cafe in New Orleans and she didn't know how to make bread when she opened. She sure knows now! Megan Forman on the Hidden F&B podcast. 

Melissa Khoury of Cleveland's Saucisson, takes time from slinging sides of beef to talk on being a female in the butchery world, on educating the public about the more interesting cuts, and how a pig only has so many racks of ribs, so you'd better learn to love the other stuff. Melissa Khoury on the Hidden F&B.     

 I first met Arkesha Baquet when I was in New Orleans for a weekend and my hosts took me to Lil Dizzy's Café for some gumbo. The gumbo was great, but then we smelled the fried chicken and we had to have some of that too! Yum! Our server was Arkesha's nine-year-old son,  who took our orders with such diligence that I knew this was HIS restaurant too. And Arkesha takes that legacy seriously. Arkesha...

I first heard about Chef Jennifer Hill Booker when I was on a trip to New Orleans. One of my traveling companions said I just had to talk to the chef, and I'm so glad she did. It's not every day you get to talk to someone who's a chef, author, restaurant owner, and who happened to graduate top of her class at Le Cordon Bleu in France! Chef Jennifer Hill Booker, on the Hidden F&B.