Jenn Seasly's Foodlore Podcast

In this episode of Jen Seasley's Foodlore, Dr. Jen sits down with Tucson's own Michael Lopez — a barber, professional DJ, longtime food industry veteran, and the creative force behind Barrio Bites at Gibson Food Hall and Market. Michael shares why burritos hold such a deep emotional connection for him, from working on farms in California while in the Navy to feeding people in need after COVID. Kno...

In this delightfully strange and surprisingly heartfelt episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Jenn welcomes Bennett Rea , the creator behind Cookin' with Congress , the social media series where historic political recipes are researched, recreated, and bravely eaten. Bennett is known for taking on everything from presidential favorites to congressional cookbook curiosities, including more Jell-O mol...

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly shares the story of making homemade tamales with friends — a delicious, time-consuming, slightly chaotic, and deeply rewarding kitchen adventure. From red chile beef and green chile pork to Hatch chile and cheese, elote-inspired fillings, apples with green chiles, and the very firm decision to avoid hidden green olives, Jenn explores how...

In this episode of Jenn Seasley's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with celebrity chef Dave Martin to talk about the dishes that have stayed with him emotionally over the years. From an old-school  bean and cheese burrito in Southern California to his deep love of pizza , Peking duck , Thai food, and global comfort dishes, Chef Dave shares how flavor, memory, and travel all shape the way we ea...

In this flavorful episode of Dr. Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Jenn sits down with chef, teacher, and content creator Abby Cheshire of Abby in the Galley to talk about the surprising journey behind one of Abby's favorite dishes: Thai red curry . Abby shares how a dish she once rejected as a kid eventually became a longtime favorite and a recipe she spent years refining. Along the way, they dive into Th...

What if the foods on your New Year's table weren't random… but symbols of abundance, prosperity, and long life? In this episode of Dr. Jean Seasly's Foodlore, you share the comforting Southern traditions that shape your New Year's Day — from creamy pressure-cooked black-eyed peas to pork for progress, greens for prosperity, and golden cornbread for wealth. You also explore how cultures around the...

In this episode of  Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn takes us to Buenos Aires, a city where food is not just abundant — it's a way of life. From wandering the vibrant streets of Palermo to joining an unforgettable guided foodie tour, Jenn shares how Buenos Aires reveals itself through grilled chorizo sandwiches dripping with provolone, impossibly fresh gin and tonics, generous pours of Malbec, an...

In this episode of Jenn Seasley's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn is joined by Chef Blackwell Smith , author of the No BS Holiday Cookbook and founder of The Lucky Cajun . What begins with a childhood memory of eating raw oysters with his grandparents in Florida turns into a rich conversation about fresh spices, Cajun influence, and why most grocery-store seasonings only taste like a shadow of what they shoul...

Traveling to Antarctica is extraordinary on its own — but dining there takes the experience to an entirely different level. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Seasley shares what it's like to eat while journeying to the seventh continent, from crossing the Drake Passage to stepping foot on the Antarctic Peninsula. Aboard the expedition ship Pursuit with Seabourn , Jenn explores how world-class food, though...

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with Chef Christian Padilla of Zio Peppe in Tucson — a restaurant celebrated for its Italian–Southwest fusion. Chef Christian shares the deeply personal story behind his birria , which began not in a professional kitchen, but on a small goat farm. From learning butchery at a young age to finishing dishes by trusting his sense of...

In this episode of  Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , we sit down with Tucson's own  Rocco DiGrazia —chef, pizzaiolo, and keeper of one unforgettable family recipe. Rocco takes us back to the South Side of Chicago, where his Slovenian grandmother taught him how to make her legendary stuffed cabbage rolls: tender leaves, bacon-fried onions, caraway, sauerkraut by the handful, and twine-tied bundles simmered...

In this heartfelt solo episode, Dr. Jenn dives straight into the smells, sounds, and deeply nostalgic flavors that shaped her Thanksgiving traditions. From her signature bacon-woven turkey glazed in herb mayo, to the green bean casserole glow-up, to childhood favorites like Ritz-topped squash and Cool Whip fruit salad — Jenn walks us through a holiday table overflowing with memories. Along the way...

Welcome to  Foodie Confessions , a new mini-series inside  Foodlore   where Jenn shares the stories behind the foods she  just can't . In this hilarious role-reversal, her husband and editor Zac interviews her about the culinary deal-breakers : raw onions (with two oddly specific exceptions), fennel and anything licorice-adjacent, raw seafood from crudo to tartare, and a diplomatic "no thanks" to...

Step back in time with us in this deliciously nostalgic episode of Dr. Jenn Seasly's Foodlore as we explore the story and secrets behind The Pink Casserole . Our guest, April Brennan , shares her favorite vintage recipe, tips for making it perfectly creamy, and the memories tied to this classic dish. Whether you're a fan of casseroles, love vintage recipes, or just crave a little nostalgia in your...

Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with Tucson chef Matt Love (Forbes Meat Market & Restaurant, Five Points) to tell the love story behind a breakfast burrito that evolved into a house legend: "my burrito," now affectionately the Boorito . What started as one whole egg plus egg whites for his nutrition-professor wife became an 11-minute morning ritual—cheese spread edge-to-edge, salsa inside , and a gentle...

Dr.  Jenn Seasly  sits down with her longtime friend  Karenza Gordon  to honor a dish that carried them through potlucks, holidays, and family stories:  deviled eggs . From  Honey's  sweet-pickle version to Jenn's bacon riff (and even the high-society touch of caviar), this episode celebrates how a simple egg becomes a memory that lasts for generations. Along the way, they laugh about peeling disa...

In this flavorful episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly welcomes Foti Rouch , a Greek home cook whose go-to dish—a slow-roasted leg of lamb with orzo—is steeped in family tradition and emotion. From his mother's handwritten recipe to recreating meals for his son in Tucson, Foti reminds us how food can bridge countries, cultures, and generations. Plus, we take a detour through smoker...

In this spicy and smoky episode of Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly chats with home chef and mixologist Shana Vanbebber about the deep culinary roots of the Southwest. From her family's Hatch green chile stew to a stunning tequila-based cocktail called Vermilion Smoke , Shana shares stories of flavor, tradition, and a dash of humor. They explore the history of Hatch chiles, the art of smoking simple syr...

In this heartfelt episode of Foodlore , Dr. Jenn Seasly chats with Amber Pierce, who shares the unexpectedly powerful memories tied to humble dishes like "noodles and meat" and her grandmother's oatmeal. From Christmas morning fried tenderloin biscuits to peach cobbler breakfasts and holiday traditions like oyster stew and sausage pinwheels, Amber walks us through a flavor-filled journey of love,...

In this heartwarming episode of Foodlore , Cindy Blue shares more than just a recipe—she invites us into her East Texas childhood kitchen, where her father's fried catfish wasn't just food, it was tradition, comfort, and magic in a skillet. With crisp cornmeal, a soak in buttermilk, and just the right cut, Cindy's dad turned fresh catfish into a southern staple that still lingers in her memory (an...

In this cozy episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore , Dr. Jenn walks us through a buttery classic: traditional shortbread. With just three humble ingredients—Irish butter, sugar, and flour—she proves that simplicity can be deliciously powerful. Along the way, she shares her personal baking rituals, tips for getting that perfect crumbly texture, and the joy of gifting sweet treats to loved ones. Whether...

In this episode, Dr. Jenn Seasly reconnects with Zack Brimhall to explore a beloved Turkish dish— mantı —a labor-intensive but love-filled dumpling that ties generations together. Zack shares vivid memories of his grandmother making hundreds of these meat-filled parcels from scratch, flavored with garlic yogurt, paprika, sumac, and mint. They talk about how food transcends language barriers, how s...

In this heartwarming episode of Foodlore , Jenn Seasley sits down with Paul—a Navy veteran and home cook from Tucson—to talk about the soulful magic of red beans and rice . What starts as a story about a humble Southern dish turns into a rich conversation about family legacy, cooking traditions, and why slowing down in the kitchen can nourish more than just your body. Paul shares his grandmother's...

In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, Dr. Jenn Seasly bakes up a storm with a special young guest: Miss Allie, a budding baker with big dreams and even bigger opinions on frosting, dino nuggets, and cupcakes. From making cowboy cookies and personal pizzas to collecting eggs from backyard ducks, this episode captures the magic of learning, laughing, and licking the spoon. You'll hear honest (...

A party of ten people, including a food safety expert, a nurse, and a chemist, discuss food facts and myths during a hilarious episode.