Shelling Peas

This week on Shelling Peas, we’re revisiting a conversation from the early days of the podcast — and it’s one that feels more timely than ever. Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Matt Yaeger, owner of Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, to talk about the evolving wine landscape and the heart of independent business. Matt shares candid insights about the challenges facing small wine shops, from shifting con...

As we head into Earth Month, Chef Ryan is joined by Abigail McHugh-Grifa , Executive Director of the Climate Solutions Accelerator , for a timely conversation about what it means to learn how to care for the Earth—and help others do the same. Abby shares her unexpected path from music education to climate leadership, and how her work now focuses on making climate action more accessible and collabo...

This week on  Shelling Peas,  we’re revisiting one of our most exciting and impactful episodes of 2024.   Early on in his podcasting journey, Chef Ryan Jennings had the opportunity to sit down with the legendary Dr. Michael Greger, a leading voice in lifestyle medicine and plant-based nutrition. Dr. Greger shares the story of how his grandmother's miraculous recovery from end-stage...

This week on Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings catches up with hospitality pro Evan Pierce. From running events at Max Rochester to launching ButaPub and now representing top spirits at Empire Merchants, Evan shares stories from a career shaped by service, adaptability, and a passion for great experiences. They dive into the evolution of Rochester’s dining scene, the fast-paced world of events, a...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Angela Giuseppetti, Special Events Manager at the Seneca Park Zoo Society. They dive into the art of event planning, the power of storytelling in fundraising, and the meticulous effort behind Zoobilation , one of Rochester’s most anticipated galas. Angela shares how her background in theater production shaped her approach to imme...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Joe Morrell, Director of Marketing & Sales for the Swan Family of Restaurants and a contributor to City Magazine . They dive into Joe’s journey from growing up in restaurants to becoming an industry storyteller, discussing the importance of local journalism, the evolving restaurant scene, and how Rochester’s culinary communit...

A pillar of Rochester’s business community, Howie Jacobson has spent decades shaping brands, taking bold risks, and turning big ideas into reality. In this episode of Shelling Peas, he sits down with Chef Ryan Jennings to share the defining moments of his career—from importing Colombian soccer balls to landing an unprecedented brand deal with a Beatle. With sharp insights on adaptability, risk-tak...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings continues the food innovation conversation with Ryan Steenberg, co-founder of Panacheeza . Last week, Janessa Steenberg, Ryan’s wife and business partner, joined Chef Ryan on Connections with Evan Dawson to discuss how food producers are adapting to growing consumer demand for plant-based options. Now, Ryan shares how Panacheeza evolved from a...

Join Chefs Ryan Jennings and Ali Lawrence for a plant-powered crossover, as they dive into the art of fermentation, the rise of vegan cuisine, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Ali shares her journey from the Culinary Institute of America to founding Spirit & Abundance, where she crafts small-batch, cultured plant-based cheeses that are redefining dairy-free dining in Rochest...

In this episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings chats with Leah Stacy, Editor-in-Chief of City Magazine, formerly known as Rochester City Newspaper. Leah shares her background in hospitality, her journey in journalism, and her passion for the Rochester Cocktail Revival, where she serves as a producer. The conversation delves into the evolving media landscape, the balance of work and personal...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings catches up with longtime friend, Mark Cupolo, the chef-owner behind beloved Rochester institutions Rocco and Rella. Together, they reflect on Mark’s 20-plus years in the restaurant industry, the camaraderie of kitchen life, and the art of creating spaces where guests and staff alike feel at home. From lessons learned during the pandemic to the...

In this heartfelt episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings reconnects with his old friend, Cliff Palmore, a seasoned wine professional and hospitality veteran. The two reminisce about their shared history, discuss the evolution of the restaurant and wine industries, and dive into the intricacies of creating exceptional experiences—whether through food, drink, or life itself. Along the way, the...

In this episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings interviews Chef Ana Northrop, of Leonore's, part of the Swan family of restaurants in Rochester, NY. Anna shares her culinary journey, from her early fascination with food inspired by Food Network stars to her first jobs in Hemlock and Canisius Lake. She discusses the challenges and growth she faced in various kitchens, including her experiences...

This week on Shelling Peas, we’re revisiting one of our most exciting and impactful episodes of 2024. Early on in his podcasting journey, Chef Ryan Jennings had the opportunity to sit down with the legendary Dr. Michael Greger, a leading voice in lifestyle medicine and plant-based nutrition. Dr. Greger shares the story of how his grandmother's miraculous recovery from end-stage heart disease shape...

In this week’s episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Rick Rainey, managing partner of Forge Cellars—one of the most celebrated wineries in the Finger Lakes region. From the intricacies of winemaking to the essence of community, Rick shares his passion for crafting wines that tell the unique story of their vintage. The discussion touches on the impact of changing market dynam...

In this episode of Shelling Peas, host Chef Ryan Jennings longtime friend and culinary collaborator, Chef Sean O'Donnell, to the show. They reminisce about their early days working together at Max Rochester and Sean's evolution from being a sous chef at Next Door restaurant to taking on a role in research and development. Sean shares insights into his pivotal experiences, including working with le...

In this episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings welcomes Maria Whitney, chef and owner of Keep It Rollin' Sushi. Maria shares her journey in the food industry, starting from her early days as a bread girl. They reminisce about their initial meeting and California Rollin' days, discuss the challenges of running a food business, particularly during COVID-19, and the importance of passion and de...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Jon Swan, the visionary behind the Swan Family of Restaurants in Rochester, New York, joins host Chef Ryan Jennings for a conversation about his journey from dishwasher to restaurateur. Jon shares how his love of travel inspires the unique concepts behind his restaurants, including Roux, Dorado, and Alexander Social, and how reinvestment and innovation have fuele...

In this inspiring episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Sharon Cryan, CEO and founder of FoodNerd, to discuss her journey from attorney to entrepreneur. Sharon shares the pivotal moments that led her to create FoodNerd, a company dedicated to revolutionizing children's nutrition with whole-food, plant-based solutions. Fresh off her million-dollar win at the 43North competiti...

In this week's episode of 'Shelling Peas,' Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Neil Doran, a seasoned restaurant and hospitality expert. They reminisce about their shared experiences working at the Max Rochester family of restaurants and discuss the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry. From their early days at the Strathallen Hotel to the challenges faced during large-scale events like th...

In this episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings chats with Keith McCullough, Founder and CEO of Junabar, about his inspiring journey from a two-decade career in the video game industry to launching a line of plant-based granola bars. They dive into Keith's background, the evolution of his passions, and the obstacles and achievements he encountered along the way. Highlights include discussions...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings is joined by Chris Kisiel, the chef and owner of Bad Apples Bistro in Spencerport. The two chefs reminisce about their journeys in the culinary world, sharing stories from their early days, the challenges they faced, and the camaraderie they built while working together. Chris delves deeply into his experience of starting and running his own re...

In this episode of Shelling Peas , Chef Ryan Jennings sits down with Maureen Ballatori, founder and CEO of Agency 29, and a key supporter in Sweet Pea’s 2022 Grow-NY competition win. Following last week’s Grow-NY series featuring a few of this year’s finalists, we're gearing up for the 2024 Summit on November 6th & 7th. As we prepare to hear from this year’s innovators, Ryan and Maureen reflec...

In this final episode of our Grow-NY series, Shelling Peas host Chef Ryan Jennings of Sweet Pea Plant Based Kitchen sits down with Dr. Tali Feldman Sivan of Meala Food Tech. They discuss Meala’s innovative technology, which transforms plant-based foods by using clean-label, functional proteins to replace artificial binders and additives traditionally used for texture and consistency. The conversat...

This next episode in the Grow New York series features a conversation with Ethan Holmes, the CEO and co-founder of Holmes Mouthwatering. Ethan shares the inspiring story of how he turned a family applesauce recipe into a successful business, starting as a teen in 2008. Now a finalist in the prestigious Grow New York competition, Ethan talks about the challenges and triumphs of his entrepreneurial...