Sweet'N Up with Jeff Spencer

Chef Prasad Chirnomula is an award-winning chef and a two time Honoree of the popular James Beard Foundation. Chef Prasad owns and operates Chef Prasad in New Canaan, CT and Gourmet United in Easton, CT. Episode Sponsors: The Amber Room Colonnade ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theamberroom.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Affinity Esports ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.affinityesports.gg/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Negative Kitty ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/negative_kitty⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Sanzeni, a former aerospace engineer turned founder and head brewer of Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery. Established in 2018, Broken Symmetry is a charming brewpub nestled in the heart of Bethel, CT, inside the town’s beautifully renovated historic train station. With 9 tap lines featuring their own unique brews, this spot offers an ever-evolving selection of...

Justin Morales is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience. With an impressive career in the industry, Justin has been a part of the opening teams of four restaurants in Hartford, Connecticut alone. He has worked and lived in the city for a significant part of his career, earning him a deep understanding and appreciation for its vibrant culinary scene. In 2017, Justin w...

*Episode recorded summer 2024* Dom Alessandro has been the founder and owner of AW Design since 2000, a company which is dedicated to helping brand owners realize the potential of their brands through meaningful strategic development, passionate design exploration and detailed execution. Prior to AW, Dom was a Design Director at Landor NY, leading a team of designers on branding programs for clien...

Kyle Marcoux, known as THE VULGAR CHEF on Instagram is a creative foodie, who for many years has either delighted or outraged the foodie community with his eye popping recipes and combinations of different foods. Kyle was also one of the original guitarists for the popular metal band Within The Ruins. You’ve probably seen his reels while scrolling on your phone, and with 320k followers and countin...

Affinity Esports is Connecticut’s premier organization for healthier gaming experiences for all generations. AE is on a mission to redefine the gaming world, blending wellness, education, and inclusivity into every aspect of esports. Affinity is committed to leading a transformative movement, creating a balanced and nurturing environment where gamers of every age and background can excel, both in...

Sam Reyes is the owner and head bartender of Mariposa Taqueria , a Latin-American inspired restaurant located in Danbury, CT which was formerly know as Mezon. Sam is a member of the Reyes family, which owns incredible establishments around Danbury and the state such as Mines Carne, Amigos Deli, and Mecha Noodle Bar. Recently, Sam took him the award for “Bartender of the Year” at the 2023 Connectic...

Fellow Brookfield resident Jonathan Mendonca is the author of the best selling book, “Life on Life’s Terms” which is a fascinating and inspiring true story from 10 years of opiate addiction to 4 years of sobriety, and all the lessons learned along the way. Life on Life’s Terms is a success story of self growth and realization through the eyes of an addict. In his book, Jon takes you through the tr...

Seby Martinez & Kurt Vinci are the founders and owners of Negative Kitty, an indie studio headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, bringing wickedly creative animation and video to artists and brands in need of some visual (and conceptual) edge. Having been established in 2021, and serving the Northeast and beyond, Negative Kitty has worked with indie creators, major label music acts, and multimil...

Doug Polistena is the Owner & General Manager of the Amber Room Colonnade, an award-winning premier catering venue and landmark, located in Danbury, CT since 1969. Doug has personally worked with and executed over 3,500 events, to include major galas, weddings, mitzvahs and corporate functions. Episode Sponsors: The Amber Room Colonnade https://www.theamberroom.net/ Uncle Matts Bakery and Cafe...

Kyle Sorenson and Rob Haidar, the founders of UMEBROSHI who have been in the food industry for some time and with knowledge of different cultures and palettes, created a realm to create food without the stereotypical toxicity within kitchens. As they say, they just wanted to have fun making food without all the bullshit, not looking to make their way up the social ladder or win awards. They just w...

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Cesar Collado is a professional boxer currently residing in Danbury, Connecticut representing Champs Boxing Club, also located in Danbury and owned by the legendary, AJ Galante of Danbury Trashers Fame. Cesar is also a master barber and has been servicing clients in the Danbury area for 15 years. His fun nature conversation and precision haircuts will always leave you...

Casey Dohme is the founder and owner of The Blind Rhino The Blind Rhino is a popular, award-winning Sports Bar with two brick & mortar locations in Fairfield County, CT! Their flagship location opened October 2015 in historic downtown South Norwalk, CT, and their newest store launched 2019 in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, CT! Blind Rhino also has a Food Truck that they launched in 2022...

Matthew Sedlak is the founder and owner of Perfusion Bar in Newtown, CT. At Perfusion Bar, Matt demonstrates his love for quality cocktails and his extensive experience in the mixed drink space. Sedlak has traveled extensively, always on the hunt for the best cocktails and previously owned the legendary Highland Brass Co. in Waterbury, CT. I had an awesome, and extremely interesting conversation w...

DJ Darth Fader, known as Brandon Blain, is an individual who brings the party, the entertainment, and is one of the better known DJ’s in the area, always posting up at the hottest places to be around the state of Connecticut. If you’ve ever experienced Connecticut nightlife or just have been strolling around the center of any Connecticut town at night you’ll hear music pumping at every corner.  It...

Amanda Tambascio is the founder of Kash & Liv Coffee Creations by My Place Restaurant in Newtown, CT. Launched on Labor Day of 2022, Kash & Liv Coffee Creations has been taking the local area and Fairfield County by storm at either their home base at My Place Restaurant, pop up events, NewSylum Brewing Company starting this May, deliveries of Coffee to local sporting events, fields and so...

*Originally scheduled to drop 3/17/2023*: Chris Papallo is the founder and owner of Eredita Beer, and a former employee of one of the best breweries in the world, Hill Farmstead of Vermont. Having brewed beer for years under the eyes of some of the best in the world, Chris moved back to Connecticut and began his beer brand in November of 2022, which is already pumping out some of the tastiest beer...

Andy Singer is a comedian and retired detective hailing from the great state of New Jersey. He currently works behind the scenes with comedian Donnell Rawlings, most notably from The Chappelle Show making people laugh all over the internet, but he was also in the Jay & Silent Bob Reboot and has his own podcast called The Bearded Bable, talking to comedians, entrepreneurs, chefs and so much mor...

"Named one of the “12 Most Influential People” by Hartford Magazine, and recently “Best Anchor” by Connecticut Magazine, native New England and Emmy award winning Dennis House is one of the most experienced and highly regarded broadcast journalists in Connecticut. Dennis can be seen co-anchoring the 6 and 11 o’clock newscasts with Ann Nyberg weeknights, on WTNH-TV, Connecticut’s ABC station. While...

Will Arndt is a professional athlete, quarterback, and quarterbacks coach from Newtown, Connecticut who was most recently signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League. A graduate of Western Connecticut State University, a mere stones throw from where the podcast is located, Will defied the odds and is now living his dream. Will has also appeared in a few movies, such as the HBO...

Andy Sachs is one of the country’s top-producing real estate professionals. Previously when we last spoke to Andy, he was manning the helm of the Newtown based Around Town Real Estate Team, a member of Keller Williams, where we spoke to him about how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting the real estate market in our area and beyond. Fast forward to today, a good two years later, and Andy is now man...

Christopher Hodson is the man behind @CookedInConnecticut an Instagram page and blog that features incredible photos and reviews of upscale dining as well as some of his own offerings. Hodson has worked his way through the ranks of many esteemed restaurants, including a stay in New York City, honing the front of house. Today he is a server at Materia Ristorante located in Bantam, CT which is quick...

Bronx Native, Jay Carlucci is the owner of the Dew Drop Inn, located in Derby, CT and widely known for their multiple flavors of wings, which there are almost 200 of! The Dew Drop has won CT’s best wings countless times, was recently featured on Chef Robert Irvines “Cheat Day USA” on the Cooking Channel and is a most stop for wing fans all over the US. Joe Attonito, returning guest from Season 2,...

Ryan O Rell is an up and coming force of nature. A recent high school graduate, Ryan is a pro athlete at the young age of 18 years old, sponsored by Madd Gear, the Worlds No 1 Pro Scooter brand, established in 2002. As a multi talented individual Ryan also excels at skateboarding, BMX, parkour and so much more. Now, Ryan has his sights set on one day becoming a member of the Red Bull family. Rich...

Bob Florence is the founder and co-owner of Moromi a company based in beautiful, costal southeastern Connecticut creating handcrafted seasonings based on traditional fermentation techniques using koji and our natural microbiome to transform a variety of local ingredients into unique sauces, seasonings, and condiments. As a chemist, Bob has had a life-long passion for making stuff. Having lived and...