The Perfect Bite

Calling all wine lovers!  This is our first episode with a winemaker extraordinaire. On this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Janie Brooks Heuck , Managing Director of Brooks Wine , located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and named one of the Top 50 Wineries in the World . Janie shares how she unexpectedly stepped into the wine industry after her brother Jimmy’s p...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Paula Haines , CEO of Freedom a la Cart, a Columbus-based café, catering business, and nonprofit that helps survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives through food and workforce development. Paula shares how her journey from entrepreneurship and marketing led her to lead an organization that blends purpose and business...

Have you ever tried Nam Prik Pao? It’s maybe one of the greatest condiments EVER! In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins talks with Palita Sriratana , the founder of Pink Salt Kitchens and the creator behind the cult-favorite Thai chili jam Nam Prik Pao . Palita’s journey is anything but ordinary. From growing up in Bloomington, Illinois, learning family recipes alongside her gra...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Chef BJ Lieberman , the award-winning restaurateur behind Chapman’s Eat Market , Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge , and Metsi’s Wood-Fired Italian — three of Columbus’s most beloved culinary concepts. BJ shares how he transitioned from graphic design to culinary arts, his time earning Michelin stars at Rose’s Luxury and Little Pearl...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Franco Fubini , founder and CEO of Natoora , the global produce company redefining how we grow, source, and eat food. For over 20 years, Franco has been leading a quiet food revolution — rebuilding supply chains to prioritize flavor, transparency, and seasonality . His new book, In Search of the Perfect Peach , is both a memoi...

 In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Lauren Culley , cofounder and owner of Fox in the Snow Café , one of Columbus, Ohio’s most beloved third-space gathering spots. Known for its overflowing pastry cases, warm hospitality, and that legendary egg sandwich, Fox in the Snow has grown from a converted garage into a citywide institution with four (and counting) locat...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Christine Cikowski , co-founder and co-owner of Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club, two Chicago dining institutions rooted in comfort, community, and care. Christine shares her unexpected journey from music business graduate to culinary entrepreneur, and how she built one of Chicago’s most iconic neighborhood re...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins chats with Brett Brohl , Managing Partner of Bread & Butter Ventures , a seed-stage venture fund based in Minnesota investing in the future of food, agriculture, and health tech. Brett’s story is one of transformation—from serial entrepreneur and startup founder to one of the most active early-stage investors in the Midwest. He shares ho...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins talks with Alana Bralsford and Eve Williamson , the London-based co-founders of Served App, an innovative platform helping restaurants become more transparent about food allergens and dietary information. What started as an engineering project at Imperial College London quickly became a mission to make dining safer, easier, and more inclusiv...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins reconnects with childhood friend turned Michelin-starred chef, Henry Hill , founder of Hill’s Research Kitchen . Henry’s story spans continents and kitchens — from legendary restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and Dusek’s in Chicago, to his current work driving food innovation and product development at his consultancy, Hill’s Research Kitc...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Jake Simon , Co-Founder and CEO of ConnectedFresh , a company using IoT sensors and predictive analytics to help restaurants protect their food, save money, and operate more sustainably. Jake shares how a friend’s spoiled produce sparked the idea for ConnectedFresh and how his background at Deloitte’s smart sensor division ins...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Disha Gulati , the visionary founder and CEO of Here Here Market , a Chicago-based online marketplace that helps chefs, artisans, and emerging CPG brands launch products and build profitable businesses. After a decade in corporate roles at Deloitte and Mondelez International , Disha took the leap into entrepreneurship and buil...

In this episode of The Perfect Bite , host Sarah Perkins sits down with Xavier Rocabado , CEO and co-founder of Bairu , a fast-growing food tech startup from Bolivia helping restaurants across Latin America manage sales, communication, and payments through WhatsApp commerce . What started as a simple digital kiosk idea for a friend’s restaurant has evolved into a full-scale platform streamlining r...

Today's guest has paved the way for new world cuisine and modern cooking as we know it. In fact, you wouldn't have the word 'fusion' in the lexicon of cooking without him. In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast , I sit down with legendary chef, restaurateur, and James Beard Award winner Norman Van Aken . Known as the “Godfather of Fusion Cuisine,” Norman shares the extraordinary journey that...

Meet Luisa Castellanos and Andy Freivogel , co-founders of Science On Call — the startup that helps restaurants manage everything from point-of-sale crashes to online ordering breakdowns, all while keeping humanity at the heart of hospitality tech. In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast , host Sarah Perkins talks with Luisa and Andy about: Their entrepreneurial journeys from ice cream shops,...

Have you ever heard of a Chicago style bagel? Thanks to Tilly Bagel , now you have — and they might just rival New York’s bagel crown. In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast , host Sarah Perkins sits down with founders Hannah Tillet-Banaszak (pastry chef alum of Top Chef Stephanie Izard's Girl & The Goat and Michelin-starred BOKA) and Mike Banaszak (acclaimed architect turned entrepreneur...

What does it mean to farm with chefs, sustainability, and flavor in mind? This episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, I'm speaking with one of the hardest working entrepreneurs you'll ever meet. And no, he's not building the next tech unicorn. He's nourishing people around the world with his nutrient rich bites from The Chef's Garden and his infectious personality—it’s Farmer Lee Jones! The iconic F...

Chef, musician, and entrepreneur — Chef Ed Porter has lived many lives through food. Our guest this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast is a renaissance person of all kinds, from the plate, to the studio, to your screens. Chef Ed Porter is a fine-dining-trained chef who also is an accomplished hip hop artist, and now, a documentary film director with his newest film, “The Food That Fuels”. I sit d...

Welcome to the FIRST episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, your fusion of food and entrepreneurship! We’re beyond excited to chat with this episode’s guest, Maneet Chauhan. She’s a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, from chef, to restaurateur, cookbook writer, television personality, James Beard Award winner, and so much more. Anytime you turn on the Food Network, there’s a good chance you’ll see Maneet...

Welcome to The Perfect Bite podcast, your fusion of food and entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Sarah Perkins. The Perfect Bite isn’t just a bite of my career to date, from lifestyle journalist, to founder, to food & bev marketing enthusiast. It’s also a perfect bite of the different types of folks who bring you the food you love. You’ll hear stories from chefs, restaurateurs, CPG brands and mor...