Unplated with Antonio Diaz

Kids are hungry in America. And most of them are never taught how to cook. In this episode of Unplated, Antonio sits down with Carolyn Federman, founder of the Charlie Cart Project, a nonprofit bringing hands-on food education into public schools, libraries, and community spaces through fully equipped mobile teaching kitchens. Carolyn’s work is a direct response to a broken system. Most kids in th...

Chef Michael Cimarusti just did something only a handful of chefs in the world ever will: his Los Angeles restaurant, Providence, earned three Michelin stars. Plus it also holds a Green Star for its commitment to sustainability. Only 38 restaurants in the world can make that claim. Since opening in 2005, Providence has become a cornerstone of Los Angeles dining, celebrated for its devotion to seaf...

Most of us cook with olive oil every single day but how much do we actually know about what’s in the bottle? Aishwarya Iyer is the founder of Brightland , a company that has reimagined olive oil by working with small California growers to produce extra-virgin oils held to some of the strictest standards in the world. What began as a curiosity about the foundation of most of our dishes became a mis...

What happens when you build a $700 million coffee empire and then walk away from it all? James Freeman, the visionary founder of Blue Bottle Coffee, shares his journey from a converted Oakland potting shed to creating one of the most iconic coffee brands in the world. With backing from Google Ventures and massive growth into the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, James built the Apple of coffee brands....

In this episode of Unplated with Antonio Diaz, Antonio sits down with Ben Shenassafar (aka Ben Hundreds), co-founder of The Hundreds, the streetwear brand that sparked a legacy in the fashion world. Known for blending skate culture, hip-hop, and Los Angeles’ rebellious spirit, The Hundreds became a cultural phenomenon in the fashion world. Now, Ben is venturing into a new world: the restaurant ind...

The James Beard Award winning pizzaiolo, Chris Bianco, began making waves in the culinary world with Pizzeria Bianco, which opened in 1988 in a small corner of a grocery store in Phoenix, Arizona. What started as a modest venture has since become what many consider to be the best pizza in America. We dive deep into Chris’s philosophy on food, hospitality, and building relationships with the people...

Ellen Bennett, founder of Hedley & Bennett, took her frustration with cheap kitchen aprons and turned it into an apron and chefwear brand that’s now a staple in kitchens worldwide—both at home and at restaurants. In this conversation, Ellen and Antonio discuss topics such as the relentless hustle behind building a business from the ground up, how Ellen built a brand that empowers confidence an...

Antonio Diaz, founder of Life & Thyme and documentary filmmaker, invites you to explore the stories and journeys of chefs, entrepreneurs, and experts shaping the world of food. Releasing April 10. Follow Life & Thyme on Instagram @lifeandthyme and Antonio at @libereateantonio . Unplated is an original podcast production by Life & Thyme .