With Bowl and Spoon

Justin Lee is a Pittsburgh native, raised in one of the city's first Chinese restaurants. He initially pursued a career in teaching but found his joy in the service industry, working as a bartender. He later refined his skills in Las Vegas before returning to Pittsburgh. Influenced by his father and grandfather who taught him the importance of treating customers and employees like family, Just...

In October 2013 I drove to Tennessee to attend Sandor Katz fermentation workshop, which we affectionately refer to as "Fermentation Camp." Along with other attendees across North America, we camped out and participate din various fermentation activities, including making sauerkraut and pear cider. We visited the Barefoot Farmer's Farm, where we learned about the mycelium network and harvested a li...

Welcome to the third episode of Fermentation February! Today we talk about a food that's not very local for us here in Pittsburgh, but it is in Lebanon, where Marcelle Newman grew up. After a fall hike brings back fond memories from her youth, Shelly and Brett team up with Marcelle to replicate the experience! This episode will walk you through the nostalgia, and process of pickling olives, and ta...

Trevor Ring, founder of Community Cultures, has transformed his passion for fermentation into a thriving small business. For the past two years Trevor has focused on sourcing ingredients locally and even foraging some himself.  Trevor's approach emphasizes quality, community-building, and maintaining a small scale rather than expanding into a large production company. This philosophy stems fro...

Jeonghee is a Korean native with a passion for sharing the Korean table with the people of Pittsburgh. Jeonghee shares her insights on authentic Korean meals and her love for cooking and creating a sense of community. She believes that sharing a meal transforms a house into a home. Discover why Jeonghee chose to open YeGa Kimchi over a career in nursing, the challenge of creating vegan kimchi for...

Alexis (Lex) Williams, the founder of Earth Offerings Garden Consulting and Installation, is at the forefront of a new generation of eco-activists. Her journey from a suburban upbringing in Natrona Heights to becoming a passionate advocate for sustainability and nature connection in urban environments is transformative. Earth Offerings GCAI, now in its second year, is based on Lex's desire to...

Mick Luber, the visionary behind Bluebird Organic Farm in Cadiz, Ohio, embodies the spirit of sustainable agriculture and self-sufficiency. As a trailblazing organic farmer, Luber has been a cornerstone of the local agricultural community for over four decades, demonstrating how self-sustaining farming can transform lives and communities. Luber's approach to farming goes beyond mere food produ...

It's New Years Eve, the last day of 2024 and I'm cleaning up some bits and pieces from the year and I couldn't leave this behind! This episode is from the Total Solar Eclipse in April which we were lucky enough to attend.

Chris Balouris, Salonika Imports and retail store, & EVIA Greek Restaurant Chris Balouris and his family own and operate Salonika Imports, a Greek wholesale and retail business in Lawrenceville, and EVIA Greek Restaurant in Bellevue. Food, culture, faith, and family are the cornerstones of his life, shaped by his upbringing in a Pittsburgh Greek household and his transformative first trip to G...

Heather shares delightful stories from her childhood in Southern California, where she savored family traditions centered around fresh, flavorful food . Her journey has taken her across the country, from California to New York and Florida, before finally settling in Pittsburgh. It was here that Heather discovered not only her own craving for fresh salsa but also that of her friends! In our convers...

This week on With Bowl and Spoon, meet  François Nadeau , the owner of Ontario's northern-most cheese company  Fromagerie Kapuskoise Artisan Cheese , located in Kapuskasing, Ontario. François shares his journey into the world of cheese-making, which began during his travels in Asia where he discovered there was a serious lack of cheese. This experience made him realize how much he really needed ch...

In this week’s episode we kick off our two-part series exploring the stunning province of Ontario, Canada!  This journey takes us to four of the five Great Lakes and as far north as there are roads, focusing on the beautiful Canadian landscape. We decided on Ontario after a year of stagnation created an urge for adventure. Traditionally, our road trips led us south, but with the increasing summer...

Chef Zach Keeshig specializes in progressive indigenous cuisine, sourcing from a very local area around Owen Sound, Ontario. His restaurant, Naagan, opens this month! He puts his money where his community is, and works with local, indigenous farmers, hunters, fishers, foragers, and growers to source ingredients for his always-changing tasting menu that is seasonal and connected to the land. We tal...

In this episode we visit the world of ecological landscaping with Chris Kosin, the owner of GaiaScape Landscaping. Chris's journey from the medical field to sustainable gardening showcases his innate desire to nurture, which he now channels into creating thriving urban ecosystems that nurture and create connections with people, plants, animals, insects, and the planet. - - - - -

Dr. Murrell is a different kind of academic, focusing not just on studying a problem but on creating and implementing solutions to the problem, and not any small problems! We talk about her family, her three decades at the University of Pittsburgh, and her "baby", Food 21.

Today my guest is at Darren Cheng, PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University, and also one of the owners of Cup of Wonton food stand at the Squirrel Hill Sunday farmers market. We talk about his family and his food and his epiphany to start a wonton business. Hope you enjoy our conversation.

Lena Laskaris and James Wolfe almost opened an oyster bar, but their love of breakfast and community turned them towards biscuits. Lucky for us! Hear about how they met, what inspired their love of food and hospitality, and what's in store for the future of Wise County Biscuits.

Today is Lou the Pittsburgh Pie Guy Day! Lou and I met at his kitchen on a rainy day this summer to talk about his pie making roots, biking across the country, and the future of Pies in Pittsburgh.

Lexy Baird has the dream job of many food studies graduates. As a sustainable gardener for a family, she has the freedom to cultivate a variety of crops, experiment with preservation methods, and share surplus produce with her community. For "funzies" Lexy also leads educational sessions at Phipps, and works part-time for a local dairy, enjoying the creative fulfillment it brings. Join u...

In this episode, Shelly shares her story as the City of Pittsburgh's first Food Planner. She talks about challenges, achievements, and circumstances leading to her parting ways with the City. Despite the trauma, this episode offers a reflective and detailed account of her experiences and hopes for the future. Please note, there are a couple bad words in this episode.

In this episode of With Bowl and Spoon, we welcome Zhelyazko (Jak) and Molly Freedman Latinova, the founders of a charming bakery in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. They share their journey from Bulgaria, where Jak discovered his love for baking and established a successful bakery, to moving to the US and starting their bakery here. We discuss Bulgarian specialty foods, including Banits...

In today's episode of With Bowl and Spoon, we chat with Ellen Swartzfager from Footprints Farm in southwestern PA. Ellen shares the journey and philosophy behind their regenerative farm, which specializes in pastured meats. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with local farmers and understanding the benefits of well-raised, healthy fats. Recorded during one of her delivery days in the...

Today is a special day at With Bowl and Spoon—it's Rick Sebak Day! Join us as we celebrate the beloved documentary filmmaker from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Rick Sebak, a Bethel Park native, has charmed audiences with his unique storytelling, capturing the historical essence of Pittsburgh and beyond. After attending college at the University of North Carolina, Rick developed a passion for maki...

Jake Kristophel and Desiree Sirois, owners of Fallen Aspen Farm, share their journey of developing their farm over the past decade. Starting with Delila the pig, who briefly lived as a house pig, their farm has included chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, cows, pigs, and vegetables. Jake and Desiree talk about how they met, their motivation to start farming, and the various adventures they've experie...

In this episode I have a lovely conversation with Doug Oster, an Emmy award-winning garden host, writer, and producer, at his forested homestead in the North Hills. We delve into Doug's journey into gardening, starting from his grandmother's garden to becoming a renowned garden guru. Doug discusses his beginnings as a photo editor, his transition into gardening and writing, and his eventua...