Radio Cherry Bombe

Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, chef and co-owner of Birdie's in Austin, talks about their 'fine casual' concept, offering paid family leave, health insurance, and four weeks of planned and paid vacation. They discuss their unconventional benefits and policies for their team, including a high hourly wage and a flat tip pool. They share their ambitions for future restaurant expansion and the benefits of their restaurant model. The episode also explores the power of networking in the industry and the potential for creating a cookbook.

Melissa Marra-Alvarez and Elizabeth Way of The Museum at FIT discuss the intersection of food and fashion, touching on the historical and contemporary aspects of this relationship. They explore topics such as identity expression, body positivity, and the historical control over women's bodies in the fashion industry. The speakers also delve into the connection between food and fashion through an exhibition showcasing their intersection in metaphorical ways. Additionally, they dive into the influence of social media on creativity and individuality in food and fashion, highlighting examples of culinary work integrated with fashion elements.

Ellia Park, an award-winning restaurateur and hospitality pro behind Atoboy, Atomix, Naro, and the new Seoul Salon, joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her journey from Seoul to NYC, bootstrapping Atoboy, and popularizing New Korean Cuisine. They discuss signature dishes, future plans for the team, and the possibility of writing a book about hospitality.

Padma Lakshmi, brilliant and fearless, discusses her Hulu show Taste The Nation and her involvement with Sports Illustrated. She explores America's foodways, cultural significance in food, body image, empowerment, and the unequal treatment of women in professional settings.

We have a very special guest making her Radio Cherry Bombe debut today. It’s our CEO, Kate Miller Spencer. Kate is a mom, a fervent supporter of women in the food world, and a longtime media pro who has worked at a number of legacy publications and organizations, including Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, New York Magazine, and Vox Media.Kate joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about life on the business side of food media, championing women in food, and plans for Cherry Bombe’s future. Kate and Kerry also talk about why Cherry Bombe is fundraising after a decade of being bootstrapped and what their community round on Wefunder is all about. Learn more about Cherry Bombe’s Wefunder campaign here. OFFICIAL DISCLOSUREWe are 'testing the waters' to gauge investor interest in an offering under Regulation Crowdfunding. No money or other consideration is being solicited. If sent, it will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities will be accepted. No part of the purchase price will be received until a Form C is filed and only through Wefunder’s platform. Any indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.Hosted by Kerry DiamondProduced by Catherine Baker and Jenna SadhuEdited by Jenna SadhuMusic by Tralala, “All Fired Up”Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. More on Kate: Instagram, Cherry Bombe, website

Maui Chef Lee Anne Wong, who lost her restaurant in the Lahaina fires, discusses the relief efforts in Maui and how listeners can help. They talk about the devastating impact of the fires, community collaboration in providing relief and food, the generosity of the culinary community, and supporting the relief effort through fundraising.

Hosted by Kerry DiamondProduced by Catherine Baker and Jenna SadhuEdited by Jenna SadhuMusic by Tralala, “All Fired Up”Gayle Pirie has been co-owner and co-executive chef of San Francisco’s iconic restaurant Foreign Cinema for more than two decades. In today’s episode, she talks with host Kerry Diamond about how she and her husband took over the struggling business after the dot-com bubble popped, and made it into a restaurant that reflected their own passion for food and the arts. Foreign Cinema’s name comes from the 35-millimeter films they show every night, starting at dusk, on the outdoor patio; diners can sit outside and watch while enjoying favorites from Gayle and John’s local, seasonal California-Mediterranean menu. Gayle also talks about her friends and mentors— Alice Waters of Chez Panisse and Edible Schoolyard and the late Judy Rodgers of Zuni Cafe—and shares her take on life in San Francisco right now. Thank you to OpenTable for supporting this episode. Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. More on Gayle: Instagram, Foreign Cinema, website

Caroline Styne, a force in the L.A. restaurant world, talks about her career, running multiple businesses, and navigating the writers' and actors' strikes. They also discuss her involvement in the L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade event, which has raised over $8 million to fight childhood cancers. The hosts explore the creation of AOC wine bar, their commitment to organic wines, and managing food at the Hollywood Bowl.

Hosted by Kerry DiamondProduced by Catherine Baker and Jenna SadhuEdited by Jenna SadhuMusic by Tralala, “All Fired Up”Chef Juliana Latif and her team at Zou Zou’s are turning out some of the best restaurant dishes in Manhattan, from the dip towers to the Strawberry Shirazi salad with cucumber and mint, Smoked Cherry Baby Lamb Chops, and Kataifi Cheesecake. She got her start at a young age, helping out at her parents’ specialty grocery shop, Tangiers in West Hartford, Conn., then went on to attend culinary school, intern at Disney World in Florida, and rise to the level of sous chef at the Michelin-starred NoMad in Manhattan. Juliana, Zou Zou’s executive chef, joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her family (she’s the youngest of 11), how cooking for others became her love language, the story behind her tattoos, and why she’s happy being a low-key culinary personality.Thank you to OpenTable for supporting this episode. Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studio in New York City and Outpost Studio in San Francisco. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. More on Juliana: Instagram, Zou Zou's Restaurant

Hosted by Kerry DiamondProduced by Catherine Baker and Jenna SadhuEdited by Jenna SadhuMusic by Tralala, “All Fired Up”Amanda Turner was drawn to kitchen life and wanted to move from front of house at Olive Garden to back of house, but was turned down because she “was a woman and didn’t speak Spanish.” So she headed to culinary school (“out of spite”) and found her calling. Today, Amanda is the chef de cuisine at Olamaie, a fine-dining restaurant in Austin where the menu is reflective of her upbringing, autonomy is prized, and the Pokémon theme song kicks off every service. Amanda joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her early days at corporate culinary concepts like Chuck E. Cheese, her time in Japan, and working with Olamaie’s chef/owner Michael Fojtasek. She also shares more about her love of gaming and how Dungeons & Dragons factors into one of her pop-ups. Thank you to OpenTable for supporting this episode. Learn more about the Cherry Bombe + OpenTable Sit With Us community dinner series here. Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. This episode was recorded at 5th Street Studio in Austin. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. More on Amanda: Instagram, Olamaie Restaurant, The Fiery Talon pop-up