Radio Cherry Bombe

Valerie Wilson of VALINC PR is a brand-building pro who has advised countless chefs, companies, corporations, and what she likes to call “culture-shifting brands” on getting their messages to the public. She has also been a champion of the Harlem hospitality scene, working with the likes of Ruby’s Vintage, Melba’s, and Fieldtrip, and on major projects including Harlem Park to Park, Harlem EatUp!, Harlem Restaurant Week, and the brand new Renaissance Pavilion, supported by Uber Eats. Stay tuned to learn about Valerie’s inspiring journey and get some of her PR advice! And don’t miss Callie Flynn, dietetic intern and graduate student at the University of Vermont, share why she thinks Tove Ohlander of Tove by design and AO Glass is the Bombe. Today’s show is supported by A Table: Recipes for Cooking and Eating the French Way, out April 6th from Chronicle Books.

Why have famous folks including Maria Carey, Uber founder Travis Kalanick, and Flavortown Mayor Guy Fieri jumped on the ghost kitchen trend? Is this pandemic-era phenomenon here to stay? Joining us to talk about these virtual restaurants and what they’re all about is Florence Fabricant, the legendary food columnist from The New York Times. Florence also shares the best ways for publicists and entrepreneurs to pitch her and how she got her start in food media. Also, find out why Lia Ballentine of the Yum Day snack company thinks Kaitlin Mogentale of Pulp Pantry is the Bombe. Today’s show is supported by Mango and Peppercorns: A Memoir of Food, An Unlikely Family, and the American Dream by Tung Nguyen and Katherine Manning, out March 16th from Chronicle Books. 

Do you know the minimum wage in your state? Saru Jayaraman does. As co-founder and president of One Fair Wage and director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley, Saru and her team are fighting in support of the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and get rid of the $2.13 minimum wage for tipped workers. Saru joins us to talk about the ongoing campaign. She also explains the connection between wages, food stamps and sexual harassment and why a higher minimum wage is better for everyone. Plus, find out why Callie Flynn thinks Tove Ohlander of Tove by Design is the Bombe. Thank you to Käserei Champignon, the makers of Cambozola cheese, for supporting this episode.

Jasmine Cho has one of the most unconventional jobs in the food world: She’s a cookie activist. What began as a way to spotlight overlooked trailblazers in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities has expanded to include people of color making a difference in the world, from poet Amanda Gorman to organizer Stacey Abrams to first responders in Jasmine’s hometown of Pittsburgh. She painstakingly recreates their images in royal icing and shares her creations on everything from social media to exhibitions organized by the Smithsonian. Jasmine joins us to talk about her activism, her book, Role Models Who Look Like Me: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Made History, and how it feels to have the mayor name a day for her. Thank you to Cypress Grove, the makers of Humboldt Fog and Little Giant goat cheese, for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

When rent negotiations with her landlord were going south, Chef/owner Angie Mar knew it might be time to say goodbye to the historic New York City restaurant space that changed her life. So what did she do? She returned the keys, walked away, and rented the space right next door. Angie joins us to discuss her decision to close The Beatrice Inn, the challenges of 2020, the future of fine dining, and more. As Chef Angie’s fans know, she’s a bit of a glamour puss, so we also asked her a few questions about her fashion faves and her beauty routine. Tune in to learn more about this colorful and creative personality.Thank you to Catbird, the finest fine jewelry, for supporting this episode.

Eden Grinshpan is the author of Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day, a spirited cookbook that captures her appetite for life and great food. The always lively Eden joins us to talk about her book, plus the journey that took from high school in Toronto to culinary school in London to hosting Top Chef Canada, with stops in India, Israel, and NYC along the way. Get ready to be inspired by Eden’s adventurous spirit, and get her take on tahini, homemade versus store-bought pita, shakshuka, and more.Thank you to Catbird for supporting today’s show. Catbird’s mission is to make beautiful, sparkling jewelry that will bring you joy now through forever. Visit catbirdnyc.com for more. At the end of the show, learn why Cherry Bombe intern Grace Reynoso thinks Shirley Raines of Beauty 2 the Streetz is the Bombe.

Mashama Bailey is the chef and co-owner of The Grey, one of the most important restaurants in America today. Located in Savannah, Georgia, in what was once a segregated Greyhound bus station, The Grey is the subject of a new book written by Mashama and her business partner, John Morisano. Titled Black, White, and The Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant, it is a unique memoir that came about after tough conversations concerning racism, life, and the real meaning of partnership. Mashama joins us to talk about her book, as well as a new virtual restaurant project with Intersect by Lexus, which brings Mashama’s signature dishes to New York City.Thank you to Catbird for supporting today’s show. Catbird’s mission is to make beautiful, sparkling jewelry that will bring you joy now through forever. Visit catbirdnyc.com for more. 

For our final podcast of 2020, we thought it would be nice to speak with the most positive entrepreneur we know, Emshika Alberini. Driven by her sense of adventure and curiosity, Emshika left her family in Bangkok and struck out on her own in the U.S., journeying from au pair to celebrated restaurateur. She’s faced heartbreak and unspeakable loss, yet she has never lost her belief in the power of love and kindness. Today, Emshika is the owner of Chang Thai Cafe in Littleton, New Hampshire, and the creative force behind the By Emshika beverage line. She was named to the Cherry Bombe 100 in 2018, and has won numerous accolades for her work on behalf of the New Hampshire business and restaurant community. Emshika joins us to talk about her family, her 2021 resolutions, and the power of positivity. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

If we had to pick a person of the year for Cherry Bombe, it would definitely be Paola Velez. She is the co-founder of Bakers against Racism, a global bake sale that raised almost $2 million this year for causes related to Black Lives Matter. It was a tremendous feat that galvanized the baking community around the world. For her day job, Paola is the executive pastry chef at Compass Rose, Maydan, and La Bodega Bakery in Washington, D.C. She is also the cover girl of the most recent issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Paola joined us earlier this summer when Bakers Against Racism had first launched and she was still working at Kith/Kin restaurant in D.C. She was candid about her journey through the industry and the challenges she has faced along the way. Tune in to hear how her passion, drive, and sense of self-worth have won out time and time again. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting this episode. Stay tuned to hear why baker Abena Anim-Somuah (@baking_beanss) thinks Adrianna Adarme, the blogger behind A Cozy Kitchen, is the Bombe. 

Let’s raise a glass because today’s guest is a world-renowned wine expert—the trailblazing Jancis Robinson. A wine critic, correspondent, and columnist with more than 100 awards to her name, Jancis is the author of the Oxford Companion to Wine and the force behind Jancis Robinson.com, an online resource about all things wine that she launched 20 years ago. Jancis joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her remarkable life and career, from her time at Oxford to helping select wine for the Queen of England to her recent glassware collaboration. They also talk about how issues such as sexism and sustainability are changing the world of wine.Thank you to Kerrygold and the Wines of Sicily for supporting today’s episode of Radio Cherry Bombe.Plus, find out why Anna Goldberg, the co-founder of Dough Dealer, thinks Abena Anim-Somuah (@bakingbeanss), baker and founder of the #5BlackBakers hashtag, is the Bombe!