Best Immigrant Cuisine Podcasts (2024)

1
Norman Van Aken’s Culinary Journey & Legacy 47:52

1h ago47:52

47:52

Today, we delve into the fascinating journey of Chef Norman Van Aken, considered one of the founders of New American Cuisine. A true culinary legend, Van Aken is a pioneer who expertly blends old-world techniques with new-world flavors, coining the term “fusion.” With numerous books, his own Netflix series, and a legacy of inspiring and mentoring m…

1
Arnold Myint: Thai Cuisine and Southern Roots 40:33

4h ago40:33

40:33

Today, I’m excited to talk to Arnold Myint, the talented Chef at The International Market in Nashville. Known for his vibrant personality on Top Chef, Arnold is redefining Thai cuisine by blending modern techniques with traditional Thai flavors. In 2024, he was a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast, highlighti…

1
Alex Yoon: From Korean Roots to Little Fish Success 52:16

11d ago52:16

52:16

In this episode of Flavors Unknown, we sit down with Chef Alex Yoon, the culinary visionary behind Little Fish, a 16-seat seafood BYOB gem nestled in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. Known for its intimate setting and creative seafood dishes, Little Fish has been a local favorite since the 90s. Chef Yoon shares his journey of taking …

1
JWU’s Dean Evans: A New Era in Culinary Education 52:00

25d ago52:00

52:00

Join us today from JWU as we delve into the transformative world of culinary education with Dean Jason Evans of Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI. With a unique blend of economics and a visionary approach to food sustainability, Dean Evans is steering JWU towards a future where culinary education intertwines seamlessly with health and nutr…

1
Inside LA Food Scene: Rising Star Panel Discussion

1M ago

—

Join us for a special episode of our podcast featuring a dynamic panel discussion that took place during the StarChefs Rising Stars event in Los Angeles. Today, we dive into the heart of the LA food scene with some of its most innovative culinary leaders: Chef Sandra Cordero at Xuntos, Pastry Chef Sherry Yard, Mixologist Ramsey Musk at Accomplice B…

1
129: Third Culture Cooking, TikTok Foods, and Kung Food Cookbook with Jon Kung 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

For our last episode this season, we’re exploring what it means to cook from a third culture kitchen. There’s been growing discussions online of what it means to be a third culture kid or a third culture individual. My guest today, Jon Kung, is one of the best people to speak to how third culture experiences can play out through food, cooking, and …

1
From Jail to Chef at Down North Pizza 40:20

3M ago40:20

40:20

Join us today as we explore the compelling narrative of Chef Mike Carter at Down North Pizza in North Philadelphia, where his passion for culinary innovation and social entrepreneurship takes center stage. As a chef who has navigated the journey from incarceration to leading one of Philly’s best pizza restaurants, Mike’s story is a profound testame…

1
128: Heydays at the June Motel - Translating a Lakeside Summer Cuisine into a Cookbook with Katie Laliberté 36:05

3M ago36:05

36:05

Here in Ontario, we’re just hitting the warmer spring weather after a grey and cloudy winter, and anyone living up north can attest to the amount of daydreaming we do about our future and past summer plans. During that daydreaming, memory and nostalgia can play a significant role in establishing an ideal summer, with tastes, scents and flavour play…

1
Aaron Bludorn’s Food Tales: From NYC to Houston 31:47

3M ago31:47

31:47

Today I’m talking to Chef Aaron Bludorn. Born in Minneapolis and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he’s known for his refined and personal style. He’s the creative force behind Bludorn Restaurant and Navy Blue, both located in Houston, Texas. You’ll hear about his youthful excursions catching fish in Seattle and his experiences working in some of th…

1
#123 High Cuisine and Redefining Cannabis Culture with Nicole DiMascio 47:40

3M ago47:40

47:40

Explore the kitchen and beyond with Nicole DiMascio, the creative force behind "Dope Kitchen." As a weed enthusiast and content creator, Nicole is redefining the cannabis culture by challenging the old stoner stereotypes with her dynamic blend of mindful cannabis use, healthy cooking, and active living. Nicole opens up about her journey from viral …

1
Nina Compton: From Caribbean Flavors to NOLA 58:43

4M ago58:43

58:43

Today I’m talking to Chef Nina Compton, a James Beard award-winning chef based in New Orleans,Louisiana. She’s the owner and creative mind behind Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. You’ll hear about her experience on Season 11 of Top Chef, – Saint Lucian roots What you’ll learn from Nina Compton Chef Nina Conpton’s unique and flavorful upbr…

1
127: How Local Journalism Explores the Foods of the American South with Hanna Raskin of The Food Section 27:27

3M ago27:27

27:27

News media at large is in a challenging position this year: we’ve seen mass layoffs across digital media, local news, TV, print, even podcasts and documentaries. There’s shifts in audiences, loss of journalist jobs, and shaky foundations of social media platforms like Twitter and Substack that make even the strongest bylines at risk of being swallo…

1
SXSW 2024 Panel: Immigrant Flavors Reshape America 59:30

4M ago59:30

59:30

This episode is the recording of the SXSW 2024 panel discussion I moderated with local chefs in Austin at a live SXSW event called Global Bites, Local Delights: How Immigrant Flavors Are Shaping the U.S. Food Scene. I’m joined by Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph from Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, Chef Edgar Rico from Nixta Taqueria, and Chef Simone Tong …

1
126: The Ikaria Way: How Mostly Plant-Based Foods Maintain a Greek Island's Longevity with Diane Kochilas 38:17

3M ago38:17

38:17

You may be familiar with the Greek island of Ikaria through the popularity of “Blue Zones” and the idea that these regions of the world can provide insights into living longer, healthier lives. Yet as with most trends around diet and health, there is so much unspoken about the nuances of what an Ikarian lifestyle and diet entails, and the cultural …

1
125: Sesame, Soy, Spice: Using Plant-Based Recipes to Honour Heritage and Healing with Remy Morimoto Park 36:05

4M ago36:05

36:05

Thinking about “typical” types of veganism can reveal a lot of fascinating Western stereotypes or biases around what it does and doesn’t entail. And yet so many cultural cuisines from around the world are rooted in plant-based meals that have been passed down through generations to shape contemporary ethnic cuisines. So what happens when someone ad…

1
Inside ‘The Dish’ with Author Andrew Friedman 1:11:42

5M ago1:11:42

1:11:42

Today I’m talking to Author Andrew Friedman. His most recent book is called The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food. It takes a deep dive into one Chicago kitchen to explore the nature of our food system and the professionals who plate and prepare the food we eat. He’s also the host of the podcast “Andrew Talks to Chefs”. You’ll hear…

1
124: How Microgreens Weave Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science for Food Futures with Natalie Paterson 47:20

5M ago47:20

47:20

One of the pitfalls in sustainability movements is this assumption that we’re all working from an equal playing field, when the reality is that oftentimes we don’t have the home space or the time to grow our own food. What we don’t always ask is whether we can make the comproimses that allow us to meet those desires to grow our own food without the…

1
#122 MUD\WTR's Shane Heath: Fueling a Business and Personal Evolution Through Art, Adaptogens and Action 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

Long before Shane Heath became the founder and CEO of MUD\WTR, he was already on a mission to create healthy minds through healthy habits. Battling depression and anxiety from a young age, Heath traveled both the world and his own interior landscape to shift and evolve his perspective continually. He’s turned his personal journey into a company tha…

1
A Taste of Philly: Chef and Bartender Innovations 1:19:33

5M ago1:19:33

1:19:33

Today, I’m exploring A Taste of Philly with a StarChefs Rising Stars panel of talented chefs in Philadelphia. You’ll hear from Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri at Irwin’s, Chef George Madosky at Fork, Chef Yun Fuentes at Bolo, Bartender Fred Beebe at Post Haste, and Pastry Chef Amanda Rafaiski from Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Discover how their cultural …

1
123: The Power of Showcasing Immigrant Restaurant Stories with Maggie Leandre of CharisMaggieTV 37:37

5M ago37:37

37:37

If you’ve been a regular listener to this podcast, you know that food is central to all of our discussions around identity, culture, belonging, and sense of place. My guest today is someone who excels at bringing these relationships to life through her YouTube channel, and speaks to the layers of personal experience she has had growing up and livin…

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122: Celebrating the Diversity of Torontonian Food through The Depanneur Cookbook with Len Senater 43:47

5M ago43:47

43:47

When I think of a quintessentially Torontonian food experience, I tend to think of The Depanneur. Founded in 2011, The Depanneur was a tiny old corner store that transformed into a place where interesting food things happen, featuring hundreds of talented cooks and home chefs serving thousands of eclectic meals through unique Drop-In Dinners, cooki…

1
Chef Simone Tong: Blending Asia in Austin’s Zoe Tong 49:08

6M ago49:08

49:08

Today, I’m talking to Chef Simone Tong of the restaurant Zoe Tong in Austin. Her cross-cultural upbringing exposed her to many flavors throughout Asia, informing a blending of influences that resulted in a style uniquely her own.You’ll hear about her early food influences, from street foods in China to her days working in her mother’s restaurant. S…

1
121: Exploring the Relationship between Fish Hacks, Porgy, and Black Maritime Culture with Dr. Jayson M. Porter 32:24

6M ago32:24

32:24

Anytime I get to talk about water and seafood on this show feels like a really special week for me, as I have spent most of my life thinking about how we connect with or form relationships around water. My guest, Dr. Jayson M. Porter, this week takes a really nuanced approach to this through a recent article he wrote called Fish Hacks for Distillat…

1
120: Making Sense of Misunderstood Vegetables through Humour and Celebration with Becky Selengut 40:01

6M ago40:01

40:01

Often when we make our grocery runs, time and money are on our mind – which can quickly lead to following a stringent list of household classics and crowd pleasers. But sometimes, in the corner of your eye, you might catch a new to you vegetable and wonder what the heck it is, or how it works. My guest today, Becky Selengut, is here to provide know…

1
#121 Embracing Vulnerability for True Intimacy with Kiana Reeves 46:52

6M ago46:52

46:52

Navigating authentic intimate relationships can have us twisting ourselves into emotional states that would make the Kama Sutra blush. Yet doing the work of self-reflection while being open to change can create profound connections, both with ourselves and others. By embracing our vulnerability and maintaining open communication, we can enrich our …

1
Panama to LA: Chef Jose Carles’ Culinary Journey 50:42

6M ago50:42

50:42

Today, I’m talking to chef Jose Carles, the creative mind behind Venice’s newest restaurant, Si! Mon.Carles is originally from Panama, where he ran Donde Jose and currently operates Fonda Lo Que Hay in bustling Panama City.You’ll hear about his early start in the kitchen and the encouragement his family provided to get him on the professional culin…

1
119: Destigmatizing Harm Reduction, Mental Health, and Drug Use in Alberta with Danielle English 54:08

5M ago54:08

54:08

We’ve spoken a bit this season about the drug poisoning crisis and how breweries can work to support their neighbours using substances, but with this affecting so many across Canada, but I wanted to come back to this topic with some more dimensions as well. My guest this week is Danielle English, who’s on to share more about harm reduction strategi…

1
118: Pink Gold - Women, Shrimp, and Work in Mexico with Dr. María L. Cruz Torres 44:20

5M ago44:20

44:20

The idea of fish industry tends to feel big, vague, and hyper-masculine – it’s easy to think of tales of fisherman and ideals of masculinity. But as my guest this week shares, there are so many complexities to how gender, fishing, and identities intersect. My guest this week is Dr. María L. Cruz Torres. She is an Associate Professor in the School o…

1
El Paso to Mixtli: Chef Rico’s Story 48:49

6M ago48:49

48:49

Today, I’m talking to chef Rico Torres from Mixtli in San Antonio, TX. Born and raised in El Paso, the vast desert landscapes helped inspire his creativity. His proximity to the border of Mexico fed his love for south of the border culinary traditions, made evident through the food he dishes up at Mixtli. You’ll hear how he embraces his Mexican cul…

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117: Unpacking Anti-Fatness in Health and Nutrition for Body Liberation with Patrilie Hernandez of Embody Lib 40:32

6M ago40:32

40:32

Health, nutrition, and food are spaces that can be fraught with harmful and perpetual misconceptions of the body, to the point where many people of the global majority may not always feel safe or heard. My guest this week, Patrilie Hernandez, is someone who works to create more weight-inclusive and nutritionally holistic practices at the forefront …

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116: How Ozempic and Stomach Paralysis Impact Relationships with Food with Emily Wright 33:20

7M ago33:20

33:20

Across social media and TV advertisements, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have risen in recent years and are quickly associated with weight loss and celebrity lifestyles. Yet semaglutide drugs (which includes Ozempic and Wegovy) are intended originally as a drug for use by adults with type 2 diabetes, to manage blood sugar levels along with diet and…

1
#120 Discovering Herbal Wisdom: Rachelle Robinett's Journey to Holistic Health 1:02:42

7M ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Curiosity and listening are powerful tools on our healing journeys. Rachelle Robinett, founder and CEO of Pharmakon Supernatural, knows that to create profound growth and transformation, we need to be intrigued with what we consume—orally, visually and auditorily—and how that impacts our ability to lead balanced, satisfying lives. She shares insigh…

1
Gavin Kaysen: Cooking Philosophy, Leadership & Future 44:31

7M ago44:31

44:31

Today, I’m talking to Chef Gavin Kaysen. He’s the executive chef and owner of several Minneapolis hotspots, including Spoon and Stable, Bellecour Bakery, Demi, Socca, and Mara. Kaysen was a 2018 recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef.You’ll hear about his early love for his grandmother’s dishes, how they inspired him to become…

1
115: Unboxing the History of TV Dinners with Jeff Swystun 39:18

7M ago39:18

39:18

When you think about the concept of a TV dinner, there is a wash of nostalgia that can takeover how you remember the tastes and functions of the dinner itself. But the story of how these TV dinners came to our North American freezers is a fascinating and fun exploration into a lot of the social and technological progress of the 20th century. My gue…

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114: Honouring Maternal Ancestries through Cooking and Restaurant Development with Ruben Rodriguez of Nai Restaurant Groups 41:43

7M ago41:43

41:43

Alright everyone, this is the first episode back after the holiday break, so I hope that this finds you rested, stuffed, and balancing all the new year expectations as well as you can be! For today’s show, I am chatting with chef Ruben Rodriguez, who is a Galcian-born chef and restauranteur of Nai Restaurant Group. Ruben immigrated to New Jersey wi…

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