Best Malai Podcasts (2024)

1
The Bear Season 3 Recap - Part 2. Plus, service fees here to stay, street vendors win big, and Gorilla Pies needs our help. 1:18:11

2d ago1:18:11

1:18:11

Part 2 of our The Bear Season 3 recap. Father Sal is with us to break down episodes 6-10. If you listened to Part 1 on Monday, you'll know that we weren't too sweet on episodes 1-5. Did the second half of the season change our opinion? Not exactly, but keep listening to find out where exactly we feel the show got lost in the sauce, and most importa…

1
The Bear Season 3 Recap - Part 1: Does it still have the special sauce? 1:06:11

4d ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Father Sal and I recap episodes 1-5 of The Bear Season 3, which is now streaming on Hulu. Helpful links:The Bear https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f--Get 10% off when you use code "LAFOOD" on House of Macadamias https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify…

1
Live from Holbox: Lunch with Santiago Lastra, chef of London's Michelin-starred KOL 1:39:58

7d ago1:39:58

1:39:58

Santiago Lastra is the chef of Michelin-starred restaurant KOL in London. He visited in LA on the heels of the World’s 50 Best ceremony in Las Vegas, where KOL was named the number 17 best restaurant in the world. He stopped by the City of Angels for a special collab dinner with Vespertine’s Jordan Kahn, and I’m really honored he made time to grab …

1
Top Chef Season 21 Recap. Plus, service fees live to fight another day, reservation resale platforms get the axe, and Luca gives vegans free political advice. 1:19:22

14d ago1:19:22

1:19:22

Top Chef Season 21 is in the books. A champion has been crowned, both for Top Chef and our LA Food Pod Fantasy Top Chef. Father Sal and I are joined by Jessie Evans also known as Jessie Eats, and Daniel Wargo AKA Forking Around to recap the finale and the season as a whole. But first, a few things that caught my eye this week. An iconic LA fast foo…

1
What the James Beard Awards and World's 50 Best tell us about dining in 2024. Plus, is Little Tokyo "endangered?" And what the heck is up with Joey Chestnut? 1:09:41

25d ago1:09:41

1:09:41

Kuya Lord’s Chef Lord Maynard Llera took home this James Beard Award this week for Best Chef California, and we’d like to extend him and his whole staff a heartfelt LA Food Pod congratulations. Today’s episode is all about awards. I’m joined by Father Sal to discuss LA’ showing at the Beards, as well as some of the most interesting takeaways from t…

1
From Boulder to Bourdain, the many lives of Checker Hall's Gabe Kennedy. Plus, Infatuation pans Vespertine, the problem with "shoppy shops," and The Best Restaurant in Town. 2:02:03

1M ago2:02:03

2:02:03

Gabe Kennedy is the all-star chef behind Highland Park’s Checker Hall. He joins us today to tell us his high-octane journey, which includes winning Anthony Bourdain’s competition show “The Taste,” co-founding one of the hottest plant-based supplement companies on the market, and uprooting his life in New York to relocate to LA and grace our city wi…

1
Lunch with the Infatuation's Brant Cox at Mae Malai (P.S. EEEEEATSCON is upon us). Plus, The Bear Season 3 trailer, mental health and burnout in the industry, and R.I.P. Always Pan. 1:53:34

1M ago1:53:34

1:53:34

We’re joined on today’s episode by the Infatuation’s Brant Cox for the first-ever in person podcast in LA Food Pod history. Brant and I met up for lunch at Mae Malai in Thai Town for some wonderful boat noodles (and much more). We caught up about what it’s like to be BFFs with Chris Pine, where he’s been eating lately, and oh yeah, a little thing c…

1
Circular Design Consultants - Net Zero Homes 37:50

1M ago37:50

37:50

When Jodi Bakst and Cor Rademaker, co - founders of Circular Design Consultants had the opportunity to develop oa piece of land in North Carolina, they had the vision to make it North Carolina’s first net-zero neighborhood. They put this vision to pen and paper to create Array Sustainable Design and bring to market a twelve lot neighborhood on 60 a…

1
Fast Eddie: Can Eddie Navarrette save California restaurants? Plus, Something About Her blues. 1:12:28

1M ago1:12:28

1:12:28

Eddie Navarrette is the Executive Director of the Independent Hospitality Coalition in addition to being one of LA’s foremost consultants in helping restaurants navigate the debilitatingly confusing process of opening their doors. He’s been at the center of advocating for restaurants for several years now, helping shape much needed policies for boo…

1
The Tool Library - Borrow Tools. Build Community 32:38

1M ago32:38

32:38

The practice of manufacturing for planned obsolescence seems to be what most manufacturers in the present time follow. This means to make an item that will break down sooner than their earlier versions, lack of how-to-fix information or tutorials and even make it impossible to be repaired. The direct impact of such a philosophy increases the bottom…

1
Aquipor - Permeable Sustainable Concrete 31:02

1M ago31:02

31:02

In this episode we talk with Greg Johnson, co-founder and CEO of AquiPor. AquiPor's unique permeable concrete material in conjunction with proprietary engineering technology can transform traditional hard surfaces into stormwater infiltration corridors.The technology utilizes inherently low carbon “cement” and upcycled industrial minerals. This new…

1
Molly Baz and lactation-gate, restaurant finances dissected, and Michelin goes to Mexico. Plus, Top Chef midseason check-in with the hosts of Compliments to the Chef. 1:19:29

2M ago1:19:29

1:19:29

A midseason check in on Season 21 of Top Chef. We’re about half way through the season, so LA Food Pod Top Chef correspondent Father Sal is on the pod to dissect the highs, lows and everything in between. We’re also joined by two of my new favorite people - Bits Nicholas and Nancy DaSilva, the hosts of Compliments to the Chef, the must-listen Top C…

1
Cerebelly - Science Backed Baby Food 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

Today we talk on our show with Dr. Teresa Pruzner and Nick Langan, co-founders of Cerebelly who as parents of infants wanted to make sure that their kids get the best possible nutrition not only for their physical but also for brain development. They were surprised to learn when they flipped over a packet or bottle of baby food the mismatch between…

1
Bill Esparza on his journey, "taco bros," David Chang and much, much more. Plus, World's 50 Best recognizes Kato, 5 So Cal restaurants added to the Michelin Guide, and Sweetgreen embraces beef. 1:49:50

2M ago1:49:50

1:49:50

We’re joined by none other than Bill Esparza, the legendary award-winning writer, author, TV fixer and saxophonist. Maybe you’ve read his reporting at Eater, maybe you’ve eaten at one of his many finds, or maybe you’ve seen him on shows like Somebody Feed Phil. Regardless of where you know him from, Bill’s one of the most essential voices in LA foo…

1
Eden Green Technology - Everyone Deserves Nutritious, Fresh, and Safe Food. 41:03

2M ago41:03

41:03

In the United States, 90% of the lettuce is produced and shipped from California to the rest of the country. When we combine the impact of this long journey on the environment, cost and 30% loss in farm produce - makes vertical farms close to consumption a viable alternative. In this episode, we learn from Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green Technology…

1
James Beard loves LA media, the future of reservations, and serious questions about LA's croissant game. Plus, Chef Jonathan Harris of Linden, LA's most underrated new fine dining concept. 1:35:37

2M ago1:35:37

1:35:37

We give flowers to the very deserving LA-based journalists and writers who did score James Beard nominations, including Gab Chabran, Daniel Hernandez and Noah Galuten. We also talk about what we learned from a New Yorker deep dive on the Wild West that is restaurant reservations, why Angelenos are flocking to two new bakeries that opened this week,…

1
Thaely - Don’t Just Do It - Do It Right 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

We talk with Ashay Bhave, founder of Thaely, who as a middle-schooler dreamt of becoming a sneaker designer. His journey begins at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, where disenchanted within the first year, he returned back to Dubai to pursue a degree in business at Amity University. As a designer Ashay wanted to solve problems - the p…

1
Chefs of Coachella, feat. Eric Greenspan, David Kuo and many more. Plus, Sage Vegan embraces meat, Matthew Kenney still sucks, and Eddie Navarrette doesn't. 1:26:40

2M ago1:26:40

1:26:40

Coachella is behind us, my friends, and your humble podcast host had the chance to descend on the desert to catch up with 8 amazing chefs who were out there serving their food to the masses. Today’s episode is a compilation of those conversations. I spoke with Eric Greenspan about his latest concepts, including a delivery-only duck pop-up you simpl…

1
Yes We Cannabis: Wendy Zeng is the LA chef exploring cultural heritage (and much more) via food and cannabis 1:11:21

3M ago1:11:21

1:11:21

Wendy Zeng is an award-winning chef and owner known around town and beyond for hosting cannabis-infused pop-ups, supper clubs and events. Make no mistake - we’re not talking about stoner food here, no shade to stoner culture. Wendy’s all about leaning into market-driven ingredients in the name of building community and destigmatizing recreational c…

1
Daniele Uditi and Los Angeles' pizza renaissance. Plus, David Chang's chili crunch controversy, the 5 most anticipated bites of Coachella, and L.A. Taco needs our help. 1:27:59

3M ago1:27:59

1:27:59

Daniele Uditi is the chef and partner behind Pizzana, one of Los Angeles’ best and most influential pizzerias. Daniele joins us for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from his upbringing living above his aunt’s bakery near Naples, Italy, to his spontaneous relocation to Los Angeles which ultimately led him to meeting Candace Nelson …

1
Ahimsa - Quality Vegan Boots 40:30

3M ago40:30

40:30

Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com https://en.useahimsa.com/By Vidhya Iyer - Host, Tatum Gale - music composer.

1
James Beard snubs LA (kind of), Trader Joe's trader woes, and a Father Sal food crawl feat. Yangban, Felix, Poltergeist and a Chris Bianco cameo 1:13:53

3M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Father Sal joins us. There's a quick Top Chef recap, including a Kristen Kish assessment. Father Sal also fills us in on The Bear clip that leaked. News-wise we cover the announcement of the 2024 James Beard Award Finalists, a scathing Taste Magazine expose on the grocery store known as Trader Joe’s, and a long overdue minimum wage hike coming to C…

1
Bengal Muslin 47:15

3M ago47:15

47:15

We talk to Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Bengal Muslin, that has identified the DNA from the fossilized plants to revive and grow the plant again. He talks to us about the challenges that Bengal Muslin faced to find, train and motivate the traditional generational spinners - who still had the collective memory of the fabric to weave 400 count …

1
High Steaks: Matū's Scott Linder on the wonders of wagyu. Plus, the Walk of Fame gets a face lift, LA Health Dept in crisis and Brant Cox comes for Lisa Vanderpump. 1:17:20

3M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

We’re joined by Scott Linder, one of the Founders and Operating Partners behind Matū, which just might be my favorite steakhouse in all of Los Angeles. Matū is famous for its dedication to serving only the highest quality grass-fed wagyu beef. But that’s not all - as they were getting ready to launch the restaurant, Scott and his fellow founders sp…

1
Imani Collective - Global Social Enterprise Empowering Artisans 25:50

3M ago25:50

25:50

Africa with its rich arts and crafts have so much to offer to the world. We are excited to find online or in a nearby store a unique, one of a kind piece from a land far away. But we should pause to think as to how much of what we pay actually goes back to the artisans and their communities. Today we talk with Jenny Nuccio, Founder and CEO of Imani…

1
Ladyhawk's Charbel Hayek on winning Top Chef and a new era of Lebanese food in LA. Plus, The War on Pizza, Vespertine 2.0 and the return of Cafe Tropical. 1:02:15

4M ago1:02:15

1:02:15

We're joined by Charbel Hayek, a Top Chef champion and World-All Stars contestant who’s recently opened up one of Los Angeles’ buzziest new restaurants. Charbel is the mastermind behind Ladyhawk, which opened last year inside of the La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. Ladyhawk has been earning rave reviews for its forward-thinking Eastern Mediterranea…

1
Ajiri Tea - Creating a Sustainable Cycle of Employment and Opportunity in Kenya. 25:10

4M ago25:10

25:10

What does it take to start a business several thousands of miles away, and that too when you were just 19. Kate Holby co-founded Ajiri tea with her sister Sara Kolby, to create a full cycle of sustainable aid. Because education is a sustainable investment, 100% of the net profits go back to Kenya to pay school fees for orphans. Ajiri Tea Company is…

1
The 2024 Fantasy Top Chef Draft. Plus, 9 LA restaurants added to the Michelin Guide, Roy Choi's new taco concept, and how to party correctly in Valle de Guadalupe. 1:20:20

4M ago1:20:20

1:20:20

Top Chef is back! Season 21 kicks off next week March 20 in Wisconsin, and there are plenty of changes afoot. We discuss the changes, and hold our 2024 Fantasy Top Chef Draft. We’re expanding the competition this year and joining us are none other than Jessie Evans, also known as Jessie Eats, and Daniel Wargo, also known as Forking Around. Will one…

1
Two Blind Brothers - Ultra-Soft Clothing With the Sole Purpose to Fund the Cure for Blindness 21:32

4M ago21:32

21:32

Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of the profits to drive life-changing research for…

1
PIE 2 PIE crossover with Hot Tongue Pizza's Alex Koons 1:25:30

4M ago1:25:30

1:25:30

Today, the first ever crossover pod in LA Food Podcast history. I (Luca) joined the PIE 2 PIE podcast, hosted by Hot Tongue Pizza's Alex Koons, to talk about pizza, influencers, and much, much more. Alex is making one of Los Angeles' best pizzas at Hot Tongue in Silver Lake. I loved talking to him about his pizza journey, from delivering pies at To…

1
Chang-a-Palooza: Dissecting David Chang's empire (but mostly just Chrissy & Dave Dine Out) 1:03:47

4M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Joining us today on the podcast is our very own Prodigal Father-turned-television correspondent, Father Sal. If you have a Hulu subscription, a Netflix subscription or a keen eye for billboards, you’ve probably seen an ad for one of David Chang’s many shows recently. Sal and I are going to do a bit of a deep dive into the world of Chrissy & Dave Di…

1
Swahili Coast - Worker-Owned, Worker-Managed, Worker-Financed Fashion 24:15

4M ago24:15

24:15

Swahili Coast partners with artisans in East Africa to craft ethically handmade, fair trade, adventure-ready accessories.It connects them to global markets using principles of fairness, dignity, and respect. Swahili Coast strives to support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives and provide continuing support through fair exchange and promotion …

1
Sneak preview of the inaugural LA Wine and Food Festival. Plus, Sacramento's star turn, smashburger fatigue, and junk fee trouble ahead. 37:23

5M ago37:23

37:23

The inaugural LA Wine and Food Festival is coming to Santa Monica pier next week (March 1-3). Organizer Cecile Rebbot joins us to offer a sneak peak at what you can expect from this bona fide chef-a-palooza. Plus, my thoughts on Eater's 2024 "Where to Eat" list, Mona Holmes' article on whether LA has achieved "peak smashburger," and what restaurant…

1
Global Goods Partners - Gifts That Give Back 33:10

5M ago33:10

33:10

Buy handmade, change women's lives. We chat with Joan Shifrin and Catherine Shimony, extremely dynamic and creative women who run this New York-based non-profit brand Global Goods Partners, like a business and with the overall mission to do good and empower women. Their work, resources, and resolve are focused on bridging gaps, opening doors, and p…

1
For Sake's Sake: Tsubaki and Ototo's Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba on sake, success, and striving for more 54:07

5M ago54:07

54:07

Joining us today on the podcast are Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba, the duo behind Echo Park’s Tsubaki and Ototo, as well as the upcoming project Camelia, in the Arts District. Both Tsubaki and Ototo have been making serious noise for years, in Los Angeles and beyond. Their modern, California-centric approach to the classic izakaya experience ha…

1
Phool Co - Made From Temple Flowers 29:47

5M ago29:47

29:47

The core of Phool Co business and dear to the vision of the founder is women empowerment. Phool works with the women who worked as manual scavengers, cleaning dry toilets. They are committed to paying them fair wages, provides them with health insurance and retirement benefits. The impact of this can be seen within a few weeks of them working at Ph…

1
BONUS: Valentine's Day for procrastinators, with Jada Montemarano 31:37

5M ago31:37

31:37

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, dear listener, and, like a box of chocolates from your office building’s custodian, we’re here with a surprise gift of an episode - a Procrastinator’s Guide to the perfect Valentine’s Day. I’m joined by food reporter Jada Montemarano to talk about how, if you’re one of those people who’s left their plans to the last min…

1
The LA restaurant Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Superbowl spreads. Plus, Found Oyster in hot water, Jenn Harris slams All'Antico Vinaio, and LA street vendors win big. 1:01:26

5M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

I’m joined by my friend Daniel Wargo, who you might know on TikTok and Instagram as Forking Around, to devise the ideal Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce-inspired Super Bowl spreads. We’re going category by category, and challenging ourselves to devise two different spreads sourced from Los Angeles area restaurants, that perfectly capture the essence o…

1
Immaculate Vibes: The ins and outs of restaurant design with Preen Inc's Alexis Readinger 1:01:55

5M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

We’re joined today by Alexis Readinger, the founder of Preen Inc., an international award-winning hospitality architecture and design firm based right here in our City of Angels. Alexis walks us through her fascinating career designing some of Los Angeles’ most iconic dining rooms, from Michelin star establishments to beloved hot chicken powerhouse…

1
Whiplash as 19 LA restaurants named James Beard semifinalists, but 94 LA Times reporters lose their jobs. Plus, the art of fast casual, with My Lai Kitchen's Traci and Shad Davis. 1:35:24

6M ago1:35:24

1:35:24

19 LA area restaurants are named James Beard Semifinalists while 94 journalists at The Los Angeles Times, including some food journalists, lose their jobs - needless to say, it’s been a week of high highs and low lows. Father Sal joins us to dissect it all. We have some fun, congratulatory chat about the amazing restaurants like Amiga Amore and Kuy…

1
Who are the Justice 8? With L.A. Taco's Janette Villafana. Plus, The Bear wins big, certain restaurants behave badly, and Luca does Seacrest 52:14

6M ago52:14

52:14

We’re joined today by L.A. Taco’s Janette Villafana to discuss the ins and outs of the Justice 8. If you’ve been scrolling Los Angeles food news on social media or the web over the past few weeks, you may have seen the name “Justice 8” being tossed around. Who are the Justice 8 and what do they have to do with food? In a nutshell, the Justice 8 are…

1
The Dreamer: Danny Castillo's journey to opening Heritage Barbecue and becoming one of So Cal's premier pitmasters 1:10:54

6M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

We’re joined by Danny Castillo, the pitmaster behind San Juan Capistrano’s Heritage Barbecue, one of Southern California’s premiere barbecue destinations. In recent years Heritage has earned the attention of the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants List, they’ve been named Restaurant of the Year by the OC Register, and they’ve even gained Michelin Bib Gou…

1
Synthica Energy- Renewable Natural Gas 31:04

6M ago31:04

31:04

Natural gas used to heat our homes, cook our meals and sometimes even to move our cars comprises mainly of Methane - a know greenhouse gas. While we go on this journey to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and green house gasses, there needs to be a sustainable alternative to conventional natural gas. The anaerobic activities in landfills creates …

1
Announcing the 2024 Countdown. Plus, holiday recap, our food-related New Year's resolutions, and a Father Sal birthday surprise. 1:11:09

6M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

We’re flipping the script today and Father Sal will be interviewing me on today’s podcast. Why are we doing this? Well, today happens to be the day that I announce which type of food I’m focusing on for the 2024 Countdown, a.k.a. My annual expedition to try 100 different versions of a certain Los Angeles food. As a reminder, in 2021 I tackled pizza…

1
The Best of The LA Food Podcast 2023, featuring Gilberto Cetina, Courtney Storer, Gustavo Arellano, Lien Ta, Jeremy Fox, Diego Argoti, Farley Elliott and more 1:09:14

6M ago1:09:14

1:09:14

Believe it or not, it's already been one full year (and 50+ episodes!) of The LA Food Podcast. As we gear up for 2024, here's a compilation of some of our favorite moments from 2023. Happy New Year!Helpful links:Gilberto Cetina episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/34o2zYM6KVJHqu8D1q76bK?si=zAzzkHxoTAaUi5unZdV3XgDiego Argoti episode https://open…

1
The Holiday Party! Feat. the definitive list of the best food lists of 2023 (look out, journalists!) and Merry Margaritas courtesy of Hornitos 55:53

7M ago55:53

55:53

Welcome to the first-ever LA Food Pod Holiday Party! Father Sal joins us to talk holiday plans and to try our hands at some festive mixology. We're making something called a Merry Margarita, brought to us by our friends at Hornitos. Will we like it? Will we hate it? Will you want to try making it for your holiday gathering? Listen to find out. But …

1
The Infatuation LA's Best New Restaurants of 2023, featuring Brant Cox and Sylvio Martins 1:08:12

7M ago1:08:12

1:08:12

We’re joined by Brant Cox and Sylvio Martins of The Infatuation LA to break down their list of the Best New Restaurants of 2023. They dropped this list a couple of weeks ago now, and it includes some truly stellar spots that have graced the LA dining scene this past year, such as Donna’s of Echo Park and Loreto of Frogtown. Brant and Sylvio walk us…

1
Stop hating on The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list. Plus, we argue about The Great British Bake Off, and why so many influencers are opening restaurants. 1:29:52

7M ago1:29:52

1:29:52

LA Times restaurant critic Bill Addison dropped his much-anticipated 101 Best Restaurants list on Tuesday and it’s set the internet abuzz with thoughts and reactions aplenty. Congratulations to all of the restaurants who made the list, I hope you’re all celebrating accordingly. I offer some high-level observations and perhaps a couple of nuggets of…

1
Why Chef Jeremy Fox won't serve lamb to Alain Passard. Plus, stories on Rustic Canyon, Birdie G's, and earning a Michelin star. 58:04

7M ago58:04

58:04

Chef Jeremy Fox is best known in Los Angeles for helming the widely acclaimed restaurants Rustic Canyon and Birdie G’s. He joins us to walk through his illustrious career, from his days at David Kinch’s Manresa in Los Gatos, to earning a Michelin star for a vegetarian restaurant attached to a yoga studio in Napa Valley. He talks about how an impoun…

1
Thanksgiving Special: Meals we're grateful for in 2023. Plus holiday gift guide "cop or drop," Pakistani excellence, Tate McRae mediocrity, and a GOAT-level list from the New York Times. 1:00:25

8M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Today’s episode is all about gratitude. For our main course today, I’m joined by Father Sal to reminisce on the meals that we feel most grateful for in 2023. And although yes, there are tales of surf n turf burritos, roasted bone marrow gnocchi, and pizza so good that it haunts my dreams to this day, it’s really a conversation a…

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