“Umma” Author Sarah Ahn On Family, Food, And Finding Her Voice

Today’s guest is viral culinary storyteller Sarah Ahn—creator of Ahnest Kitchen and co-author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook “Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes” with her mother, Nam Soon Ahn. Sarah joins host Kerry Diamond to share the inspiration behind her intimate food writing, the bond she forged with her mother through cooking, and the journey from grief to gratitude that shaped her debut book. They also talk about her role at America's Test Kitchen, how she navigates vulnerability online, and why food remains one of the most powerful ways to keep memories alive. Get the Kimchi Grilled Cheese recipe from "Umma" here.Thank you to Cartolina for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Sarah: Instagram, Ahnest Kitchen, “Umma” cookbookMore on Kerry: Instagram

Today’s guests are Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini, the inspiring mother-daughter duo behind The Cook’s Atelier, the popular culinary school in the Burgundy region of France. Marjorie and Kendall join host Kerry Diamond to share the bold decisions that led them to move from Phoenix to France at very different stages of their lives. They also talk about their brand-new cookbook, “French at Heart: Recipes That Bring France Home,” and the moments from their lives that inspired the book. Thank you to Cartolina for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Marjorie & Kendall: The Cook’s Atelier, “French at Heart” cookbookMore on Kerry: Instagram

Today’s guest is the radiant Eden Grinshpan—host of “Top Chef Canada,” cookbook author, and all-around joy-spreader. Eden joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her brand new cookbook, “Tahini Baby: Bright, Everyday Recipes That Happen To Be Vegetarian,” which hits shelves tomorrow. It’s a flavorful tribute to the Middle Eastern-inspired dishes of her childhood and her forever pantry hero: tahini. They also dive into creativity in the kitchen, chasing joy, and the power of food to connect and comfort. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Subscribe to the She’s My Cherry Pie baking newsletter.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Eden: Instagram, “Tahini Baby” cookbookMore on Kerry: Instagram

Lots of folks in the baking world are buzzing about Cake Picnic, the gathering created by amateur baker and Google UX expert Elisa Sunga. She was hoping 15 folks would attend the very first Cake Picnic; more than 300 folks RSVP’d. For her most recent Cake Picnic in San Francisco, more than 1,000 attendees showed up, cake in tow. After all, the first rule of Cake Picnic is simple: “No cake, no entry.” Today, people are DM’ing and emailing her from around the world, asking for Elisa to bring Cake Picnic to their town. She already has a 6,000-person waitlist for the gathering scheduled for New York. Elisa joins host Kerry Diamond to unpack the popularity of Cake Picnic and the unexpected momentum behind it. They explore how her background in UX design at Google informs her approach to community-building, her online persona, and the story behind the Bucket List Bake Club. Plus, she shares how Cake Picnic has become a reflection of a broader cultural hunger for joy, connection, and creative expression.To get our new Love Issue, click here. Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Elisa: Instagram, Cake Picnic, Salted RyeMore on Kerry: Instagram

In this special episode, we’re joined by the legendary Alice Waters—chef, activist, founder of Chez Panisse, and the visionary behind the Edible Schoolyard Project. Alice is one of four culinary icons featured in the upcoming “Chef’s Table: Legends” documentary on Netflix, dropping on April 28th to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series.Alice joins host Kerry Diamond from her home in Berkeley and shares her passionate advocacy for free, healthy school lunches for all children—and why she believes this is the key to transforming our food system. We also dive into her Netflix episode, reconciliation with fellow food pioneer Jeremiah Tower after three decades of silence, and her new life as a grandmother.To get our new Love Issue, click here. Subscribe to our baking newsletter.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Alice: Instagram, The Edible Schoolyard Project, Chez PanisseMore on Kerry: Instagram

Joanna Gaines of Magnolia and “Fixer Upper” is a household name, but her path to success was anything but conventional. In this special episode, recorded live at Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee conference in 2023, Joanna sat down with host Kerry Diamond to reflect on her journey—from working in her father’s tire shop for a decade to becoming a design icon and media powerhouse. Fresh off a meaningful family trip to Seoul, Joanna opened up about her early career disappointments, shared candid advice for young adults on college and purpose, and revealed what’s still on her bucket list. It’s an inspiring, grounded, and deeply personal conversation about staying true to your vision, even when the road is winding.For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Subscribe to She’s My Cherry Pie’s baking newsletter.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Joanna: Instagram, Magnolia, Magnolia NetworkMore on Kerry: Instagram

Today’s guest is Laura Lendrum, CEO of Printemps America. The iconic Parisian department store now has a sister location on Wall Street in New York City that blends fashion, food, and French luxury under one roof. Laura joins host Kerry Diamond to discuss why the new location is distinctly NOT a department store, and how culinary, as led by Chef Gregory Gourdet, plays a big role in the concept. They also dive into Laura’s time as president of Ralph Lauren, and talk about the success of Ralph’s Coffee and The Polo Bar restaurant, and what the worlds of fashion and hospitality can learn from each other. Thank you to Maazah for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Laura: Printemps NY Instagram, Printemps NY websiteMore on Kerry: Instagram

It’s two legends, one stage on today’s show as we dip into the Jubilee archives. Don’t miss this wise and warm conversation between Madhur Jaffrey and Padma Lakshmi from the Cherry Bombe Jubilee Conference in Brooklyn in Spring 2019. Madhur, says Padma, “is the greatest living writer on Indian food—ever.” Padma, the former host of “Top Chef,” the star and creator of “Taste the Nation,” and a best-selling author, interviewed Madhur and it was a riveting exchange that touched on a wide range of topics: protesting with Mahatma Gandhi, working with the legendary cookbook editor Judith Jones, facing discrimination as an Indian actress, and cheering on the young women championing both Indian food and representation today, including Priya Krishna and Meera Sodha. Introducing Madhur and Padma are Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau. The sisters and culinary superstars from Jamaica are the authors of the cookbooks “Provisions” and “Caribbean Potluck.”If you’re attending Jubilee, don’t miss our first-ever Jubilee Pre-Game on Zoom this Wednesday, April 2nd, at 3 p.m. EST—an exclusive session for ticket holders to get all the insider details before the big day.For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Padma: InstagramMore on Madhur: Madhur's BooksMore on Kerry: Instagram

Behind the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, a quieter movement is taking shape—one focused on sustainability. Anna Schmid, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about this evolution and one of the resort’s most impactful initiatives—the Food Rescue Alliance. A collaboration between The Venetian and The Just One Project, the alliance provides more than 20,000 meals each month to those in need across Southern Nevada.Tune in to learn how this program came to life, the logistics and teamwork that keep it running, and how Anna’s unconventional career path positioned her to drive meaningful change. Plus, Anna shares insights on fostering corporate support for philanthropic programs and offers advice for anyone looking to make a difference in their own organization.Thank you to Las Vegas for supporting our show. Learn more and book your trip here. For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Anna: The Venetian Las VegasMore on Kerry: Instagram

Today’s guest is Kiera Wright-Ruiz, author of “My (Half) Latinx Kitchen: Half Recipes, Half Stories, All Latin American.” Kiera joins host Kerry Diamond to share the journey behind her deeply personal debut cookbook, which weaves together her cultural heritage and love of food. They also dive into her bold decision to move to Tokyo during the pandemic—a move that became more than just an adventure. She opens up about life in Japan, the surprising perks (like $10 dentist appointments!), and how it compares to the U.S.Thank you to Ghirardelli Professional Products for supporting our show. For Jubilee 2025 tickets, click here. To get our new Love Issue, click here. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Kiera: Instagram, “My (Half) Latinx Kitchen”More on Kerry: Instagram