Eat To The Beat With Chef & Guitarist Cheetie Kumar Of Ajja In Raleigh

Today’s guest is Adé Carrena, chef and founder of Dounou Cuisine culinary project and the iLéWA Foods spice blend company. A native of Bénin, Adé was adopted at the age of 10 and grew up with a Puerto Rican family in Connecticut. Today, she calls Raleigh, North Carolina, home, and she’s been on a journey of reclamation ever since, raising her daughter, pivoting from banking to culinary, launching her businesses, and reconnecting with her birth mother. In 2023, she was named North Carolina Chef of the Year. Adé joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her childhood, becoming a mother, and life in Raleigh. They also discuss her most recent project, a documentary titled “Bite of Bénin,” that details her story. Adé calls herself “a bridge, a dreamer, a healer, a chef, a storyteller, and a nurturer.” At the core, it’s all about heart, she says. Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. More on Adé: Dounou Cuisine, iLéWA Foods, "Bite of Bénin" More on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

It’s the final episode of our special Power Miniseries, and our guest is Mashama Bailey, chef and co-owner of The Grey in Savannah and the soon-to-open L’Arrêt in Paris. Mashama is a chef we’ve come to know and love at Cherry Bombe, and she’s one of the cover stars of our new Power issue. She has been the subject of a “Chef's Table” documentary on Netflix, has her own MasterClass on Southern cooking, and co-authored a memoir titled “Black, White, and The Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant.”Mashama joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about being a late bloomer in the chef world, the start of her mentorship era, her Paris plans, and why she would like to cook for Michelle Obama one day. Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot and coincides with the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine, out now. We spotlighted more than 100 women in the worlds of food, drink, and hospitality, including Mashama, who are using their power in interesting, inspiring, and innovative ways. Subscribe to our magazine here and check out the full list on cherrybombe.com. More on Mashama: Instagram, The GreyMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is Cheetie Kumar, self-taught chef, rock and roller, and restaurant industry champion. She and her husband Paul are the owners of Ajja, a restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, that celebrates the bold, beautiful flavors she loves. Ajja means “come over” in Hindi and Urdu, as Cheetie explains, and it’s the perfect word to describe their buzzy neighborhood spot. Cheetie is also vice president and a board member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which represents indie operators across the country. Cheetie and the IRC are fighting to keep restaurants around the country alive and thriving, a cause we can all get behind. Tune in to learn about her childhood in the Bronx, how life on the road with Cheetie’s band led to her becoming a chef, and what she means by the stupidity of ambition. Thank you to Vivienne Culinary Books for supporting our show.Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. More on Cheetie: Instagram, Ajja restaurant, Independent Restaurant CoalitionMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Our guest on the third episode of our special Power Miniseries is Victoria James—sommelier, author, advocate, and mother of two. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her memoir, “Wine Girl,” her fight against sexual harassment at the highest levels of the sommelier community, and her role as Executive Director of Beverage & Partnerships at Gracious Hospitality, which includes the COQODAQ and the COTE Korean Steakhouses.Victoria and Kerry also discuss her Trailblazer Award, presented to her by Cherry Bombe and Veuve Clicquot at the recent Power Awards, her support of pregnant women and nursing moms working in restaurants, beverage, and hospitality, and the organization she co-founded to provide free industry education, Wine Empowered. Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot and coincides with the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine, out now. We spotlighted more than 100 women in the worlds of food, drink, and hospitality, including Victoria, who are using their power in interesting, inspiring, and innovative ways. Subscribe to our magazine here and check out the full list on cherrybombe.com. More on Victoria: Instagram, “Wine Girl” memoir, Wine Empowered, Julia Moskin NY Times storyMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is chef, writer, and Emmy-nominated host Sophia Roe. The culinary creative has lots of pots on the stove, so to speak, including a YouTube channel, a new outpost of her Apartment Miso studio, and her biggest project to date: motherhood. Sophia and host Kerry Diamond talk about Sophia’s early years in culinary school, working as a private chef, meeting her fiancé Chris, thoughts on being a working mom, and the surprising phase she finds herself in. “I am happier than I probably have been in my life, and I definitely didn’t think that would happen,” she says. They also chat about the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine with Sophia on the cover. Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker Tour. Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. More on Sophia: Instagram, Apartment Miso, websiteMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Welcome to the second episode of our special Power Miniseries. Our guest is Katina Connaughton of SingleThread, the celebrated restaurant and farm in Healdsburg, California, that she and her husband, Chef Kyle Connaughton, co-founded in 2016. Today, Katina is the head farmer of the 24-acre property that supplies the SingleThread restaurant, farm store, and CSA program. As Katina shares with host Kerry Diamond, she never set out to become a farmer. But she found her power, and her calling, by literally digging in the dirt. “The further I stuck my hands in the earth,” she said, “the more I felt like myself.” Katina talks about the incredible journey that she and Kyle have been on, from meeting at a punk rock concert in high school, to becoming parents, living abroad, and rethinking the fine-dining experience back in California. Katina also talks about ThroughLine, the special food and film experience that celebrates the artisans, farmers, and producers she and Kyle have partnered with over the years. Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot and coincides with the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine, out now. We spotlighted more than 100 women in the worlds of food, drink, and hospitality, including Katina, who are using their power in interesting, inspiring, and innovative ways. Subscribe to our magazine here and check out the full list on cherrybombe.com. More on Katina: Instagram, SingleThread Farms, ThroughlineMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Host Kerry Diamond heads to County Cork, Ireland, for a special episode of Radio Cherry Bombe, recorded live at the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, presented by Kerrygold. Join Kerry as she chats with four inspiring figures helping to shape Ireland’s vibrant culinary future: award-winning dairy farmers Dara & Beatrix Killeen; female farmer advocate Vanessa Kiely O’Connor, a.k.a. The Dairy Fairy; and legendary food icon Darina Allen, founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and the new Ballymaloe Organic Farm School. From regenerative agriculture to tech-forward farming, these changemakers are redefining what it means to farm with purpose in Ireland today.Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Click here for tickets for our Summer Tastemaker tour. Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. More on Dara & Beatrix: Dara on Instagram, Beatrix on InstagramMore on Vanessa: Instagram, Women in Agriculture Stakeholder GroupMore on Darina: Instagram, Ballymaloe Cookery School, Ballymaloe Organic Farm SchoolMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

We’re kicking off Radio Cherry Bombe’s Power Miniseries with Kristen Kish, the host of “Top Chef,” chef/partner of Arlo Grey at The Line hotel in Austin, and author of the bestselling memoir “Accidentally On Purpose.” As Kristen explains it, she’s all about soft power—and using it to support her community, her loved ones, and herself. Kristen joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her rise from Midwestern kid to culinary superstar. They discuss how Kristen found her true calling at culinary school, what Julia Roberts' movie “Notting Hill” had to do with her eventual coming out, and what she learned writing her memoir. Our Power miniseries is presented by Veuve Clicquot. Thank you to S.Pellegrino for additional support. Don’t miss the new Power Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine, spotlighting Kristen and 100 other women making the culinary world a more interesting, inspiring, and innovative place. Subscribe to our magazine here. More on Kristen: Instagram, Arlo Grey restaurant, “Accidentally on Purpose” memoirMore on Kerry: InstagramPast episodes and transcripts

Condiment Claire, aka Claire Dinhut, is the social media star and Substack author known for her deep love of sauces, dips, and spreads. She joins guest host and Cherry Bombe alum Lauren Goldstein to talk about her unique career, how her upbringing shaped her views on food, and how she started on TikTok out of spite, only to find a devoted audience for her content on the platform. They also talk about Claire’s debut book, “The Condiment Book: Unlocking Maximum Flavor with Minimum Effort,” and the condiments that bring Claire the most joy, from clear soy sauce to Welsh sea salt to good old-fashioned jam. Thank you to Violet Flame Chocolate for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Click here for tickets for an evening with Kerry Diamond and Diana Yen of “Firepit Feast” on June 5th!Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. More on Claire: Instagram, “The Condiment Book,” SubstackMore on Lauren: Instagram, website, SubstackPast episodes and transcripts

Today’s guest is Asma Khan, the celebrated chef and restaurateur behind Darjeeling Express in London, and a fierce champion for women everywhere. She joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her latest cookbook, “Monsoon: Delicious Indian Recipes for Every Day and Season,” a tribute to Indian home cooking and the beauty of seasonal flavors, and her new cooking series on Discovery+, “Secrets of the Curry Kitchen.” They also discuss overcoming adversity, the ways women are held back, and the importance of family recipes. Thank you to Struesli for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Subscribe to Cherry Bombe’s print magazine. Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions and show transcripts. More on Asma: Instagram, Darjeeling Express, "Monsoon" cookbookMore on Kerry: Instagram