Jenn Seasly's Foodlore Podcast

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with Chef Michael Elefante — third-generation chef and owner of Mama Louisa's, the Tucson original his family has run for 70 years — to talk about the two dishes that hold his heart: Joe's Special, the plate of fresh linguini the family name is built on, and brisket, the fire he tends on his own time. Then Dr. Jenn asks which chef he'd cook with, past or present — and Michael answers with someone who isn't famous at all. It's a warm, smoky, generous episode about family legacy, open fire, and the people we're still cooking for. Michael is a co-founder of Tucson Knife Fight, the city's underground chef-versus-chef competition, which raises money for people in the local food community. Follow Michael Elefante & Mama Louisa's: Instagram • Facebook • mamalouisas.com

What can a worn community cookbook tell us about family, place, and the foods we never forget? In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn welcomes Alex Matuszeski to share the story of his mother's peach cobbler—a simple seasonal dessert rooted in Bath County, Virginia, where she was born and raised among a large extended family in the Allegheny Mountains. The recipe comes from an old Bath County cookbook created as a fundraiser by a local Presbyterian church. Filled with recipes contributed by members of the community, the small red spiral-bound cookbook has yellowed with age and become a treasured family heirloom. Inside is the cobbler recipe Alex's mother still makes with ripe peaches, butter, a thin batter, and a beautifully crisp, chewy layer where everything caramelizes against the hot baking dish. For Alex, the cobbler tastes like summer, home, and his mother's love. The conversation soon travels beyond dessert as Dr. Jenn and Alex explore Southern fried chicken, old family cooking methods, fresh spices, Indian food, homemade tamales, Polish pierogi, food memories from Poland, Thanksgiving dishes, and the joy of taking on a new culinary adventure. Because the recipes that stay with us are rarely just instructions. They carry the people, places, traditions, and stories that shaped our lives.

In this episode of Jen Seasley's Foodlore, Dr. Jen sits down with Tucson's own Michael Lopez — a barber, professional DJ, longtime food industry veteran, and the creative force behind Barrio Bites at Gibson Food Hall and Market. Michael shares why burritos hold such a deep emotional connection for him, from working on farms in California while in the Navy to feeding people in need after COVID. Known by a friend as "the burrito angel," Michael's love for burritos is rooted in family, work, generosity, and the flavors of the Southwest. The conversation travels through California burritos with crispy fries, breakfast burritos with maple sausage and green onions, red vs. green salsa, Tucson-style Mexican food, roly polies, tacos, chimichangas, food halls, and Michael's upcoming plans for Barrio Bites. Michael also talks about the broader concept behind Gibson Food Hall and Market, where Barrio Bites will be part of a curated local food experience alongside other Tucson food concepts. Beyond food, Michael is also a professional DJ with MasterMixxDJsAZ.com and can be found on Instagram. Because every dish has a story — and sometimes, that story is wrapped in a giant tortilla.

In this delightfully strange and surprisingly heartfelt episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Jenn welcomes Bennett Rea, the creator behind Cookin' with Congress, the social media series where historic political recipes are researched, recreated, and bravely eaten. Bennett is known for taking on everything from presidential favorites to congressional cookbook curiosities, including more Jell-O molds than most people should ever have to face. But behind the humor and vintage recipe chaos, this conversation goes somewhere deeper. Jenn and Bennett talk about the emotional side of food memories, including Bennett's complicated relationship with ketchup, a childhood staple that still brings back memories of financially difficult years. They also explore the strange beauty of retro Jell-O salads, the joy of cooking without a recipe, pantry pasta, grandmother magic, chickens, ducks, desert heat, and the lost desserts of American food history. Bennett also shares a sneak peek into his upcoming cookbook, which is currently in the works and set to be published in February 2028. It is an episode about brave eating, food nostalgia, and the way even the strangest dishes can tell very human stories. Companion recipe: https://jennseaslysfoodlore.com/recipes/bennett-rea-inspired-pantry-pasta/ You can follow Bennett Rea and Cookin' with Congress here: Website: https://www.cookinwithcongress.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookinwithcongress/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cookinwithcongress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Cookin-with-Congress-61579148872513/

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn Seasly shares the story of making homemade tamales with friends — a delicious, time-consuming, slightly chaotic, and deeply rewarding kitchen adventure. From red chile beef and green chile pork to Hatch chile and cheese, elote-inspired fillings, apples with green chiles, and the very firm decision to avoid hidden green olives, Jenn explores how regional traditions shape the way we experience food. Along the way, she talks about Sonoran tamales, Tex-Mex chili sauce, pinto beans, masa, corn husks, lard, and the beauty of learning by doing. But this episode is about more than tamales. It's about gathering people in the kitchen, trying something new, embracing imperfection, and discovering that some of the best meals come from shared effort. Jenn reminds us that food can be a gift, a memory, a love language, and a reason to invite people into our lives. Listen to the full episode, then explore the companion recipe here

In this episode of Jenn Seasley's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with celebrity chef Dave Martin to talk about the dishes that have stayed with him emotionally over the years. From an old-school bean and cheese burrito in Southern California to his deep love of pizza, Peking duck, Thai food, and global comfort dishes, Chef Dave shares how flavor, memory, and travel all shape the way we eat. The conversation moves from handmade tortillas and tamales to pizza dough, paella in Madrid, food tours in Buenos Aires, and the simple joy of sharing a table with people you love. It's a warm, fun, travel-filled episode about nostalgia, good ingredients, and why some of the most meaningful dishes are often the simplest. Follow Chef Dave Martin: Instagram • YouTube • Facebook Book: The Tequila Diet: Exploring Mexican Food & Drink with the World's Greatest Spirit

In this flavorful episode of Dr. Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Jenn sits down with chef, teacher, and content creator Abby Cheshire of Abby in the Galley to talk about the surprising journey behind one of Abby's favorite dishes: Thai red curry. Abby shares how a dish she once rejected as a kid eventually became a longtime favorite and a recipe she spent years refining. Along the way, they dive into Thai ingredients, the beauty of approachable global cooking, the difference between jasmine and basmati rice, and how food can open the door to culture, curiosity, and confidence in the kitchen. Abby also shares stories from her remarkable culinary life — from teaching high school culinary arts to cooking aboard luxury yachts — and explains why she wanted her cookbook, Passport to Flavor, to feel exciting without being intimidating for home cooks. It's a warm, insightful conversation about flavor, growth, travel, and making international dishes feel possible in your own kitchen. About Abby in the Galley Abby Cheshire, known online as Abby in the Galley, is a chef, content creator, and culinary arts teacher. Through her website and social platforms, she shares globally inspired recipes, stories from life as a yacht chef, and approachable cooking content designed to make adventurous food feel fun and doable at home. Her cookbook, Passport to Flavor, brings together over 100 travel-inspired dishes from around the world. Links: Website: https://www.abbyinthegalley.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyinthegalley/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbyinthegalley/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbyinthegalley?lang=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7SK0TfTfQ5EKGecsaMl4pA  🍜 😮‍💨 Recipe here 

What if the foods on your New Year's table weren't random… but symbols of abundance, prosperity, and long life? In this episode of Dr. Jean Seasly's Foodlore, you share the comforting Southern traditions that shape your New Year's Day — from creamy pressure-cooked black-eyed peas to pork for progress, greens for prosperity, and golden cornbread for wealth. You also explore how cultures around the world ring in the year with symbolic dishes: 12 grapes at midnight in Spain Lentils in Italy Dumplings and whole fish in China Long soba noodles in Japan A hidden coin cake in Greece Marzipan pigs in German And of course, football snacks, ruffled chips with French onion dip (non-negotiable), crockpot queso, sparkling sangria secrets, and the joy of that "what day is it?" week between Christmas and New Year's. Because sometimes abundance isn't just about money — it's about comfort, memory, and gathering around food that feels like home. 👉🏻 Try the featured recipe here

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn takes us to Buenos Aires, a city where food is not just abundant — it's a way of life. From wandering the vibrant streets of Palermo to joining an unforgettable guided foodie tour, Jenn shares how Buenos Aires reveals itself through grilled chorizo sandwiches dripping with provolone, impossibly fresh gin and tonics, generous pours of Malbec, and steak cooked with a level of reverence that borders on sacred. ​Along the way, she reflects on Argentina's deep love of gluten, cheese, and beef; the joy of discovering vegetables when you least expect them; and the beauty of shared plates designed to be savored slowly. The episode moves from casual sidewalk meals to refined steakhouse experiences, including a memorable evening at Don Julio, where hospitality begins with champagne before you even sit down. Beyond the food, Jenn explores the rhythm of the city itself — gelato enjoyed late into the night, parks filled with art and green space, cafés that open and close on their own mysterious schedules, and the undeniable romance of tango. A highlight of the journey includes a tango lesson and performance that blends music, movement, and culture into one unforgettable experience. This is an episode about eating generously, walking often, trusting the local table, and letting a city tell its story through flavor, tradition, and joy. Because in Buenos Aires, every meal invites you to slow down — and every dish truly has a story.

In this episode of Jenn Seasley's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn is joined by Chef Blackwell Smith, author of the No BS Holiday Cookbook and founder of The Lucky Cajun. What begins with a childhood memory of eating raw oysters with his grandparents in Florida turns into a rich conversation about fresh spices, Cajun influence, and why most grocery-store seasonings only taste like a shadow of what they should be. Chef Blackwell shares how his love for bold, honest flavors led him to create spice blends made with whole spices, ground fresh and sold directly to customers—because freshness, just like bread, matters. The episode weaves through oysters prepared in unforgettable ways, evolving stuffing recipes, food memories like scrapple and butter beans, and a thoughtful discussion on authenticity, cultural influence, and why cooking should be playful, personal, and deeply connected to real ingredients. This is an episode about trusting your palate, respecting food traditions without freezing them in time, and enjoying food as one of life's greatest pleasures. Learn more about Chef Blackwell Smith and his work at 👉 www.theluckycajun.com