146. Whatcha Been Cooking

Did you think we forgot about you today, food fans?! Fear not, Episode 153 is here- hot off the presses and better late than never! That's right, if it's a Thursday, it's time for The Food For ThoughtCast, so don't you worry. Today's episode is a travel recap of Steve's Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. He did his best to eat his way through the entire city, and did a pretty amazing job! From El Ideas, their epic tasting menu, and meeting his culinary hero Chef Phillip Foss (our esteemed guest for episode 108),  all the way to the best burger at Au Cheval,  the mini lobster roll with caviar from 3 Arts Cafe at RH, the simple yet incredible prosciutto sandwich at JP Graziano, and much more. Thank you so much for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. We are so thankful for our listeners, whether you have been here since the beginning or found us later on, we're stoked that you're here and appreciate the support. 

Hey there food fans! Episode 152 of The Food For ThoughtCast is shaping up to be mighty tasty, because our guest today is a master of flavors! We're talking to Blackwell Smith, he is a Southern cook who believes in honest flavor and hands-on practices, always grounded in real kitchens and real food. He is currently launching the No BS Cookbook series, including the latest No BS Holiday Cookbook and the upcoming No BS Seafood Cookbook, which features custom blends made by Lucky Cajun Handmade. These seasonings are ground fresh for each batch, and they are amazing! Steve and Melissa both got samples and got right to work using them in everything from wings, to tacos, to pasta salad, and even popcorn. Blackwell is an intriguing conversationalist and a really great guy and we had a fun time getting to know him. The Food For ThoughtCast highly recommends these seasonings! Go find Blackwell and all of the seasoning blends, at https://theluckycajun.com/. Thanks for listening! Go season something, you won't regret it.

The allure of the 90s is back, baby! In snack form, that is. It's that time again- The Food For ThoughtCast is kicking off Episode 151 by welcoming Yousuf Ahmed to the show. Yousuf is dedicated to infusing joy back into snacking. B-SIDES crafts allergen-free , accidentally vegan, protein puffs using upcycled ingredients, prioritizing taste and experience above all else. Their vibrant and whimsical branding draws inspiration from the nostalgic snack brands of the 90s. With three great flavors and more in the pipeline ( we know because we tasted them! Thanks Yousuf for the samples!) this snack is soon to be on shelves everywhere. We had an amazing time talking about everything from branding and supply chain, to what makes a Cheeto great, all the way to ramps on pizza and how terrible protein breakfast cereals can be. Check us out anywhere you find your favorite food podcasts. Thanks so much for listening. Make sure to give B-SIDES a follow on social media, and buy some for yourself. Your tastebuds (and the planet) will thank you.

Hey there food fans! It's time to eat your veggies. Today on Episode 150 we are talking to Heidi Herman, author of The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook: 90 Tasty Recipes for Veggie-Averse Adults. Heidi takes us on her cooking and literary journey and we talk all about the ways we love to use vegetables to add nutrition and fiber to everyday items. Rather than urging readers to learn to love spinach or zucchini, Herman's cookbook works with existing taste preferences. The recipes cleverly disguise vegetables in familiar dishes, giving adults a way to enjoy the foods they love while quietly boosting their daily nutrition. Everything in this cookbook looks amazing and we can't wait to report back. We had a great time getting to know Heidi and are eager to support her work. We hope you will enjoy this. Find us everywhere you find your podcasts, and don't forget to share with a friend.

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, food fans! Today on Episode 149, we are joined by Brian Baumal, a registered psychotherapist who specializes in food addiction. This is a bit of a different episode, really focusing on the "thought" part of the "cast." We explore diet culture, the stories we tell ourselves about food, the mindsets that determine how and why we eat, and Brian helps us understand the connection between the brain and all things sustenance. This was an incredible conversation and we had a great time learning from Brian and honestly, we could have probably gone on for another hour or so. We all had a chance to be a bit vulnerable, and we hope that you have as great of a takeaway from this chat as we did. Takeaway, that's a food reference. But anyway, share us with a friend and don't forget to watch us on YouTube! Now with more facepalms. 

Nothing better than a back-up plan, right? Sometimes the pivot is the ultimate consolation prize! Melissa had a trip to Virginia planned, but had to cancel at the last minute so she took full advantage of being a tourist in her own town instead. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 148. Sit back , grab a tasty snack, and be completely jealous of all the amazing things she ate as we take a culinary tour through Raleigh and Durham. Rabbit cavatelli? Yes please! Soft pillowy Croatian bread with meat drippings? Heck yes! Homemade orange marmalade?! Say less! What have you been cooking? Where have you been eating? Let us know on the socials. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe and share us with a friend. Steve is wowed, croissants be croissant-ing, and there is nothing quite like having your weekend curated by a certified foodie. No offense to Chili's.

Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, where everything is made up and the tangents don't matter. Stephen and Melissa start out trying to do a comedy bit and then ease ourselves into Episode 147. Today we're catching up about life in general, the amazing things we ate, and tackling a variety of topics from tuna poke, Trader Joe's kimbap, toddler food jags, foods we used to hate, and so much more. Thanks for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Watch us on YouTube, and go try something new all over again. Except for licorice, it's gross.  

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 146, Stephen and Melissa are checking in with each other. We discuss being a tourist in your own town, upcoming travel and eating, foods we wish we knew more about, and what we've been cooking and eating. We talk about a few texture icks, shopping stories, and food memories. We like a little bit of a more chill conversation once in a while, and we hope you will too. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Thanks for listening and for watching on YouTube.

Are you living intentionally? Cooking with love? Gathering with purpose?! This week's guest Jeannie Jacobs is here to share the secret to doing just that. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 145. Melissa here. Stephen and I had an incredible time talking to Jeannie about her inspiring journey from physician to people gatherer. Jeannie is on track to be the next Martha Stewart- her goal is to share her work as a lifestyle expert, offering a modern approach to elevated living. Her cookbook, Welcome To My Table,  is all about the moments that matter, spelled out in food. She left medicine behind, but never stopped meeting the needs of people- the true definition of radical hospitality. This was a great conversation, and we know you will love it too. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe- and share the podcast with a friend. Listen to us wherever you get your favorite food podcasts and don't forget to watch us on YouTube. Find Jeannie and her heart for gathering on Instagram and Pinterest. We'll be over here sipping on Almond Iced Tea. What are you bringing to the potluck? Enjoy!

Alternative titles to this episode could have also been "Get Your Shrimp Off My Barbie" or "A Tim-Tam is Not A Hat". Join us for cherry ripe, sausage sizzle, witchety grubs, fairy bread, and lots of laughs-- today's guest is an OG listener to The Food For ThoughtCast, and he also just happens to be our Australian Culinary Ambassador. I'm not sure if he knew he earned the title before he came on to record, but we'll send him the certificate in the mail later. Nathan Johnston is joining us today from the often snow-filled beauty that is Iowa but he hails from the land down under! We had a blast getting to know Nate's culinary roots and he helped us understand what's what in Australian cuisine. From meat pies set adrift in pea soup, to weird-looking lobsters with an inferiority complex and seemingly no real face- we've got it all on Episode 144 of The Food for ThoughtCast! Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Share us with a friend.