681: Don’t Be the Worst Dinner Party Guest with Chelsea Fagan

Cha McCoy is an entrepreneur, educator, and sommelier from Harlem. She is the founder of the wine event series the Communion and, later, the brick-and-mortar bottle shop the Communion Wine & Spirits. Now she’s sharing her wine knowledge in her first book: Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. It’s an invaluable guide to pairing wine with food, anchored by Cha’s own experience traveling in wine regions across the globe, and today on the show, we dig into the process of bringing the book to life. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Matt shares about his recent trip to Korea, including stops at Bium and Superpan in Seoul, a visit to Sokcho and Sokcho Kappo, and discovering a very special cafe, Cafe Gid. And Aliza shares about a visit to Kiko, her thoughts on Korea's Fritz Coffee, and the very cool Apartamento Cookbook #10: APHRODISIACS. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we have a great conversation with Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and Tock. Along with running Resy and Tock, Pablo is a passionate supporter of the restaurant industry and a prolific diner. We hear about the recent Resy Retrospective and what the Resy team is spotting across the United States. We also get into Pablo’s personal history with restaurants as well as some of his favorite places to dine around the country.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Archibald and Kevin Serai are the couple behind Cabagges World, an online platform where they share recipes, travel guides, and more lifestyle inspiration.  Their respective backgrounds in graphic design and marketing helped turn a few viral home cooking videos into a career, and today on the show, we go deep on their backgrounds and perspective on creating cooking content online—plus what’s inspiring them today. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dorie Greenspan’s Dorie’s Anytime Cakes marks her 15th cookbook, which is a remarkable achievement in the world of cookbooks. Dorie is a former New York Times columnist and prolific recipe developer, particularly in the world of cookies, cakes, pies, and all things sweet. It was so much fun having Dorie in the studio to talk about her history and to dive into why cake might just be the most special dessert of all. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: An early look at Carbone Riviera in Las Vegas, opening today, as well as a visit to Carbone at Aria. Also: Autumn vibes in New York, Samin Nosrat's buttermilk-brined roast chicken is the perfect recipe, Hamnet is worth reading before the movie drops, a great fundraiser for One Love Community Fridge is being held at Honey's on November 16. Get your tickets. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Salcito is an award-winning sommelier turned entrepreneur based in Paris. After working as a somm at Eleven Madison Park and overseeing the beverage programs for the Momofuku group, she launched the canned spritz brand Ramona. Now, she’s sharing all her considerable wine wisdom in a new book: Smart Mouth. It’s so special to have Jordan in the studio to talk about her career and her distinct point of view on all things wine.  Also on the show we have a great conversation with Ari Kolender. Ari is a 20-year veteran of some of the top seafood restaurants in America, and opened his first restaurant, Found Oyster, in Los Angeles in 2019. Found Oyster is a Los Angeles sensation. Casual and precise, the cooking hones Ari's deep passion for serving some the finest seafood available, paired with interesting wines and service that is at the same time casual and finely pointed. He also operates Queen's Raw Bar & Grill and joins the show to talk about the Top Five restaurants that inspired his career.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea Fagan is the CEO and cofounder of the Financial Diet, a must-read newsletter that helps people get better in touch with their finances. Chelsea is also a passionate dinner party host (and guest), and she has now written a savvy ode to having people over called Having People Over. In this great conversation, we talk about etiquette and cooking tips for hosting, and we dip a little into personal finances, too. Check out Chelsea's podcast, The Financial Confessions. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cassie Yeung is a wildly popular food content creator known for her straight talk and delicious, approachable recipes. Her debut cookbook, Bad B*tch in the Kitch, is a New York Times Bestseller and one of the season’s buzziest titles. Formerly a professional dancer and a member of the NBA’s Brooklyn Net’s dance team the Brooklynettes, Cassie decided to share her love for Asian cuisine on social media and her cooking videos quickly went viral. She was a contestant on Season 2 of the reality cooking show Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay and joins Matt in the studio for a highly entertaining conversation. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hetty Lui McKinnon is one of our favorite recipe developers, and she writes a mean Substack to boot. She’s the author of a fun new book, Linger, which smartly bridges her love for plant-based cooking, dinner parties, and salad artistry. In this episode, Hetty returns to our studio to discuss her viral tomato and dumpling salad, and why a party at her house might include a photo shoot.  Also on the show we have a great conversation with Toni Chapman. Toni is a passionate home cook and recipe developer and the creator of Toni’s Recipes and TheMoodyFoody, where she shares bold, comforting dishes made for real life. Inspired by childhood favorites, takeout classics, and family traditions, her recipes are designed to impress, without the stress. She’s the author of a great new book, Everything’s Good, and we talk about what is exciting her in the kitchen and her life both on and offline. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Tamburo and Nikita Malhotra are the chef and wine director of Smithereens, a New England-style seafood spot in the East Village. Their thoughtful, imaginative takes on regional culinary traditions and their own cravings result in a totally singular restaurant—and today on the show, we’re unpacking how food and drinks combine at Smithereens. And at the top of the show, we have a great conversation with Will Thompson. He’s co-owner of the modern steakhouse Sunny’s in Miami. He gives us his top five meals that have inspired his long career working in bars and restaurants. This is part of a new recurring segment with Resy, where Resy editors, writers, and partner chefs discuss compelling stories and discuss the latest in food and dining culture. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiki Couchman is the cofounder of Sourmilk, a well-positioned yogurt company with more hustle than the average start-up. We found Sourmilk on social media and was impressed even before we tried the creamy and probiotic-rich yogurt. It’s good stuff, as is Kiki’s story about how she quit her finance job to start a yogurt company with her best friend—a refrain often repeated in Sourmilk’s savvy marketing. What’s it like bootstrapping in the highly competitive perishable consumer packaged goods world? This conversation is absolutely illuminating.      Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices