Radio Cherry Bombe

If the holidays are the Super Bowl for bakers, Erin Jeanne McDowell might just be the MVP. If you’re baking a pie this holiday, or just love all things baking, don’t miss this episode. Erin is the author of the brand new The Book on Pie, which just hit The New York Times best-seller list, and she is here to talk all things dough, crust, fillings, toppings, and more. Erin also shares some of her favorite tools for pie-making, explains how to cut and serve a pie, and even gives a style tip or two. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Plus, tune in to hear who Maggie Tang, the co-founder and co-host of the Gourmand podcast, thinks is the Bombe!

It’s a Berry Cherry moment on Radio Cherry Bombe today! Kate Berry, the executive creative director of Domino Magazine, joins us to talk “New Ways for the Holidays,” our new miniseries about helping you make the season special, no matter how, where, and with whom you’re celebrating. This designer, mom, and all-around creative pro shares her wealth of entertaining information and inspiration plus lots of tabletop decorating ideas with host Kerry Diamond. Kate also worked for Martha Stewart, so we talk about her time with the ultimate entertaining guru, and we hear what’s new with the crew at Domino. Tune in for more! Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via link in bio. Thank you to Wines of Sicily for supporting our miniseries. Ask for Sicilia DOC at your favorite local wine shop.

We’re always thankful for Vivian Howard, the chef, restaurateur, author, and Emmy and Peabody-award winning television host. She just published another great cookbook, This Will Make It Taste Good, a unique series of recipes built around key flavor “heroes,” as she describes them. Vivian also has two new eateries in Charleston: the Handy & Hot coffee shop, now open, and Lenore restaurant, scheduled to open in December. She walks host Kerry Diamond through the particulars of the spaces and the menus. Vivian also shares what her Thanksgiving 2020 menu will include, from a deep-fried turkey to her mom’s pecan pie. Thank you to the folks at Kerrygold for supporting today’s shows. Plus, stick around to hear who Rani Cheema, culinary travel specialist at Cheema’s Travel, thinks is the Bombe. 

Get ready to swoon because Athena Calderone is on Radio Cherry Bombe! The EyeSwoon creator, author, podcaster, and entertaining expert is the first guest on “New Ways for the Holidays,” our new miniseries about helping you make the season special no matter how, where, and with whom you’re celebrating. Athena has one of the best eyes around, and she sat down with Radio Cherry Bombe host Kerry Diamond to share her advice for simple and seasonal tabletop decorating solutions, putting together a menu, and how to zip up your holiday Zoom. Tune in to hear more!To learn more about Athena’s world, visit her new website athenacalderone.com.Thank you to Wines of Sicily for sponsoring the “New Ways for the Holidays” miniseries on Radio Cherry Bombe. Keep an eye out for Sicilia DOC at your favorite local wine shop. Thank you to Sicilia DOC winemaker Giovanna Caruso for sharing her story on what makes Sicilian wine perfect for the holidays.

“I’m never going to say I can’t do it. I’m never going to say maybe. I’m never going to say I don’t think I can. I can, and I will,” said Nadiya Hussain when she won The Great British Bake Off—and the hearts of everyone watching. Nadiya has become quite the phenomenon since her 2015 win, going on to film multiple TV programs, bake a cake for the Queen, and write two cookbooks in the U.K. One of them, Time To Eat, launches in the U.S. this week and it’s designed for busy folks like herself. It’s also the companion to her Netflix series of the same name. Nadiya chats with host Kerry Diamond about her meteoric rise, her mental health battles, her childhood, and more on the eve of Time To Eat’s launch. Tune in and learn why she’s beloved for so much more than just her baked goods. Thank you to the folks at Kerrygold for supporting today’s show.Plus, tune in to hear why Sarah Stribling, head of R&D at Greyston Bakery and sole proprietor of Sophisticated Sugar Cake Design, thinks Einav Gefen, the executive corp

Andi Murphy, a Navajo journalist, is one of the most important young voices in food media today. She is the host and creator of the award-winning Toasted Sister podcast, which aims to educate both Indigenous people and the mainstream about Indigenous food sovereignty, a movement she says is as personal as it is political. Andi joins host Kerry Diamond to discuss the meaning of food sovereignty and talk about some of her favorite Native chefs, farmers, and entrepreneurs. She shares her thoughts on the meaning of decolonizing Thanksgiving and suggests ways to have a more thoughtful holiday. Subscribe to Toasted Sister wherever you get your podcasts, and consider becoming a patron of Andi’s show on Patreon.Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting today’s show.Plus, find out why DeAndra Bailey, one of the pastry chefs at Compass Rose in Washington D.C., thinks that Tierra Taylor, a USPS postal worker in Maryland, is the Bombe!

Ina Garten is back with a brand new cookbook—and just in time! Called Modern Comfort Food, Ina timed its release a month before the election because she knew we would need some decadence and deliciousness right about now. But not even the Barefoot Contessa could predict how much we would need it and why! The result is updated, elegant takes on beef stew, chocolate cake, nachos, pizza, potato puree, plus fun cookies, cocktails, and much more. Ina joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her book, her life under quarantine, her time working at the White House (not on state dinners—on nuclear policy and budgeting!), and her Thanksgiving turkey tips. Tune in! Thank you to Kerrygold, the makers of butter and cheese with milk from Irish grass-fed cows, for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Plus, tune in to hear why Emery Lortsher, the chef and owner of The Blended Table catering company in Salt Lake City, Utah, thinks Jamie Erickson, the owner of Poppy’s catering and café in Brooklyn, is the Bombe!

It’s no surprise that Gaby Melian wanted to be a detective when she was a kid. The Bon Appétit test kitchen manager is super curious and loves nothing more than tracking down a hard-to-find ingredient. Her journey began in Buenos Aires where she grew up under the watchful eye of her mother and grandmother, two talented cooks who influenced her greatly. Gaby made her way to New York, worked as a nanny and in restaurants, then wound up at doing a work-study program at the Institute for Culinary Education, where her love of recipes, food, and education all came together. Gaby talks with host Kerry Diamond about her journey, her kitchen organization skills, what she throws in her stockpot, and more. Be sure to tune in!Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show!Plus, tune in to find out why Cara Chigazola Tobin, the chef and co-owner of Honey Road Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, thinks Chloe Genovart of SoLo Farm & Table in South Londonderry, Vermont, is the Bombe!

Not only is Chef Nancy Silverton on our show, but it’s our 300th episode! We have a lot to celebrate. Tune in to hear host Kerry Diamond chat with the Cherry Bombe favorite about her new cookbook, chi SPACCA: A New Approach to American Cooking, how Nancy and her restaurants are doing during these trying times for the industry, and what’s up with her many projects. They also talk beans, bread knives, and recipes, with a special recipe-related treat at the very end of the show.Plus, hear why Sarita Gelner, the blogger and recipe developer behind ritzymom.com from Madison, Wisconsin, thinks Chef Nina Compton is the Bombe.Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe this season and throughout the years.Fun fact: Nancy was also the guest on our 100th episode! Since we launched in 2014, Radio Cherry Bombe has featured the stories of hundreds of women in and around the food world. Thank you to all of our past guests, and to all of our amazing listeners around the world. Here’s to our next 300 episodes!

Mely Martínez was 18 years old when family members told her she had el sazón, meaning real flair in the kitchen. Mely has shared that talent with the world through her blog, Mexico In My Kitchen, which she started so her son—or, more specifically, his future partner—could have access to his mom’s recipes. Spoiler alert: Her son isn’t married, but no surprise, he is a good cook. Recently, Mely realized a big dream of hers with the release of her first cookbook, The Mexican Home Kitchen: Traditional Home-Style Recipes That Capture the Flavors and Memories of Mexico. Mely sat down with us to discuss her original supermarket shock when she came to America, tips for making tortillas from scratch, and other recipe highlights from her book and her blog. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.Plus, tune in to find out why Anne Ryan Gareis, the owner of Tiger Bites Bakes in Williamsburg, Virginia, thinks Mashama Bailey is the Bombe.

It’s rare that a cake artist can claim a certain style all her own. But that’s the case when it comes to the Milkmoon Kitchen cakes by Azara Golston. Slice into one and it’s a festival of layers, geometric shapes, and bright colors. When you see one of her cakes, the first question that comes to mind is “How does she do it?” Well, Azara is here to tell us. She also confirms that she is the accidental creator of the fault line cake, those unique confections that look as if the cake cracked open to reveal a surprise inside. Azara also shares her ups and downs of 2020, with the highlight being the arrival of her baby boy. Don’t miss this interview with one of the brightest and most creative cake creators out there.Plus, tune in to find out why Christina Wong, the baker behind Baking with Chickens, thinks Joline Rivera, the founder and creative director of Kitchen Toke, the culinary cannabis magazine, is the Bombe!Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

“I’m not sure what it is with society where people with disabilities are always an afterthought,” says Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad. For Lakshmee, a digital marketer with 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, the issue hits home. Her sister Annie was born with cerebral palsy, so Lakshmee knows firsthand how difficult it can be for a person with disabilities to navigate a city, even one as major and modern as New York, which they call home. In response, Lakshmee launched Accessible Travel NYC, a consultancy and website to help those looking to enjoy what New York has to offer by providing information on restaurants, transportation, accommodations, and more. Lakshmee shares her family’s story and also gives advice for those looking to make their businesses, events, or websites more accessible to the millions of people in this country with disabilities. You can visit Lakshmee’s site at accessibletravelnyc.com. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting today’s show.Plus, tune in to find out why Denise Yamaguchi

This dynamic duo is taking the food world by storm. Sicily Sierra and Mavis-Jay Sanders, partners in life and in business, are the founders of Food + People, a packaged goods company poised for growth that focuses on quality food, great flavor, and simplicity in the kitchen. They’re also the hosts of the IG Live show Drink Tank on @blackfoodfolks, where you can find them serving up candor and cocktails every Monday night. On today’s show, hear Sicily and Mavis-Jay share the story behind their company, their journeys through the world of food, and the details on their Maison Yaki pop-up launching today in Brooklyn. (They had us at meatloaf burgers.) We also get the details on their meet-cute story, which involves pricy pudding, food trucks, and the city of Los Angeles.Find out why Jade Dee Atkins, the editor in chief of Pass The Spatula, the student magazine of Food and Finance High School, thinks Christina Tosi is the Bombe.Thank you to Breyers CarbSmart for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe. 

Goodbye, buffets. Hello, Zoom. Marcy Blum is one of the premier event planners in the country, having organized weddings and various shindigs for the likes of LeBron James, Nate Berkus, and Katie Lee. But before she reached the pinnacle of party planning, Marcy had quite the journey, with stops at Performing Arts High School, a commune in Vermont, Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, the emerging New York City food scene in the 1970s—and more. Marcy was among the first female students admitted to the Culinary Institute of America, and she even worked with the legendary Edna Lewis at Brooklyn’s Gage & Tollner. Marcy shares some of her stories, talks about the plight of party planners in a pandemic, and gives tips on how to make virtual events feel a little more personal.Stay tuned to find out why Lisa Lin of Healthy Nibbles loves the Pasta Grannies of Instagram and YouTube.Thank you to Sonos and Breyers CarbSmart for supporting our show. Photo: Dennis Kwan

Chef Millie Peartree has a simple code that she lives by: “If you can do something to help someone else, you do it,” she says. Millie is a chef, restaurateur, and recipe developer, but most importantly, she’s a humanitarian who’s spent the past several months making sure others don’t go hungry. This summer, Millie’s been working on her Full Heart Full Bellies initiative to provide thousands of meals to schoolchildren and combat food insecurity in the Bronx, and during the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic, she fed essential workers. (You can contribute to her Full Heart Full Bellies Go Fund Me.) We also talk about what’s next for this dynamo and get the inside scoop on her famous mac and cheese recipe. Plus, tune in to hear why Parisa Parnian, founder of Savage Muse and Savage Taste in Los Angeles, thinks that Chef Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon, founder of Mingle + Graze in Chandler, Arizona, is the Bombe!Thank you to Sonos for supporting today’s episode.

“I just want to tell you how I feel about baking in case you don't know,” says Dorie Greenspan. “I feel that baking is magic.” Bake your day with this episode from the Radio Cherry Bombe archives. Tune in to hear beloved cookbook authors Dorie Greenspan and Joy Wilson AKA Joy The Baker chat about life, Julia Child, birthday cakes, and more from last year’s Jubilee NYC. It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss, whether you love baking, baked goods, or both. Introducing Dorie and Joy is Christina Ha, the co-owner and co-founder of Macaron Parlour and Meow Parlour in New York City. Plus, tune in to hear why Rhonda Cammon, owner and creator of Perfectly Cordial in Nashville, Tennessee, thinks that Keshia Hay, the Nashville-based private chef and owner of Sip N Bite, is the Bombe!Thank you to Sonos for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe.

Pooja Bavishi knew she wanted to be in the dessert business, but she never envisioned herself as an ice cream entrepreneur. Then one year, during her annual Friendsgiving celebration, she broke out an ice cream maker her parents had given her and made two ice creams: ginger and star anise. Her friends raved and Pooja knew it was her a-ha moment. Fast forward: Pooja’s Malai ice cream is a growing brand with national distribution through Goldbelly and its own scoop shop in Brooklyn. Malai specializes in global flavors with a twist, many of which celebrate Pooja’s Indian heritage, such as Pumpkin Garam Masala Crumble, Jaggery with Tamarind Caramel, and Sweet Roti & Ghee. Tune in to hear all about Pooja’s cool journey. Thank you to Sonos for supporting Radio Cherry Bombe. 

Don’t miss this wise, warm, and wonderful conversation between Madhur Jaffrey and Padma Lakshmi. As Padma put it at this year’s Cherry Bombe Jubilee Conference, Madhur “is the greatest living writer on Indian food—ever.” Padma, the star of Top Chef and Taste the Nation and a best-selling author, interviewed Madhur at Jubilee 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, like Priya Krishna and Meera Sodha. Madhur, who has written dozens of cookbooks, published her latest last spring, Madhur Jaffrey's Instantly Indian Cookbook: Modern and Classic Recipes for the Instant Pot.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.

“When I think about the movements that Black women have given us and have sustained just in this generation, I have to wonder why is it that people don’t listen to and follow Black women?” asked FoodLab Detroit Executive Director and co-founder of FoodLab Sydney Devita Davison, citing Black Lives Matter, Black Girl Magic, Free Our Girls, Say Her Name, Me Too, misogynoir, self-care, and intersectionality. Devita joins host Tiffani Rozier for the final episode of the Afros + Knives miniseries. Tune in to hear Devita discuss her life as a first-generation Detroiter, how Hurricane Sandy inspired her to return to her roots, and her work at the FoodLab, where a community of local culinary entrepreneurs is committed to dismantling racism within the food system. “For me, it is more important for our work to be guided by the voices of the people whose bodies sit at the intersection of oppression,” says Devita. “When those bodies become free, we all become free.” You can follow Devita’s work at @foodlabdetroit and food

“I’m an immigrant, a dancer, and a dreamer,” says Dominique Crenn, the world-renowned chef behind Atelier Crenn in San Francisco and author of the brand new memoir, Rebel Chef: In Search of What Matters. Dominique shares her journey from scrappy tomboy to holder of three Michelin stars, to her breast cancer diagnosis last year and the love story that helped her through it. Dominique also talks about the current state of her restaurant group and her thoughts and concerns for the industry she loves so much. Thank you to the folks at Breyer’s CarbSmart and Sonos for supporting today’s show. Also, Aarthi Sampath, a chef at the Rainbow Room in New York City, shares why she thinks Chef Melba Wilson of Melba’s in Harlem is the Bombe!Photo credit: Amanda Demme