Dining On A Dime

Food fuels our bodies in the same way that we fuel your taste buds and culinary interests, especially when it comes to this week's guests on Food Farms & Chefs Radio Show! We're bringing friend of the show (and celebrity guest) Roberta Pipito of Homemade Delish on and the OG of his New York neighborhood, Vlad Grinberg of The Organic Grill! To start, we caught up with our amazing, multi-talented, and dynamic friend Roberta Pipito!  Not only has Roberta found a huge following as a blogger, she became an internet sensation who is lovingly referred to as "Philadelphia's Racheal Ray." And Roberta's continued success has paved the way to creating delicious recipes which have been highlighted on morning shows, local news, and magazines. And her star is still rising: Her wonderful personality & culinary talents caught the attention of television producers. So she joined us to officially announce her brand-new TV shows which will both premiere this summer on Recipe.TV!  That's right, you'll hear her big anno

National cheesesteak day lands on March 24th, and we're celebrating the Philadelphia foodie favorite with Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Company's owner, Nish Patel.  Nish, who acquired ownership of Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Co pre-pandemic, completely renovated the space and its menu.  After bringing Chef Gregorio Fierro on as his confer, Chef Fierro implemented changes to the dough that inevitably enhanced the flavor & profiles of their menu.  Included in some of the changes made were artisanal options as well as sourcing their ingredients from the freshest and highest-quality purveyors, which garnered the tastiest Pizzas, Cheesesteaks, and coming-soon: Calazones, around! We then spoke with one of Bilal's Bakery & Deli co-owners, Chef Jamela Bilal.  This is not the first time one of the Bilal family members opened an eatery, nor their first business. Chef Bilal, whose parents also own and run a cleaning business in the Philadelphia region, has deep roots within the culinary community. Jamela's roots are with

Everyone's Irish! Slainte to all of you, and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day we have three Pubs to bring you all the green beer, Irish-friendly menus, and fun on Food Farms & Chefs!We first hear from friend a of the show, McGillin's Olde Ale House and their amazing General Manager, Gabrielle Rubery.  As one of the oldest pubs in the country, this local favorite has some fame of its own. McGillin's, which is the oldest pub in Philadelphia, has been in Owner Chris Mullins' family since 1958. It's so famous, that people travel from across the globe to dine and drink at McGillin's. On St. Patrick's Day the green beer is kept flowing, and don't be surprised if you find your future love when you visit.  On top of all the festivities that happen throughout the year, McGillin's seems to offer good luck to people's love life...and has seen many couples pop the question in their pub.Speaking of festivities, we spoke with Dooney's Pub's Director of Operations, Ariane Bonnes to chat about how Jim and Mary Dooney start

Grab your bestie, because this week we're excited to introduce you to Crave Nature's Eatery, located in Lawrenceville, NJ. The health-conscious spot was co-created by four dynamic women, one of whom joined us on the show! Samanta Filip, the co-creator and Operations Manager of Crave, sat down for a fun discussion of their delicious menu and cool events coming up this month! So if you're looking for a flavorful way to enjoy some healthy bites, tune in (and check out) Crave Nature's Eatery-and maybe dance off some dessert at their adjoining Viva Ballroom Dance Fitness studio! We then swayed over to a hip spot that just opened in B-Town Philly. Co-Owner Derek Gibbons joined us to talk about Brewerytown Food Hall, the newest concept founded under Glu Hospitality. Brewerytown Food Hall is a multi-level space which offers a selection of cuisines from several of their restaurants. When you visit, you can look forward to a family-friendly environment, complete with games, a lounge area, food from Hunnie's Frie

Savor the flavors of this week's guests on Food Farms & Chefs Radio Show, because they're cooking up some hot commodities in their kitchens.  From a self-taught Barbecuer, to a fast-casual burger joint, and some dessert to follow--these dynamic individuals are creating treats for all of us to eat!We began our episode with Terrell Barkley, who started his BBQ business after he unintentionally became the neighborhood grill master.  He found his passion, and skill, to barbecuing while he was recovering from an injury.  When he started to cook, the neighbors sniffed out the delicious offerings, and soon he found himself feeding all the children and their parents.  As fate would have it, he met someone who wanted out of their business, and soon it became Barkley's BBQ.   His popularity grew with every tasty bite, and soon he expanded to meet the requests of his fans, committing to a food truck in addition to his brick and mortar location.We next wanted you to MEAT the self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur of Che

During our first segment, we spoke with Chef Tonii Hicks, who is currently participating in Garces Group's Chef in Residency program inside Volver.  Chef Hicks is utilizing her Chef in Residency to raise funds to purchase a large building in West Philadelphia.  Tonii's ultimate goal is to open a multi-level work space, with each level dedicated towards an independent purpose.  In creating this multi-level workspace, she envisions a place where businesses; startups; restaurateurs and artists can collaborate together on projects. Through Garces Group's Chef in Residency Program, which highlights rising stars and offers Chefs a platform to raise monies towards whatever initiative they choose, patrons can dine on a menu curated by Chef Hicks along with offering additional tips and/or donations towards her cause. Our impactful episode continued with Muhammad Abdul-Hadi.  Abdul-Hadi's story begins with his entrepreneurial spirit; as a youth he grew up learning the in's and out's of owning businesses from his older

We began with restaurateurs, Justin Weathers and Joseph Monnich, who own several dining establishments in Pennsylvania.  They are known for bringing an elevated style to foods that you love. They're joining us to discuss their newest restaurant, Joey Chops.  Joey Chops, which will hold its Grand Opening in the coming week, offers a luxurious dining experience with a cocktail menu tailored to impress.  Located in Malvern, PA, Joey Chops will put a modern twist on the classic American steakhouse--a perfect choice for your next night out.  Of course, if you're planning a Galentine's or romantic dinner, it's important to choose the perfect beverage to pair with your meal. To help you with your choice, we had a wonderful conversation with Sunshine Foss, owner of Happy Cork located in Brooklyn, New York.  In addition to offering bottles from well-known labels, Sunshine selects, sells, and offers brands that reflect her surrounding community. As a Black and Woman-owned entrepreneur, Sunshine recognized how impactful

Guests:Joe Brown, Brennan Foxman, & Bill Beck Synopsis:We begin our show with Joe Brown, Executive Chef and Culinary & Food Bank Director for Harvest Cafe & Abundant Harvest Catering at Bethany Baptist Church.  Chef Brown brought his unique fusion of Cajun & Italian cuisine to the culinary community when he burst onto the restaurant scene with his first location for Melange. Brown grew his name & brand when major media took notice of the culinary community, and found himself within that notable group.  Some of the numerous appearances he made include TV shows like Discovery, National Geographic, & Food Network, as well as in publications like Ebony, Black Enterprise, & Health Quest. Unfortunately he had to close the doors to his restaurants in 2010, but his love of creating delicious meals for people still beat strong. As such, Chef Brown now leads the kitchen as well as inspires future generations inside Harvest Cafe.  In addition to that, he just published his second book, Melang

We begin with our home-base in Philadelphia, with a Philly favorite: Scoop DeVille. We spoke with Spencer Phillips, who is the current owner and operator behind the thirty year-old ice cream spot. Spencer discussed how he came to know Scoop DeVille, and years later became the owner 10 years ago. Initially Phillips stuck to all the original processes. However, Phillips now creates his own flavors, ice creams, and hot chocolate floats which are sought after treats all year long! Stay tuned for more about Scoop DeVille and all that you can look forward to for your next favorite frozen treat! Tasting fabulous foods and beverages is always on our radar, so we spoke with the Creative Director, Joe Calerone, of New York's famous Serendipity 3. You may recognize the name, as this is a sweet spot for many celebrities, notable foodies, and from their notoriety on the small and big screen. Fame is not the only reason this New York City-based spot gained attention, they're also recognized for holding 9 different Guinness

There's a lot to celebrate on this week's Food, Farms, & Chefs Radio Show, as we spoke with Tamas Szene who is the Director of Operations for Fearless Restaurants.  Szene joined us to celebrate White Dog Cafe's 40th Anniversary, and this iconic restaurant that helped bring the farm-to-table movement to the culinary industry.  Fearless Restaurants has even more to celebrate, as they announce their newest location on our show!  So stay tuned to learn more about this trend-setting establishment, and where they are opening next! To continue with our celebrations, we asked Melissa Fernando to join our family of foodies.  Melissa is no stranger to bringing flavor to every dish, as she grew up learning the piquant flavors behind a variety of cuisines.  Born in Sri Lanka, and growing up in Chennai, India Melissa eventually moved to Philadelphia, PA.  This dynamic self-taught chef made a name for herself when she established Sri's Company and began offering delicious food at pop-ups {markets} around Philly.  She q

We began our episode by serving up the freshest meals in Camden County as we spoke with the co-owner and Chef of Corinne's Place.  Originally born from a small catering business, the Founder Corinne Bradley-Powers grew her business into a beloved neighborhood spot; offering scratch-made foods that visitors from all over would travel to enjoy. Eventually word spread and her meals became so enticing that even celebrities and food critics became repeat customers.  Mrs. Bradley-Powers eventually sold her business to Trevor Vaughan & his partner, Craig Sawyer, but not without Corinne's blessing; Corinne's new role within her famed restaurant is being the new owner's consultant.  After ownership of the restaurant changed hands in 2019, Corinne's Place was nominated (and won) the James Beard Foundation's "America's Classics" Award, which is given to establishments that have remained open for at least 10 years, and reflect the character of its community.  We touch on all of this and more, so stay tuned to hear ab

To start, we're celebrating two new concepts from FCM Hospitality that just opened in Philadelphia!  Neina Langford, FCM Hospitality's Director of Special Events, joined us to chat about the delicious new breakfast & lunch offerings from Rosy's Cafe--and to help celebrate it, she delivered some of the tantalizing menu items to the studio!  So not only did we chat about how delightful the food is, we can attest to it from first-hand experience!  From flavorful bites of tortas, to tacos--this new spot is sure to please your palate!  Then, we danced our way into the night with NoChe!  NoChe, which is also part of the FCM Hospitality's ever-expanding and trend-setting concepts, offers elevated bites and cocktails that will tantalize all your senses.  If you're looking to impress, then tune in to find out just how impressive these two new spots are! Then, we had the pleasure to introduce Olga Sorzano, the amazing entrepreneur behind Baba's Brew aka Baba's Bucha--a kombucha with so much heart behind it, that I'

We are still out having some fun, so for your listening enjoyment we're re-playing one of your fan favorites of Food, Farms, & Chefs! On the episode, which originally aired in 2021, had Jimmy Kunz whose undeniably tasty products from The Truffleist will tempt any foodies taste buds. Then, for our sports fans who also happen to be foodies, we had NFL/CFL player Justin Renfrow on to talk about the amazing things he does to help out feeding those in need. And for our final segment we also had the multi-talented Mark Cassasanto on. Mark, who is the Director Of Operations at Imperial Events Security and a featured columnist at "Philadelphia Row Home Magazine," has worked in the food and hospitality industry for years, and brings his delightful demeanor (and wealth of experience) with him everywhere he goes!

We appreciate all of our Food, Farms, & Chefs Family for supporting and listening throughout the years, and as we take a break to celebrate the Holiday Season with our families we wanted to share one of your favorite episodes with all of you again.  So please enjoy our wonderful guests, and if you can find time to visit them--I'm sure that they would love to see you just as much as we do!On that note, for your listening pleasure:We're starting our show with Chef Tim Pervizi and owner of Heirloom in Doylestown, PA!  Chef Tim Pervizi considers that all knowledge and talents are an Heirloom that is passed on from mentors and colleagues, and in that spirit he has become proficient in his own culinary talents under some highly acclaimed Chefs, including David Pasternack, a James Beard Award Winning Chef,  and Food and Wine's Best New Chefs, Missy Robbins and even attaining his skills by acknowledging the differences in how every kitchen is run.  He will take us on a wonderful look into his own culinary backgro

This week's episode of Food Farms & Chefs radio show is happy to welcome our friend, and celebrity chef, Georgeann Leaming back to discuss all her numerous endeavors, including the newly established pop-up concept; Zang Croissants. These buttery, flakey, and Super-sized pastries caught our attention, as I'm sure they will catch yours too! She's also joining us to chat about her role as one of MAPP's Ambassadors; MAPP stands for: Mentor, Advocacy, Purpose, Power of women. And how her involvement within the supportive community of MAPP coincides with other groups that she is involved with. All of whom offer equal support and comradery for women within the culinary and hospitality industry. We'll then take you into the hustle and bustle of becoming a chef when we took a behind the scenes look at Chef Barry Galasso as he taught his students (and our co-host Amaris Pollock) how to prepare a crab cake from scratch. Yes, you'll even get the recipe that Chef Galasso used to create this foodie-favorite dish,

This week's Food, Farms, & Chefs show has ALL the spirits! We're bringing you a lot of holiday cheer from stateside to across the globe! As we begin, we spoke with our favorite libations expert, Frank Pagliaro. Not only did he offer recommendations of the best wines and spirits that are trending this season, he also delivered on a holiday treat! If you stop into Frank's Wines in Wilmington, DE you'll have the chance to win big! If you're wondering the "how's and what's" just stay tuned in on this week's episode to find out! Then we take another trip around the globe to celebrate the holiday season with both co-hosts Gene Blum and Amaris Pollock as they take turns describing some of the fun and interesting traditions and places where cheer across the United States as well as some traditions across the globe! We're talking about food traditions, fun places that you can visit for amazing holiday experiences, and events and locations that you might not know about. We rounded out our show with two amaz

On this week's episode of Food, Farms, & Chefs we're mixing it up with a celebrity chef, a cocktail guru, and ending the show by celebrating Christmas around the globe! We begin this week with celebrity chef, and friend of Food, Farms, & Chefs Radio Show, Chef Clara Park. Clara joined us to chat about her latest television appearance on Netflix's new series, SNACK vs CHEF! But before we dive into the details related to that, Gene Blum and Clara dug a little deeper into Chef Park's background and how what inspired her to follow the path to her culinary career. We also touched base on some of her other exciting foodie adventures, and how she is inspiring and teaching future generations to enjoy, be informed, and fully immerse themselves within the plethora of culinary cuisines! After delving into the prestigious world of highly acclaimed chefs, we'll journey over to one of America's favorite brunch-time cocktails--Bloody Mary's and the pre-made K Bloody Mary Mix. Believe us when we say that Khia

Rocco Gallelli who is a friend of the show, culinary genius, and Chef/Owner of Innovative Catering Concepts opened our latest show with a discussion of one of the most celebrated culinary traditions: the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Chef Gallelli joined our co-host Gene Blum to chat about the significance behind the celebratory meal, what would be eaten in the past and why, as well as where the Feast of the Seven Fishes originated. I'm sure that the discussion will pique your interest, not only with the history behind the Feast, but after hearing all the delicious foods that are eaten during the meal--you'll begin to get hungry for more. Which is why we also introduced Chef Joe Muldoon to all of our Food, Farms, & Chefs family. Chef Muldoon joined us from inside his boutique foodie haven, Haddon Culinary. The food-driven market offers a variety of prepared foods as well as numerous products that are locally and globally sourced, bringing you the best foods and culinary delights from all over the world.

We begin our show with our very own Culinary Historian, Gene Blum, as he informs us of the surprising history behind how Thanksgiving began, what was offered at the table when it first began, and how gradually it became the traditional gathering that we now know. Some of the history may even shock you (especially if you're a food lover). Like how an elevated menu item that we pay extra for at restaurants today originally was considered to be undesirable. And then he goes on to describe how beer played a large role in the celebrations of thanksgiving. We then move onto a fun interview with Chef Sophia Morris, who gave us an insiders look into what it is like behind the scenes inside a professional kitchen, and all the passion that goes into working within the culinary community. Chef Morris then goes into some of the delightful menu items that she has created to entice you to visit Cake & Joe in Philadelphia, including some of her own favorites off the menu. Lastly, we'll hear from our new Food, F

Stay tuned to hear from Bravo TV's Below Deck star, Chef Ben Robinson while he sat down to discuss what it's like to create a multitude of culinary works of art on a yacht, where to find the best markets while in-port across the globe, and even what his favorite cuisine to create is.  Then we spoke with friend of the show, Chef Brian Duffy as he dishes out what some of his favorite finds were during the Taste of Lancaster this year, what he has been up to lately, and what he was dishing up during his demo! After a short break we'll also hear from Chef Edward Covino and how his scratch-made soups and stews are not only packed with an abundance of nutritious food, the meals are an ideal way to feed your hunger without worrying about all the prep work.  We'll dig into how his pre-portioned and packaged meals are also perfect to bring out some of your own creativity in the kitchen too.  And afterwards we will speak with Chef Barry Sexton as he represented all of NJ, PA, and beyond while he created his flavorful m