The Future Of Food Is You

Today’s guest is Madeline Bach, the founder and cake artist behind Frosted Hag. Madeline’s cakes are colorful, maximalist creations, crowded with whimsical toppings that beckon you to lean in for a closer look. In this episode, host Abena Anim-Somuah and Madeline discuss the inspiration behind her cakes, her time working as a “gallerina” at a Lower East Side art gallery, and the special people and events she’s made cakes for, including Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden residency and her collaboration with MAC Cosmetics. Tune in to learn all about Madeline’s frosting philosophy, her artistic idols including Lana del Rey, Pink Pantheress, and Depeche Mode, and why she loves “being on the other side of a celebration” as a cake artist. Don’t miss Madeline’s voicemail to her future self! More on Madeline: Instagram, website Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Content Operations Manager Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Gabrielle Chappel is a rising culinary star and current contestant on Fox’s “Next Level Chef,”the Gordon Ramsay competition show. Gabrielle cites her childhood in rural Pennsylvania as having sparked her interest in intentional ingredient sourcing, seasonality, and nutrition. After working odd jobs and grinding in the world of journalism, Gabrielle found her true calling in food. These days, she’s determined to redefine the way we think about plant-based eating and what we consider delicious. Tune in to learn all about Gabrielle’s cooking philosophy, her idols including Alice Waters, Julia Child, and Yotam Ottolenghi, and her experience on “Next Level Chef,” which is streaming now on Hulu. Don’t miss Gabrielle’s voicemail to her future self! More on Gabrielle: Instagram, website, "Next Level Chef" Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Learn more about Cherry Bombe Jubilee here Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Content Operations Manager Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Cooking has always been at the center of Hailee Catalano’s world. She grew up watching The Food Network, inspired by cooks like Rachael Ray and watching the adults cook in her Sicilian-German home. Some of our guests have winding paths into the food world but Hailee was on a mission from day one. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, she started her career in restaurant kitchens. When her plan to break into the New York restaurant scene was upended by COVID, Hailee started thinking outside of the box. She got a job as an Instacart shopper for a test kitchen and started making cooking videos as a creative outlet. Today, she’s garnered a devoted following across social channels, and she’s not stopping anytime soon. Hailee joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to chat about finding her voice and balancing her life as a content creator. They talk about how her videos have evolved, from the “hands-and-pans” style to the more personal content her audience connects with today: calm, straightforward walk-throughs of comforting recipes, made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Listen to Hailee’s top pieces of advice for homecooks, her stance on dill, and what it’s like sharing a kitchen with Chuck Cruz, her partner and a fellow content creator. Don’t miss Hailee’s voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold, Hampton Grocer, and Dona for supporting today’s show. More on Hailee: Instagram, website, TikTok Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Learn more about Cherry Bombe Jubilee here Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Valeria Alvarez is on a mission to make something beautiful out of ugly fruit. After a trip to Indonesia that inspired her to start a smoothie bowl business, Valeria began researching the food system in earnest. She quickly discovered the monstrous amount of bananas that become trash every year and Peel Soft Serve, the banana-based soft-serve shop in Miami Shores, was born. Made of only two ingredients, bananas and coconut milk, the soft serve is a sustainable treat fit for the future. Valeria chats with host Abena Anim-Somuah about her upbringing in Colombia, the ins and outs of running a sustainable food business, and the story behind the original “Peel-mobile,” a retrofitted Italian Piaggio. Don’t miss Valeria’s voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold, Hampton Grocer, and Dona for supporting today’s show. More on Valeria: Instagram, Peel Soft Serve Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Learn more about Cherry Bombe Jubilee here Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

For Gabriella and Giovanna Favilli-Vigoreaux, community is everything. After a temporary move to their home state of Florida became permanent, Gabi and Gio embarked on a journey to love the place they had once decided to leave. The transition from New York City food and media scene to Floridian farmers markets wasn’t seamless, but with the help of friends and family, the couple found their footing and are set to open their first brick-and-mortar bakery, Bandidas Bakeshop, this April. Gabi and Gio join host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about adapting the flavors they love from their Nicaraguan and Puerto Rican heritages, advocating for LGBTQ+ representation, and the village it takes to open up a small business. Don’t miss Gabi and Gio’s voicemails to their future selves! Thank you to Kerrygold and Simpli for supporting our podcast. More on Gabi & Gio: Bandidas Bake Shop, website, writing Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Learn more about Cherry Bombe’s Sit With Us dinners here Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

If former Cherry Bombe intern Chayil Hyland has anything to do with it, the future of hospitality is going to be bright and diverse. A junior at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, Chayil grew up in a Trinidadian-Guyanese family in Queens and fell in love with food while cooking with her mother and grandmother and watching “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay,” and “Ratatouille.” She later attended Food and Finance, the culinary-focused public high school in Manhattan, and worked on several Food Education Fund-backed projects, including the student-run Pass The Spatula magazine. Chayil talks to host Abena Anim-Somuah about having to choose between Cornell and a full-ride at the Culinary Institute of America, her freshman year “jump scare,” the work she’s doing as director of impact and inclusion for Hotel Ezra Cornell (the school’s student-run hospitality conference happening this April), and why she never wants to tournée another potato. Don’t miss Chayil’s voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold, Simpli, and OpenTable for supporting our podcast. More on Chayil: Instagram, Food Education Fund Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Learn more about Cherry Bombe’s Sit With Us dinners in Miami, Philly, and D.C. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Today’s guest is Silvana Pijoan, a second-generation vintner producing wines on Pijoan, her family estate located in Ensenada, a coastal town in the Mexican wine region Valle de Guadalupe. Silvana grew up learning the process, from grape to glass, from her winemaker father, Pau Pijoan, and eventually convinced him to start bottling natural wines. Silvana joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to chat about growing up on her father’s vineyard, bringing a modern spin to her father’s classic winemaking style, the state of wine agriculture and tourism in Mexico, and more. Don’t miss Silvana’s voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold, Oishii, and OpenTable for supporting our podcast. Join us for our live Future Of Food Is You podcast event in Miami on Friday, March 8th, International Women’s Day. For more details, visit cherrybombe.com. More on Silvana: Instagram, Pijoan Vinos Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond, Catherine Baker, and Elizabeth Vogt Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

We have a special episode this week coming to you from Mexico City. Today’s guest is Lorea Olavarri. Lorea is the chef, owner, and partner of three restaurants across CDMX: Nero, a pasta bar, Er Rre, a French-style bistro, and Margot, a daytime rooftop eatery offering classic French dishes. Lorea grew up between Mexico and France in a food-obsessed family. She graduated from fashion school and worked a brief stint as a jewelry designer before developing a passion for making pasta and pivoting to food full time. Lorea joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to chat about her childhood food memories, the ins-and-outs of opening restaurants, and her dreams of staging at places like Le Bernardin in New York City. Don’t miss Lorea’s voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold and Oishii for supporting our podcast. Want to be a guest speaker at our upcoming event in Miami on March 8th? Apply here. More on Lorea: Instagram, Er Rre, Nero, Margot Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Odette Olaverri’s Episode can be found here Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Today’s guest is Alice Jun, founder of Hana Makgeolli, the artisanal Korean rice wine producer based in Brooklyn. She was introduced to makgeolli at a young age, helping her father brew batches at home throughout her childhood. During her time at NYU, Alice began brewing rice wine on her own, a hobby that turned into a series of pop-up dinners, tastings, and parties. After graduation, Alice began working as a consultant at Deloitte, but continued to devote her weekends to her brewing practice. In 2017, she made her passion her full-time profession and launched Hana Makgeolli with aspirations of becoming the foremost artisanal makgeolli brand in the United States. Alice shares how she went from making makgeolli in her dorm to building a production facility and tasting room in Brooklyn and connecting with her Korean American roots. Don’t miss her chat with host Abena Anim-Somuah or her voicemail to her future self! Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our podcast. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. More on Alice: Hana Makgeolli, website Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Today’s guest is Chala June, the Congolese-American journalist who has made a name for themselves covering queerness in food and the intersection of cannabis and culinary for the likes of Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Cherry Bombe, and Edible Manhattan. Chala shares how their love of food, magazines, and storytelling informed their career path; their thoughts on the future of journalism; what they learned at Bon Appétit; and why they’re rooting for the Condé Nast union. Chala also discusses their work on the groundbreaking 2023 Bon Appétit “Food Is Queer” package, and the personal reason behind their interest in food and cannabis. Don’t miss their chat with host Abena Anim-Somuah or their voicemail to their future self! Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our podcast. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. More on Chala: Instagram, Food is Queer story on Bon Appétit Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Nadine Ghantous is the sous-chef at Rolo’s, a popular neighborhood restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens. After completing a biology degree at Syracuse University, she moved to New York City and pivoted to restaurants, where she found herself hosting at one of New York’s hottest restaurants, Lillia. As she learned about the delicate dance required to run a successful restaurant, she started to dream about a career in the kitchen. Today, Nadine is working the line—and the wood-fired oven—at Rolo’s, one of the most buzzed-about restaurants in Queens. She and host Abena talk about her food-centric family, her thoughts on holding space in the kitchen, and TikTok dining trends. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our podcast. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. More on Nadine: Instagram, Rolo’s Follow Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

The Future Of Food Is You is back! For the first show of 2024, host Abena Anim-Somuah is joined by Laura Katz, the founder and CEO of Helaina, a New York City-based biotech company specializing in “the next generation of nutrition.” Laura got the idea for Helaina after learning about the black market for breast milk and the surprise customer base. Not parents, but rather those looking to boost their cognition, muscle growth, and overall health. Laura shares how her love of cooking sparked an interest in food science, how a few cold emails led to the first investment in Helaina (the company has now raised $38 million), and how she’s learned to navigate entrepreneurship as a solo founder. Don’t miss Laura’s voicemail to her future self at the end of the show. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our podcast. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. More on Laura: Instagram, LinkedIn, website Abena on Instagram Cherry Bombe on Instagram Future Of Food Is You transcripts can be found here Subscribe to Cherry Bombe Magazine and get free shipping Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Romilly Newman is not afraid to fail. As she tells us on today’s episode, it was events like dropping out of NYU as a freshman and being eliminated from “Chopped” in the first round at age 13 that have led to her greatest successes. A former Cherry Bombe intern, Romilly today is a rising star in the world of food styling and works with brands such as Tory Burch and west~bourne. Romilly joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about her strategy for choosing and pursuing brand partnerships, the value of an everyday heirloom, and her pinch-me moment working with Martha Stewart. And, of course, don’t miss Romilly’s voicemail to her future self. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Romilly: Instagram, Substack Follow Abena on Instagram, Substack Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

Mehreen Karim is the founder of Reenie’s, a New York City pop-up series in which she showcases the “South by South Asian” flavors of her Bangladeshi heritage and Georgia upbringing. She joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about her pop-up and lots more, from the cookbook series she’s working on dedicated to plant-based foods to the restaurant she hopes to open one day. Mehreen, who was on Cherry Bombe’s inaugural Future Of Food 50 list, also talks about her journey through food media, including her time at Bon Appétit, and shares her advice for those looking to break into the space. And she talks about her time on Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef” and being mentored through the competition by Richard Blaise. Don’t miss Mehreen’s voicemail to her future self. Snag a copy of Issue 23 featuring the Future Of Food 50 list here. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Mehreen: Instagram, South by South Asian pop-up, website Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

Margaret Nyamumbo of Kahawa 1893 grew up on a coffee farm in Kenya and today is the first Black woman to own a nationally distributed coffee brand in the U.S. She joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about her brand, her time on “Shark Tank,” and why she’d love First Lady Michelle Obama, Lupita Nyong’o, and Vice President Kamala Harris to try a cup of Kahawa. Don’t miss Margaret’s voicemail to her future self. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Margaret: Instagram, Kahawa 1893, website Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

When Zaynab Issa was younger, she loved watching TV and flipping between the Food Network and the Disney Channel. Eventually, Ina, Giada, and Rachael won out, but it would be years before Zaynab followed her heart and pursued a culinary career. Eventually, a college project turned into a recipe zine and Zaynab went on to work at BuzzFeed and Bon Appetit. Today, she’s a freelance recipe developer and influencer and is working on her debut cookbook, set to be published in 2025. Host Abena Anim-Somuah talks to Zaynab about family, career, life as a third-culture kid, and the project close to her heart—the Taste,Good initiative that brings people together over meals to support various charities. Also, don’t miss Zaynab’s Future Flash Five predictions and her voicemail to her future self. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Issa: Instagram, Taste,Good, website Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

This week we’re sharing a special rebroadcast of our number one episode of the year to date. We’re looking into the future with Odette Olavarri, the founder of Odette Cuisine, a bakery & pastry shop in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood of Mexico City. In this special episode recorded in CDMX, host Abena Anim-Somuah talks to Odette about her family, her baked goods, and her thoughts on what's next for her burgeoning business. Learn about the cupcake cookbook that served as Odette’s baked good gateway, her time at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, and the culinary heroes she'd like to work with one day. (Hello, Chef Dominique Crenn.) ⁠Of course, don’t miss Odette’s voicemail to her future self and her Future Flash Five predictions. Thank you to Kerrygold butter and cheese for supporting our show. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at Kizaya Media in CDMX The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Read the transcript here. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Odette: Instagram, Odette Bakery, menu Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

The founder of Detour Doughnuts in Frisco, Texas, Jinny Cho grew up working in her parents’ doughnut shop and has been on a journey ever since to create radical change via the popular baked treats. Through her own shop, she is serving up creative and culturally relevant flavors that go beyond the traditional offerings. Jinny chats with host Abena Anim-Somuah about her detour from the world of medicine, her place in her community, and her dreams as a newly minted permanent resident. Don’t miss Jinny’s Future Flash Five predictions and her voicemail to her future self. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Jinny: Instagram, Detour Doughnuts, website Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

Sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport are co-founders and owners of BEM Books and More, an online store and pop-up dedicated to food literature of the African diaspora. Danielle, who is an actor and writer, and Gabrielle, who is a curator and creative producer, chat with host Abena Anim-Somuah about the birth of their business, their thoughts on the publishing industry, and why they’d love to have a brick-and-mortar location one day. Don’t miss Gabrielle and Danielle’s Future Flash Five predictions and their voicemail to their future selves. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on BEM: Instagram, newsletter, website Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here

As a chef, writer, and founder of the Milk & Myrrh pop-up series, Ifrah F. Ahmed is passionate about celebrating and reimagining Somali cuisine through community. Her signature dish, the anjero breakfast burrito, has a fan base across the U.S. Ifrah, who is also a New York Times Cooking contributor and at work on her first cookbook, joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to share memories from her childhood in Seattle, her thoughts on preserving culture through food, and more. Don’t miss Ifrah’s Future Flash Five predictions and her voicemail to her future self. Thank you to Kerrygold for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold’s butter & cheese here. Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker Edited by Jenna Sadhu Editorial Assistant Londyn Crenshaw Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC The Future Of Food Is You is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Check cherrybombe.com for show transcripts. Who do you think is the Future of Food? Nominate them here! More on Ifrah: Instagram, Milk & Myrrh, recipes Follow Abena on Instagram Get your Cherry Bombe Magazine subscription here