This Is TASTE

French former investment banker Mélanie Masarin, founder of Ghia NA spirits, discusses her journey into the non-alcoholic spirits industry, creative marketing strategies, product expansion plans, and transition from banking to the food industry. The podcast also delves into her culinary preferences, favorite foods, and collaborations with well-known brands.

Michael McCarty is the owner of two restaurants, Michael’s in Santa Monica, which opened in 1979, and Michael’s on West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, which followed a decade later. McCarty is truly the father of California cuisine, at the center of a culinary movement that produced top Los Angeles chefs like Jonathan Waxman, Mark Peel, Nancy Silverton, and many others. I had so much to ask Michael, and he was happy to go over his deep history in the American restaurant scene. We hear about how he moves between the coasts with ease and how he thinks about the legacy of Michael’s after more than 40 years in the game. Michael McCarty is a living legendy, and we hope you enjoy this conversation.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. MORE FROM MICHAEL MCCARTY: Did This Man Invent the Modern Restaurant? [Los Angeles Times]   Awkward Run-Ins, Big Deals Revealed by 27 VIPs in Dishy Oral History [HW] Still Busy After All These Years [Forbes] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent at Axios and Slate Money host, discusses NYC dining, Eater snark, Keith McNally legacy, early 2000s trends, and the future of food media. He explores family's London food history and the controversial practices of Trader Joe's with Adam Reiner.

It’s really great to catch up with Cree LeFavour, a novelist, cookbook author, and chef who just returned from four months at the South Pole, as documented in her excellent Substack. What is it like to bake bread at elevation in the world’s largest freezer? Her story is pretty entertaining, and we hear about how the world’s harshest environment can inspire creativity in the most interesting way. We also talk about her cookbook career and some of the cool projects she is working on since returning from the Pole. Also on the show, Aliza tells us all about her recent trip to New Orleans. Fewer oysters and more…roti! Visits include carrot yogurt at Molly’s Rise and Shine, the “White Claw of cheese” at Mister Mao 😭, the “fajita effect” (but with bananas foster) at Brennan’s, good hurricanes at Cane & Table, and the griddled biscuit at Panola Street Cafe.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. MORE FROM CREE LAFAVOUR: My Antarctica [Substack] Private Means [Grove Atlantic] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renowned restaurant critic Bill Addison joins the show to discuss LA dining scene, modern Korean food, and recent reviews. Also, Matt shares his LA food adventures including Sicilian corners, creative banchan, and grilled sweet potato. A grab bag of foodie topics and recommendations.

Legendary chef Wylie Dufresne and YouTube star Joshua Weissman discuss their love for food, unique culinary creations, textures in cuisine, and the challenges of innovating in the culinary world. They also explore the impact of YouTube algorithms, favorite foods, and their shared passion for the NYC food scene.

Renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten shares his culinary journey, from striving for Michelin stars to finding inspiration for signature dishes. The podcast also covers his global expansion, innovative vegetable creations, and controversies in the food industry. Plus, insights on rebranding efforts and traditional Jewish cuisine.

Authors Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine share their process for creating smart sheet pan recipes in their cookbook, exploring the versatility of Nordic Ware pans, the joy of rice preparation, and their favorite food items and snacks. They also discuss their favorite sheet pan dishes and kitchen utensils, offering personal insights and culinary preferences.

Marguerite Zabar Mariscal started as an intern at Momofuku in 2011, working her way through the influential restaurant group founded by David Chang all the way to the position of CEO, which she has held since 2019. On this entertaining episode, we speak about Marguerite’s journey from growing up a Zabar (that is, New York City grocery royalty) to running Momofuku’s sprawling restaurant and consumer packaged goods business, all while working side by side with the famously difficult and impossibly genius David Chang. It’s so good catching up with one of the brightest stars in the food world today.Also on the show, Matt shares about his recent trip to Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs has good food? Indeed! He shares his visit to French Miso Café, Bar Cecil, Billy Reed's, and some thoughts on the homes of Palm Springs via the amazing Mod Squad mid-century architecture tours.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.  MORE FROM MARGUERITE ZABAR MARISCAL: Momofuku’s Secret Sauce: A 30-Year-Old C.E.O. [NYT] This Is TASTE 336: Eunjo Park [TASTE] This Is TASTE 36: Eli Zabar [TASTE] This Is TASTE 28: Max Ng [TASTE] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we have a special conversation with Emily Sundberg, the voice behind the must-read (and much-read) Feed Me, a newsletter about business, culture, food, and good gossip. Emily and Matt shared the stage at the recent Adweek Commerce Week in New York, and here they talk about all kinds of craziness, including F*og Club, probiotic sodas, Faire, Graza potato chips, the future of food media, the rise of retail media, the best and worst food retail, and so much more. Thanks to our friends at Adweek for inviting us to join the stage.For TASTE partnerships reach out to Peter Romero: promero@tastecooking.com MORE FROM EMILY SUNDBERG:   Ultimate New York Beauty Black Book [Feed Me] The Dinner Party Is Over [NY Mag] Your Employees are Probably Recording You [Feed Me] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices