Radio Cherry Bombe

As the restaurant world confronts what it means to be sustainable from a human perspective, some chefs are realizing they need to first answer that question for themselves. For Ashley Christensen, the award-winning chef and proprietor behind AC Restaurants in Raleigh, North Carolina, that meant putting herself on the road to sobriety. In October, Ashley announced her decision via an Instagram post. Not only did many in her community rally around her, but those dealing with similar journeys reached out to share their stories and encouragement.Ashley joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her decision and what it’s meant to her personally and professionally. She also shares an update on her hospitality group, which today includes an events company, a commissary kitchen, and five restaurants. Her first spot, Poole’s Diner, just turned 15 in December. Ashley is also an author and co-wrote two books: Poole’s Diner and It’s Always Freezer Season with Kaitlyn Goalen, who is her wife and the executive director of AC Restaurants.Thank you to Graduate Hotels for supporting this episode. If you’d like to hear from Chef Ashley in person, join Radio Cherry Bombe on Thursday, Feb. 9th at Graduate Chapel Hill for a special networking event. Tickets here. There will be a panel discussion with Ashley and other local food personalities plus snacks & sips. We’ll also be at Graduate Tucson on Feb. 23rd and the new Graduate Palo Alto on March 2nd.This episode of Radio Cherry Bombe was recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here.More on Ashley: Instagram, Poole’s Diner, AC Restaurants, Poole’s Cookbook, and It’s Always Freezer Season. 

Last week, René Redzepi, the influential chef and founder of Noma, announced he would be closing his world-renowned restaurant in late 2024. Julia Moskin of The New York Times broke the story and kicked off a range of conversations about fine dining, unpaid labor, and even the influence of the film The Menu. Julia joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about Noma, what might be next for both Redzepi and his restaurant, and Hollywood’s current interest in all things culinary.In the second half of the show, we talk to Julia about her career at The New York Times and the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative work to which she contributed. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here.Want to come to Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee in April? Get your ticket here.This episode of Radio Cherry Bombe was recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Julia Moskin articles:Noma announcementThe Willows InnThe MenuMore from Julia

Edna Lewis is one of the most important and influential American chefs. She celebrated Southern cooking and foodways in her seminal work, 1976’s The Taste Of Country Cooking, and helped inspire the farm-to-table movement. At her side for some of this journey was her niece, Nina, who not only got to enjoy her aunt’s food, but who typed up the manuscript for her groundbreaking cookbook as a young teen. Today, Nina Williams-Mbengue is a retired child welfare expert and a board member of The Edna Lewis Foundation. She joined chef, TV personality, and California Soul author Tanya Holland to reminisce about her experiences with her aunt and to talk about Edna’s life and legacy.Thank you to Yes! Apples for supporting today's show. This interview took place at the 2nd annual Cherry Bombe Cooks & Books festival at Ace Hotel Brooklyn. Our next event is the Cherry Bombe Jubilee conference. Get your ticket here.Radio Cherry Bombe is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here.More on Nina: Instagram, Listen to Nina on Radio Cherry Bombe from 2021More on Tanya: Instagram, Check out Tanya’s new book, California Soul

Happy New Year, listeners! We’re happy to share this encore presentation of our most listened-to episode of 2022. Claire Saffitz, cookbook author, Cherry Bombe cover girl, and YouTube’s favorite baker, joined host Kerry Diamond last year to talk about Claire’s unique culinary path. It took Claire a while to figure out her place in the food world, and she shares the twists and turns it took to get where she is today. Claire also talks about her 2020 bestseller, Dessert Person; shares some tidbits about her 2022 release, What’s For Dessert; and why she considers Dorie Greenspan and Claudia Fleming her mentors. Radio Cherry Bombe is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. Pick up a copy of Cherry Bombe magazine’s Issue 18 with Claire Saffitz on the cover here.Follow Claire on Instagram and Patreon. Get Claire’s salty nut tart with rosemary recipe. Follow host Kerry Diamond on Instagram

Here’s a little year-end holiday gift for everyone: a chat with chef and author Erin French of The Lost Kitchen, the little restaurant that could in Freedom, Maine. Erin was interviewed by host Kerry Diamond at Cherry Bombe’s 2nd Annual Cooks & Books Festival in Brooklyn this past November. They talk about the restaurant’s famous “reservations” system, how Erin got her culinary chops, and the Magnolia Network series about life at The Lost Kitchen. Radio Cherry Bombe is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Our theme song is by Tra La La. Sign up for our newsletter here!More on Erin: The Lost Kitchen, Erin’s memoir, The Lost Kitchen cookbook, the Erin French issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine

It’s the final episode of Cherry Bombe’s baking miniseries She’s My Cherry Pie, and we have a special holiday-themed interview for all you bakers out there. Host Jessie Sheehan is joined by Sarah Kieffer, the cookie expert behind The Vanilla Bean Blog and the books Baking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive Season and 100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen. They talk all things… you guessed it… cookies, from holiday cut-outs to crinkle cookies, creaming butter and sugar, spatula sizes, pan banging, scooping, glazing, and mailing. If you love baking cookies, or just eating them, do not miss this episode. Click here for Sarah’s red velvet crinkle cookie recipe from Baking for the Holidays and here for the holiday cut-out cookie recipe from Sarah’s blog. Thank you to California Prunes for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. For recipes and more, visit californiaprunes.org.Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. She’s My Cherry Pie is a production of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Our theme song is by the band Tralala.More on Jessie: Instagram, Snackable Bakes

Here’s a little holiday gift for all of you—an interview with Ina Garten! The one and only Barefoot Contessa Zoomed in for a year-end chat with host Kerry Diamond about her brand new book, Go-To Dinners, and the inspiration behind it. Ina also talks about her new Discovery + show and podcast, Be My Guest With Ina Garten; the difficult family dinners of her childhood; and the magic of celebrating Christmas in Paris with her beloved husband, Jeffrey. Ina also weighs in on butter boards, Twitter, and TikTok, opening a restaurant one day… or not, and her favorite recipes in Go-To Dinners. Thank you to Williams Sonoma for sponsoring this episode. Radio Cherry Bombe is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here!More on Ina: Instagram, Website, Go-To Dinners

Host Jessie Sheehan is joined by Kristina Cho, recipe developer, baker, food stylist, and James Beard award-winning author, to talk all things milk bread for the fifth episode of She’s My Cherry Pie, Radio Cherry Bombe’s new baking miniseries. Kristina, who many know from her blog and Instagram account, Eat Cho Food, is the author of Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries, the first cookbook to comprehensively focus on the recipes and culture of Chinese baking. Kristina and Jessie discuss the steps, techniques, and ingredients you need for the perfect milk bread, and also chat about pineapple buns, cocktail buns, pork floss, mayo & more. Click here for Kristina’s milk bread recipe from Mooncakes and Milk Bread.Thank you to California Prunes for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. For recipes and more, visit californiaprunes.org.Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. She’s My Cherry Pie is a production of Cherry Bombe Magazine. Our theme song is by the band Tralala.More on Kristina: Instagram, Eat Cho Food blog, Mooncakes and Milk BreadMore on Jessie: Instagram, Snackable Bakes

Illyanna Maisonet might be the first cookbook author who got her start posting Yelp reviews. She was a working artist when the financial crisis of 2008 sent her down a new path; it took a combination of culinary school, back issues of Gourmet magazine, and Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential to help her discover a new calling. The Yelp reviews? Well, they helped boost her confidence as an aspiring writer. Illyanna went on to become the first Puerto Rican food columnist in the U.S., yet a deal to write a cookbook on the country’s cuisine eluded her. Not even the high-profile support of José Andrés seemed to make a difference. Illyanna persevered and Diasporican: A Puerto Rican Cookbook was published this fall. The author joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the journey, the most special recipes in Diasporican, her Burlap & Barrel Adobo & Sazón spice collaboration, and more. You can find the recipe for Illyanna’s Califas Shrimp (Puerto Rican shrimp and grits) from Diasporican here.Thank you to Käserei Champignon, a 100-year-old cheese producer and the maker of Cambozola, for supporting this episode. Our podcast is recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here.More on Illyanna: Instagram, Website, Diasporican

Host Jessie Sheehan is joined by Fany Gerson, Mexican dessert authority, cookbook author, and entrepreneur, to talk all things doughnuts for the fourth episode of She’s My Cherry Pie, Radio Cherry Bombe’s new baking miniseries. Fany’s become known for her creative and artisanal takes on the beloved American treats via her Brooklyn shop, Fan-Fan Doughnuts. (Fany is also the founder of La Newyorkina, which specializes in paletas.) She’s been making doughnuts since 2010 and has lots to share about frying, fillings, and flavors. If you’re curious about the doughnut-making process, don’t miss this episode. If you’re inspired to get baking, try your hand at Fany’s special strawberry-jelly doughnut from her cookbook, My Sweet Mexico: Recipes for Authentic Pastries, Breads, Candies, Beverages, and Frozen Treats.Thank you to California Prunes for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. For recipes and more, visit californiaprunes.org.Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. She’s My Cherry Pie is a production of Cherry Bombe magazine. Our theme song is by the band Tralala.More on Fany: Instagram, La Newyorkina, Fan-Fan DoughnutsMore on Jessie: Instagram, Snackable Bakes