On this episode I speak with the Penn State graduate about how growing up around her families butcher shop effected her diet at a young age, her deep dive into her health and how she changed her diet to become healthier, moving to Phoenix and starting her own business, working in the entertainment industry in LA while still in college, working in R &amp;D at a  vegan food company, her knowledge of earth based foods, how to find her earth's candy around Phoenix and more.

On this episode I speak with the Penn State graduate about how growing up around her families butcher shop effected her diet at a young age, her deep dive into her health and how she changed her diet to become healthier, moving to Phoenix and starting her own business, working in the entertainment industry in LA while still in college, working in R &amp;D at a  vegan food company, her knowledge of earth based foods, how to find her earth's candy around Phoenix and more.

Ep. 49 - Jennifer Meyers, Founder & Chief Confectionist of Earth Sugar

On this episode I speak to Chris about his process in writing about Phoenix area restaurants, the current state of affairs for food critics &amp; media, The Best of Phoenix and how much he's involved in it, what else he writes about other than restaurants, finding good bagels and sandwiches in Phoenix, growing up in an Italian American family in Philadelphia, why he didn't become a lawyer as planned and more.

On this episode I speak to Chris about his process in writing about Phoenix area restaurants, the current state of affairs for food critics &amp; media, The Best of Phoenix and how much he's involved in it, what else he writes about other than restaurants, finding good bagels and sandwiches in Phoenix, growing up in an Italian American family in Philadelphia, why he didn't become a lawyer as planned and more.

Ep. 48 - Chris Molloy, Phoenix New Times Dining Critic

Malta Joe

On this episode the Tucson based maker of the Maltese pastry talks about his recent trip back to Malta and visiting all the Pastizzi makers for inspiration, working as a sound engineer in NYC, retiring to Tucson, driving his food truck around Arizona spreading the word about his popular pastry and more.

On this episode the Tucson based maker of the Maltese pastry talks about his recent trip back to Malta and visiting all the Pastizzi makers for inspiration, working as a sound engineer in NYC, retiring to Tucson, driving his food truck around Arizona spreading the word about his popular pastry and more.

Ep. 47 - Joe Gauci - Pastizzi maker and owner of at Malta Joe's Pastries

Smith Devereux

Ian Devereux

In this episode I'm excited to get back to my roots in the wine industry speaking with the northern California native about tending to the land &amp; vines he gets his grapes from, his wine making philosophy, going from a full time travel &amp; wine writer to a winery owner, living, working and playing in Napa Valley, the effects of recent years wildfire on grapes and wines and lots more.

In this episode I'm excited to get back to my roots in the wine industry speaking with the northern California native about tending to the land &amp; vines he gets his grapes from, his wine making philosophy, going from a full time travel &amp; wine writer to a winery owner, living, working and playing in Napa Valley, the effects of recent years wildfire on grapes and wines and lots more.

Ep. 46 - Ian Devereux White- Founder & Vintner at Smith Devereux Wines

Nick LaRosa

On this episode I speak with Connecticut native and Johnson &amp; Wales graduate about growing up in a restaurant family, his pizza making philosophy and favorites pizza places around town, the process and winning the Food Network's "Chopped" in 2018, working at Nook Kitchen &amp; EVO, where you'll see him next and more.

On this episode I speak with Connecticut native and Johnson &amp; Wales graduate about growing up in a restaurant family, his pizza making philosophy and favorites pizza places around town, the process and winning the Food Network's "Chopped" in 2018, working at Nook Kitchen &amp; EVO, where you'll see him next and more.

Ep. 45 - Nick LaRosa: Chopped Champion and Executive Chef at EVO

On today's episode I speak with the retired Air Force trained chef about his earliest food memories in Iowa, preparing and serving meals to service men and women around the world, getting his teaching certificate to teach Special Education after retiring from the Air Force, making the move to Arizona, what his ice sculptors are doing for his career, and more!

On today's episode I speak with the retired Air Force trained chef about his earliest food memories in Iowa, preparing and serving meals to service men and women around the world, getting his teaching certificate to teach Special Education after retiring from the Air Force, making the move to Arizona, what his ice sculptors are doing for his career, and more!

Ep. 44 - Don Royer- Executive Chef & Ice Sculptor

Josh Hebert

On this episode I speak with the self-taught chef about working with Mark Tarbell in the early days of Tarbell's Restaurant, his decision to hone his cooking skills in the SF restaurant scene, opening a restaurant in &amp; eating his way around Tokyo, returning to Phoenix to open Posh Improvisational Cuisine &amp; Hot Noodles, Cold Sake, the current state of his golf game, and more!

On this episode I speak with the self-taught chef about working with Mark Tarbell in the early days of Tarbell's Restaurant, his decision to hone his cooking skills in the SF restaurant scene, opening a restaurant in &amp; eating his way around Tokyo, returning to Phoenix to open Posh Improvisational Cuisine &amp; Hot Noodles, Cold Sake, the current state of his golf game, and more!

Ep. 43 - Josh Hebert- Chef, cooking teacher, co-owner Frites Street 

On today's episode I speak to the Chandler native of having success at such an early age, going to culinary school in NYC and working for Chef Daniel Boulud at the same time, rolling the dice and moving to Las Vegas to open Money Baby, what he learned from his mentors Barrio Cafe's Silvana Salcido Esparza &amp; Element's Beau MacMillian, the future of his pop-up and lots more!

On today's episode I speak to the Chandler native of having success at such an early age, going to culinary school in NYC and working for Chef Daniel Boulud at the same time, rolling the dice and moving to Las Vegas to open Money Baby, what he learned from his mentors Barrio Cafe's Silvana Salcido Esparza &amp; Element's Beau MacMillian, the future of his pop-up and lots more!

Ep. 42 - Peter McQuaid Jr.- Executive Chef at Money Baby 

On today's episode I talk to the east coast transplant about growing up in The Bronx and NJ and its influence on his cooking, what brought him out to Arizona, opening food trucks as his first venture into the food industry, what style of BBQ he makes and that wins awards, his exciting appearances on the Food Network and The Today Show and more.

On today's episode I talk to the east coast transplant about growing up in The Bronx and NJ and its influence on his cooking, what brought him out to Arizona, opening food trucks as his first venture into the food industry, what style of BBQ he makes and that wins awards, his exciting appearances on the Food Network and The Today Show and more.

Ep. 41 - Phil "The Grill" Johnson- Pitmaster & owner of Trapp Haus BBQ

The Executive Chef &amp; partner of BKD's Backyard Joint talks about growing up in Mesa and being homeless for a while, how working in the kitchen has become a family affair, his love affair with the Phoenix sports scene, his take on chef driven bar food, learning to smoke meats and lots more.

The Executive Chef &amp; partner of BKD's Backyard Joint talks about growing up in Mesa and being homeless for a while, how working in the kitchen has become a family affair, his love affair with the Phoenix sports scene, his take on chef driven bar food, learning to smoke meats and lots more.

Ep. 40 - Chef Mark Coakley

Welcome to Pulling Corks &amp; Forks, the podcast! I’m your host, Sandy Wasserman. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been in &amp; around the Phoenix food scene for over 25 years. My beat is food and wine, and where to get the best of both in The Valley of the Sun. I moved to Scottsdale from New Jersey back in the 90’s, seeking warm weather, a laid back lifestyle, and great food...so I went to work in the restaurant industry!  The food-and-wine bug bit me way before it was cool and trendy. That’s why I started the Pulling Corks &amp; Forks blog, with all the news in food. But this podcast will pick up where the blog leaves off. This isn’t just news, reviews, and recommendations, this show goes way beyond the what-and-where of eating-and-drinking .We’ll peel back the layers of our local food scene, break bread with the food artists who make it all happen, and hear how-and-why these incredibly talented people do what they do. We’ll visit with chefs, growers, experts of all kinds - and people like you and me, who just love to eat!, so pull up a chair and join us at the table!

Stephen Jones

The owner of downtown Phoenix's Larder &amp; Delta chats about working in the fast-paced restaurants of Las Vegas, Chicago, L.A. and Phoenix, opening his new pop up in Talking Stick Arena just in time for the Suns playoff run, what brought him to Phoenix, auditioning for Mark Tarbell, his appearances on food shows and more.

The owner of downtown Phoenix's Larder &amp; Delta chats about working in the fast-paced restaurants of Las Vegas, Chicago, L.A. and Phoenix, opening his new pop up in Talking Stick Arena just in time for the Suns playoff run, what brought him to Phoenix, auditioning for Mark Tarbell, his appearances on food shows and more.

Ep. 39 - Stephen Jones

Paul Hutchins

On this episode we talk about growing up in Newark N.J., his love of punk music, getting his start in the kitchens of of NJ &amp; NYC, attending the Culinary Institute of America, his thoughts on how to make the restaurant industry better for employees, what brought him to Scottsdale, how he was taught cooking and how he taught the culinary arts to his students and more.

On this episode we talk about growing up in Newark N.J., his love of punk music, getting his start in the kitchens of of NJ &amp; NYC, attending the Culinary Institute of America, his thoughts on how to make the restaurant industry better for employees, what brought him to Scottsdale, how he was taught cooking and how he taught the culinary arts to his students and more.

Ep. 38 -  Jon Paul Hutchins: Retired Culinary Instructor at Scottsdale Culinary Institute

Laurel Stavros

On this episode I speak to the Mezcal loving stylist about her exciting travels around the world, catching the eye of spirits &amp; food brands to grow "A Bubbly Life", what and who she like's to cook for then and now, food and beverages she doesn't like, her favorite Phoenix area restaurants and more.

On this episode I speak to the Mezcal loving stylist about her exciting travels around the world, catching the eye of spirits &amp; food brands to grow "A Bubbly Life", what and who she like's to cook for then and now, food and beverages she doesn't like, her favorite Phoenix area restaurants and more.

Ep. 37 - Laurel Stavros: Cocktail & food stylist & blogger at "A Bubbly Life"

On this episode we talk to the gourmet French Fry maker about going from touring the world in the music industry to starting a food truck and company, taking cooking classes as a teenager, his love of French fries and pizza, the research and development process for making the ultimate french fry, which Phoenix chef &amp; restaurateurs helped get his dreams of a food truck &amp; gourmet food company off the ground, his Jewish grandparents cooking and much more!

On this episode we talk to the gourmet French Fry maker about going from touring the world in the music industry to starting a food truck and company, taking cooking classes as a teenager, his love of French fries and pizza, the research and development process for making the ultimate french fry, which Phoenix chef &amp; restaurateurs helped get his dreams of a food truck &amp; gourmet food company off the ground, his Jewish grandparents cooking and much more!

Ep. 36 - Frites Founder Flip Isard

Brett Vibber

On today's episode I speak with Chef Vibber about his exciting new venture on the farm, learning to cooking and make pizza in Italy, hiking and foraging for plants, mushrooms &amp; truffles in Arizona and Italy, working in the restaurants of Phoenix and whom he learned from, owning a restaurant and good timing to close Cartwright's on his own terms, preparing to hike the Arizona Trail in 2022 and more.

On today's episode I speak with Chef Vibber about his exciting new venture on the farm, learning to cooking and make pizza in Italy, hiking and foraging for plants, mushrooms &amp; truffles in Arizona and Italy, working in the restaurants of Phoenix and whom he learned from, owning a restaurant and good timing to close Cartwright's on his own terms, preparing to hike the Arizona Trail in 2022 and more.

Ep. 35 - Chef & forager Brett Vibber: Mortimer Farms and Wild Arizona

On this episode Kurt talks about trying to make it in the big leagues, what he learned by bringing Smashburger and other concepts to Arizona, having fun and growing up in south Scottsdale, why he and friends bought Los Sombreros from the original owners, what makes Los Sombreros different than other Mexican restaurants, what veterinarians office has to do with Los Sombreros, and more!

On this episode Kurt talks about trying to make it in the big leagues, what he learned by bringing Smashburger and other concepts to Arizona, having fun and growing up in south Scottsdale, why he and friends bought Los Sombreros from the original owners, what makes Los Sombreros different than other Mexican restaurants, what veterinarians office has to do with Los Sombreros, and more!

Ep. 34 - Kurt Riske: Partner at Los Sombreros

Anthony Barr

On this episode Chef Barr reveals his darkest days living on the streets of San Francisco, working his way around the SF restaurant scene to owning a successful catering company, relocating the family from SF to Scottsdale to open Gabriella's, what he looks for when hiring for his restaurant and more.

On this episode Chef Barr reveals his darkest days living on the streets of San Francisco, working his way around the SF restaurant scene to owning a successful catering company, relocating the family from SF to Scottsdale to open Gabriella's, what he looks for when hiring for his restaurant and more.

Ep. 33 - Chef Anthony Barr co-owner & Executive Chef of Gabriella's Contemporary American Kitchen

Juan Cabrera

On this episode we chat about the exciting process of buying and opening a restaurant, his busy career as a restaurant broker, explaining the Birria craze, his first restaurant experience, and more!

On this episode we chat about the exciting process of buying and opening a restaurant, his busy career as a restaurant broker, explaining the Birria craze, his first restaurant experience, and more!

Ep. 32 - Juan Cabrera, Owner of Bonitas

On this episode I am joined at the table with the passionate plant-based food artist &amp; author about going to plant-based lifestyle, her exciting work with Dr.  Andrew Weil &amp; the NFL, how her successful career in marketing has helped her as a CEO, and more!

On this episode I am joined at the table with the passionate plant-based food artist &amp; author about going to plant-based lifestyle, her exciting work with Dr.  Andrew Weil &amp; the NFL, how her successful career in marketing has helped her as a CEO, and more!

Ep. 31 - Melanie Albert- Founder & CEO of Experience Nutrition Group

Charles Barber

On this episode I speak with the co-owner of Hush Public House about the success of Hush, his soon-to-open new restaurant Aftermath, being a 5th generation Arizonan, his career and mentors in the Phoenix restaurant industry, and more!

On this episode I speak with the co-owner of Hush Public House about the success of Hush, his soon-to-open new restaurant Aftermath, being a 5th generation Arizonan, his career and mentors in the Phoenix restaurant industry, and more!

Ep. 30 - Charles Barber Jr.

Welcome to Pulling Corks &amp; Forks, the podcast! I’m your host, Sandy Wasserman. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been in &amp; around the Phoenix food scene for over 25 years. My beat is food and wine, and where to get the best of both in The Valley of the Sun. I moved to Scottsdale from New Jersey back in the 90’s, seeking warm weather, a laid back lifestyle, and great food...so I went to work in the restaurant industry! The food-and-wine bug bit me way before it was cool and trendy. That’s why I started the Pulling Corks &amp; Forks blog, with all the news in food. But this podcast will pick up where the blog leaves off. This isn’t just news, reviews, and recommendations, this show goes way beyond the what-and-where of eating-and-drinking . We’ll peel back the layers of our local food scene, break bread with the food artists who make it all happen, and hear how-and-why these incredibly talented people do what they do. We’ll visit with chefs, growers, experts of all kinds - and people like you and me, who just love to eat!, so pull up a chair and join us at the table!

Pulling Corks and Forks

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