The Future Of Food Is You

Latest Episodes:

Kid's Table Founder Anicia Anya: The Future Is Family Meals Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week we look into the future with Anicia Anya, founder of Kid’s Table, a New York-based subscription meal service that’s disrupting the typical approach to what American kids will eat. Anicia has big plans for it; she’s expanding into consumer-packaged goods with the aim of being “in every freezer, and in every lunchbox,” maybe even in school cafeterias.
Anicia talks with host Abena Anim-Somuah about how growing up eating traditional Nigerian dishes like jollof rice and egg stew ignited her passion for food, and the career path that led her from a tech job to culinary school to becoming a private chef and nanny—and how a coffee date with Sophia Roe gave her the confidence boost she needed. Plus, hear Anicia’s Future Flash Five predictions, and her voicemail to her future self.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Anicia: Instagram, Kid’s Table NYC

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Sarah & Kaitlin Leung of The Woks Of Life: The Future Is Chinese-American Home Cooking Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week we look into the future with Sarah and Kaitlin Leung, the sisters behind the popular “The Woks of Life” food blog and cookbook. The authors founded the blog in 2013 with their parents, Bill and Judy, to connect with their Chinese heritage and family’s recipes. Since then, they’ve developed countless dishes and shared techniques and tips for making Chinese cuisine at home.

Sarah and Kaitlin join host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about the nuances of Chinese cooking in America, the importance of family recipes, how “The Woks of Life” went from blog to cookbook, and what it’s really like working with your family. (The sibling banter is not to be missed.) Plus, hear their Future Flash Five predictions and their voicemails to their future selves.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

Snag your ticket for The Future Of Food Is You tour in Atlanta here!

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 The Woks Of Life: Instagram, YouTube, The Woks Of Life cookbook, website, recipes
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Adjoa Kittoe Of Seulful Pantry: The Future Is Urban Farming Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Adjoe Kittoe, an urban farmer, chef, founder of Seulful Pantry, and food educator based in New Jersey. Adjoa joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about her role as an advocate in the Black farming community, why kids should have seed-to-plate education, and the importance of supporting urban farms, which are more numerous than you might think. “One thing we all noticed during the pandemic is that people need community, and urban farming gives people more purpose,” she says. Catch Adjoa’s Future Flash Five predictions, and her voicemail to her future self.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

Snag your ticket for The Future Of Food Is You tour in Atlanta here!

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 Adjoa: Instagram, Seulful Pantry, website

Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Lisa Li Of The Qi: The Future Is Flowers Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Lisa Li, founder of The Qi, a wellness brand specializing in single-origin, whole-flower tea. After a decade in fashion, Lisa was burned out and looking for a new path. The idea for The Qi came to her when she learned about the connection between energy and flowers while studying qi gong, a practice that combines breathing, meditation, and movement.

Lisa joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about the aesthetics and identity of The Qi, supply chain transparency, how bootstrapping her brand has forced her to be “resourceful, scrappy, and creative,” and why she’d like to collaborate with wellness-focused hotels. Don’t miss Lisa’s voicemail to her future self and Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Lisa: Instagram, The Qi, website
Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Content Creator Dominique Evans: The Future Of Food Is Smart Social Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Dominique Evans, a content creator who believes in the power of educating and collaborating through social media. Dominique talked with host Abena Anim-Somuah about her recent job at Food52, how she worked with other creatives to bring recipe content to life, her love of farmers markets, and pivoting away from early jobs in advertising to follow her passion.

Don’t miss Dominique’s Future Flash Five and voicemail to her future self! (And editor’s note: Dominique now works for Chobani as a content creator. Congrats to Dominique on her new job!)

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Dominique: Instagram, Food52 articles
Follow Abena on Instagram

Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Paro Founder Umaimah Sharwani: The Future Is South Asian Comfort Food May 25, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Umaimah Sharwani, founder of Paro, a South Asian CPG food brand. An ode to Umaimah’s mother and her cooking, Paro features three products–boxed masoor daal, boxed kitchiri, and jarred tarka oil—to help you make South Asian comfort food at home in a snap.

Umaimah grew up in a Pakistani household in Texas before heading to college. She worked in finance and then pivoted, spending time at Google, Fab.com, and Glossier before launching her own CPG brand. She joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about building her brand, working with suppliers, the influence of her mom, and her vision for Paro.

Don’t miss Umaimah’s voicemail to her future self and her Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Umaimah: Instagram, Paro, website, recipes

Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Victoria Shore, Thompson Savannah Executive Chef: The Future Is Southern Flair May 18, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Victoria Shore, executive chef at Thompson Savannah, a luxury hotel in Georgia. Victoria oversees four culinary concepts: Bar Julian, Fleeting Restaurant, Bar by Fleeting, and Stevedore Bakery.

Victoria grew up loving global cuisines and cooking with her parents. A liberal arts major, she even had a French fry fryer in her dorm room. She thought perhaps she’d work in food media one day, but post-graduation found herself in the world of catering and restaurants. Everything clicked for her when she moved from pastry to garde-manger.

Victoria joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about the state of Southern cuisine today, how she has learned to be an effective leader, and why she values spontaneity and collaboration when building her menus.

Don’t miss Victoria’s voicemail to her future self and her Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Victoria: Instagram, Thompson Savannah, Fleeting Restaurant, Bar Julian, Stevedore Bakery

Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Rahanna Bisseret Martinez of “Top Chef Junior” and “Flavor + Us”: The Future Is Inclusive May 11, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Rahanna Bisseret Martinez, a freshman at Cornell University’s hospitality school, finalist on Top Chef Junior, and author of Flavor + Us: Cooking For Everyone. Part of 4 Color Books, Bryant Terry’s imprint at Ten Speed Press, Rahanna’s debut cookbook was influenced by her love of farmer's markets, her Haitian and Mexican heritage, and her time working at restaurants like Chez Panisse.

She joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about her time on reality cooking shows, life at Cornell, her admiration for Serena Williams, and, of course, her book, which will be out May 16th.

Don’t miss Rahanna’s voicemail to her future self and her Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Rahanna: Instagram, pre-order Rahanna’s debut cookbook Flavor + Us

Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Transcendence Coffee Co-Founders Lisa Yala And Mitalee Bharadwaj: The Future Is Sharing Cultures May 04, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

This week, we look into the future with Mitalee Bharadwaj and Lisa Yala, co-founders of Transcendence Coffee, the NYC-based flavored syrup brand. Computer engineering majors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mitalee and Lisa were lab partners as well as baristas at the on-campus coffee shop. Mitalee and Lisa’s South Indian and Algerian backgrounds, respectively, served as inspiration for their two syrup flavors—gulab jamun and baklava—which they brought to market just six months after coming up with the idea.

Mitalee and Lisa join host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about bringing joy to coffee, their r&d process, their hopes for future distribution, and knowing their product’s worth.

Don’t miss Mitalee and Lisa’s voicemails to their future self and their Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Mitalee: Instagram, newsletter
More on Lisa: Instagram
More on Transcendence Coffee: Instagram, website, store locator

Follow Abena on Instagram
Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

Cookbook Author & Glossier Impact Lead Roya Shariat: The Future Is Family Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Hosted by Abena Anim-Somuah
Produced by Kerry Diamond and Catherine Baker
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Recorded at CityVox Studios in NYC

Welcome to Season Two of The Future Of Food Is You! For the season opener, we look into the future with Roya Shariat, Senior Manager for Social Impact & Brand Partnerships at Glossier. Roya also has a culinary side to her life. She and her mother, Gita, collaborated on a cookbook titled Maman And Me: Recipes from Our Iranian American Family, coming out October 24th. The book is filled with Roya’s childhood favorites, American twists on Iranian dishes, and, of course, classic tahdig recipes.

Roya joins host Abena Anim-Somuah to talk about how she got her unique job at Glossier, going viral on TikTok with her mother, navigating her way through the publishing world, and more.

Don’t miss Roya’s voicemail to her future self and her Future Flash Five predictions.

Thank you to Kerrygold and Walmart for supporting our show. Learn more about Kerrygold butter & cheese here and about Walmart’s annual Open Call program here.

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 Roya: Instagram, Maman and Me, website, TikTok, Consumed newsletter. Pre-order Roya’s cookbook here.
Follow Abena on Instagram

Get your Cherry Bombe magazine subscription here

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