The Zest

Latest Episodes:

Bites (and Beverages) Around the Bay: Our National Coffee Day Picks Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Tampa Bay has more awesome coffee shops than we can count. In honor of National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, The Zest’s brand manager, Alexandria Ebron, recommends a few places to find your next cuppa joe:

Wuz Here pop-up at Ash
Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters (Hey, Roberto Torres!)

Don’t see your fave on this list? Shout out your favorite coffee shop on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Bites Around the Bay: Buccaneers Chefs Series Returns to RayJay Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

We love classic stadium food as much as the next person. But this season at Raymond James Stadium, you might want to skip the chicken tenders and nachos in favor of some one-of-a-kind culinary creations. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chef Series returns, inviting award-winning local chefs to feature signature dishes for purchase at select home games.

In this bonus episode, The Zest’s brand manager and football foodie, Alexandria Ebron, gives us a preview.

Sept. 20 vs. Browns: Jazzy’s BBQ
Sept. 27 vs. Vikings: inbetweendays
Oct. 4 vs. Packers: Tacos Las Californias
Oct. 18 vs. Vikings: Kinjo
Nov. 1 vs. Falcons: Taco Riendo
Nov. 30 vs. Panthers: Flan Factory
Dec. 6 vs. Chargers: Columbia Restaurant (Hi, Andrea Gonzmart Williams!)
Dec. 20 vs. Saints: Cheeky’s (Hey, Nate Siegel!)
Jan. 3 vs. Rams: Louis Pappas

Which game day dish scored a touchdown with you? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram pages.

Tequila Tasting at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval in Tampa: Mexican Independence Day Bonus Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

In honor of Mexican Independence Day, join Alexandria Ebron of The Zest for a tequila tasting at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval inside the Tampa Marriott Water Street.

Where Are They Now? Jenn Smurr of Born & Bread Bakehouse Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

We're having a blast checking in with some past Zest guests.

As part of a 2019 series on honey, Dalia visited owner Jennifer Smurr at her wildly popular Born & Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland. The bakery uses local honey in many of its recipes. Dalia recently caught up with Jenn, and boy did she have some big updates to share.

Thanks to our friends at Florida Matters Live & Local for sharing this conversation.

Bites Around the Bay: 4 Taco Spots to Drool Over for Mexican Independence Day Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

As if we ever needed an excuse to eat tacos, Sept. 16 is Mexican Independence Day. (Thought that was Cinco de Mayo? Now you know.) In this bonus episode, The Zest’s brand manager and taco connoisseur, Alexandria Ebron, discusses her favorite local taco spots:

Don’t see your fave on this list? Shout out your go-to taquería on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Bites Around the Bay: 3 Local Barbecue Spots to Check Out this Labor Day Weekend Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and you’re definitely invited to the cookout. In this bonus episode, The Zest’s brand manager and foodie-about-town, Alexandria Ebron, discusses her favorite local barbecue spots:

Don’t see your fave on this list? Shout out your go-to barbecue joint on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Where Are They Now? Cameron Macleish of 360 Eats on Reducing Food Insecurity and Food Waste Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

The Zest is nominated for Best Podcast. To vote, please click on this link, select "entertainment" and then select "podcast." You can vote daily until Aug. 30. Thanks in advance!

This summer, The Zest Podcast is checking in with some past guests. In 2022, we met Ellen and Cameron Macleish. They’re a mother-and-son duo working to reduce food waste while tackling food insecurity in Northern Pinellas County. Their nonprofit, 360 Eats, turns surplus food donations into meals for the hungry and compost for gardeners.

Cameron is the executive director and Ellen, a professional chef, works her magic in the kitchen to turn random ingredient donations into delicious meals. The Macleishes and their team then distribute the meals via a food truck, where hungry people can eat for free.

Dalia recently caught up with Cameron. She shared the update with Matthew Peddie on Florida Matters Live & Local.

No Carne, No Problema: Meet the Owners of The Meatless Mexican (from The Bay Blend) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

The Zest is nominated for Best Podcast. To vote, please click on this link, select "entertainment" and then select "podcast." Thanks in advance!

All summer long, WUSF is highlighting interesting food trucks in the Tampa Bay region. And one is a taco truck with a niche: Everything they sell is 100 percent plant-based. It's called The Meatless Mexican. Our colleague Sky Lebron spoke with co-owners Paul Zampieri and Jodie Kurrle.

You can watch a video of The Meatless Mexican here. Thanks to our pals at The Bay Blend for sharing this story.

Where Are They Now? Kanika Tomalin, Ph.D., Health Advocate and Cookbook Author Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

The Zest is nominated for Best Podcast. To vote, please click on this link, select "entertainment" and then select "podcast." Thanks in advance!

This summer, The Zest Podcast is checking in with some past guests. In 2020, St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin released a cookbook called St. Pete Eats. Today she is the president and CEO of Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

Tomalin, who holds a doctorate degree in law and policy, chatted with Dalia Colón in 2020. They caught up again in July of this year at her office in South St. Pete.

Hot Sauce Taste Test with Carlos' Consuming Fire (From The Bay Blend) Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

The Zest has been nominated for Best Podcast. Vote now!

Today, let's listen in as our colleague Sky Lebron plays with fire. He sits down with Carlos Sanchez, the owner of Carlos' Consuming Fire hot sauce, to try some of his sauces.

In this conversation from The Bay Blend, Carlos also discusses his passion for spice, what made him want to start his business, how he became partnered with multiple minor league ballparks and how business has boomed since he started in 2021.

To see a video of the hot sauce taste test, click here.