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Chef Joe Isidori Wants You to Explore Florida's Ethnic Food Markets Feb 18, 2021

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When you think of Florida foods, what comes to mind—maybe grouper sandwiches or key lime pie? What about the spices of Little Haiti or the Greek flavors of Tarpon Springs?

Chef Joe Isidori wants us to experience it all. The Michelin Star chef hails from the Bronx, New York, where practically every cuisine on the planet is just a subway stop away. Joe also gives props to Florida for its diverse cuisine, and he says our state’s ethnic grocery stores are home to some of the freshest, most exciting foods anywhere.

Joe’s love of global cooking is at the heart of his Mexican-inspired restaurant, Jotoro Kitchen + Tequila Bar. We spoke last fall, just days before the restaurant’s November opening in Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf dining and entertainment complex. If you listen closely, you can hear the crew bustling around during our interview. Joe reminisces about the foods of his New York Italian childhood, he shares why Florida’s food scene deserves respect, and he offers advice for navigating Florida’s ethnic food markets.

Want more international flavors in Florida? Check out these past episodes:

Miami’s Spice Guru on Flavors of the Middle East
Lamb, Baklava & Family: Going Greek in Tarpon Springs

Hacks to Help You Eat More Veggies Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Congratulations. You saw the title of this episode. You know it’s all about how to eat more vegetables. And you’re still here! We promise, it’s worth it.

Today we'll hear from two experts from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, better known as UF/IFAS. IFAS has county extension offices across the state, and they’re a great resource for growing and cooking healthy foods. Carol Leffler and Anne Yasalonis share meal-prep tips and even gardening hacks to help you eat—and actually enjoy—more vegetables. We’ll also talk about how to get kids on board with eating veggies and how to never throw away another bag of soggy salad greens.

For details on the hacks discussed in this episode, check out these conversations:

Meet Your New Favorite Holiday: Florida Craft Beer Day Feb 04, 2021

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Dalia chats with Donnie Gallagher, founder of Florida Craft Beer Day and co-host of the podcast Craft Brews and Geek News. Donnie explains what makes Florida’s craft beer scene unique, offers advice for aspiring home brewers and shares why he believes the craft beer craze is just getting started. Then Dalia quizzes Donnie on ridiculous craft beer names to see if he can guess which ones are fake.

Thirsty for more? Check out these other beer-related episodes:

It's Easy Being Green at Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe Jan 28, 2021

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There’s no shortage of key lime pie joints in Key West—but we're pretty sure only Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe has been name-checked on Jeopardy! Dalia chats with the owner, Kermit Carpenter, about how he got into the business, what distinguishes his pies from the rest of the pack, what’s so special about key limes and his celebrity customers.

If you liked our conversation with Kermit Carpenter, then check out these other sweet interviews:

La Dolce Vita: Peach Cobbler, The New Pie & Edible Cookie Dough (season 1, episode 8)
Author Lucy Burdette Mixes Mystery & Key West Cuisine (season 1, episode 21)

Journalist Judith Smelser on Zoom Wine Tastings, Disney Sommeliers and How to Find Your Next Favorite Bottle of Wine Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

So, a guy walks into a wine bar. Actually, for a good chunk of 2020, no guys or gals were walking into any wine bars in Florida—unless it was to pick up a to-go order for drinking at home. Today, Judith Smelser will explain why this matters.

Judith is the founder of Orlando Wine Blog and the wine columnist for Edible Orlando. She also holds a Level 2 Certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Florida’s hospitality industry to a screeching halt, she started the podcast UnWineding to chronicle the effects on Florida’s wine-based businesses. She shares how wine bars got creative to survive, explains why Disney World is good for Orlando’s wine scene and offers suggestions for discovering your new favorite bottle of wine.

We recorded our conversation in November 2020, but we think you'll find that it ages well—kinda like a fine wine.

If you enjoyed this conversation with Judith Smelser, then check out these other interviews:

Talking and Tasting Florida Wines (season 1, episode 15)
Bourbon 101 with Nate Wilson (season 1, episode 7)

Author Fred Opie on Food in the Time of Zora Neale Hurston Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

Zora Neale Hurston was born in 1891 near Montgomery, Alabama. But her name is practically synonymous with Eatonville, the African-American enclave in Central Florida that she considered home. Hurston wrote extensively about Southern Black life, both as an anthropologist and in her short stories, plays and novels like “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” One subject that appears in Hurston’s work again and again... is food—so much so, that my guest wrote a whole book about that.

Dr. Fred Opie is a professor of history and foodways at Babson College outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He also hosts a podcast, “The Fred Opie Show,” and he’s written a bunch of books—including Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food: Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures. It details the role food played in Hurston’s life and work. And it’s a lens into Southern African-American foodways of the first half of the 20th century, complete with archival photos and recipes. Dr. Opie chatted with me about food customs during Hurston’s time, and lessons for today.

If you enjoyed this conversation about Zora Neale Hurston, then check out these related episodes:

Toni Tipton-Martin Celebrates African-American Chefs in "Jubilee" (season 2, episode 2)
Chef Art Smith Talks Politics: "Fried Chicken Takes No Sides" (season 2, episode 19)

Season 3 Premiere: 14 Tips for Cooking Faster and Healthier Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

If you want to eat healthier in the new year, you’ve gotta eat more home-cooked meals. So says Wendy Wesley. She’s a registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist in St. Petersburg. Wendy says the more efficient you are in the kitchen, the more likely you are to actually cook. She shares her list of 14 tips to help us do just that.

If you enjoyed this conversation, then check out our previous interview with Wendy Wesley about how to eliminate barriers that keep us from cooking at home.

Season 3 Trailer Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

If you love The Zest, please take a moment to rate and review it in your podcast app. This will help other listeners discover us. You can also keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Season 2 Finale: Disney Dining Tips and an Announcement from Robin Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Earlier this year, the pandemic forced Walt Disney World to shut down for nearly four months. Since it reopened, many fans have been eager to return to the theme park—but not just for the rides and character photo ops. Wilma Norton has been visiting—and eating at Disney World regularly for more than 25 years. She also serves on planDisney—formerly the Disney Parks Moms Panel. Just before the shutdown, Wilma spoke with The Zest’s producer, Dalia Colón, about how Disney became a foodie's paradise. We've been holding the interview until now. In this conversation, Wilma offers advice for eating and drinking your way through Disney without sticker shock.

Sipping Sunset Gin at St. Petersburg Distillery Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

St. Petersburg Distillery is launching a new product, Sunset Gin—which they say is a gin that’s very specific to Florida, and that’s completely natural. Sales are soaring at the distillery, and expansion plans are underway. In the upstairs tasting room, Robin met up with Skip Ragan, Senior Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Public Relations; Master Distiller Warren Gardner; and Assistant Distiller Clara Robbins.

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