The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It is time for Episode 165. My guest today is Christina Mitchell. Christina is the creator behind MANDUBRE, a food and lifestyle project that brings together the food she grew up with, the places she's lived and worked, and all the flavors she's picked up along the way. She's spent more than 20 years working with photography and visual design, so she's always been interested in how things look, feel, and tell a story. Food is just another way into that. We talk about how food informs the friendships in our lives, what really defines fusion cuisine, and the beauty of the legacy you will leave behind and things you want to accomplish now. Be on the look out for Christina's projects, the kitchen manuals and upcoming nutrition app. Go find her at @mandubre.kitchen on Instagram. Thanks so much for listening!

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's time for Episode 164 with my special guest, Michele DiMeo. Michele, aka "The Restaurant Diva," is a restaurant executive, entrepreneur, franchise leader, speaker, and host of the syndicated Dine & Dish Podcast. With more than 30 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Michele serves as COO and co-founder of MONTE Restaurant Development Group and President of Squisito Franchise Enterprises. Michele and I talk about getting into the hospitality business, what hospitality really means to us, and we swap some war stories. Michele was a delight, and I know you'll enjoy getting to know her. This episode was a blast. Check out the Dine & Dish podcast on all platforms, and thanks so much for listening to this one.

Hey there food fans! Happy Thursday and welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast , it's time for Episode 163! Today I'm talking to Andy Ellwood. Andy is the founder of Stretch, a new AI platform reimagining how families navigate the grocery aisle. A serial entrepreneur behind companies acquired by Facebook and Google, Andy has built everything from global learning communities to purpose-driven tech startups. His philosophy—Make Room For Many—guides his work as he uses technology to create more access, clarity, and opportunity for everyday consumers. We talk about how grocery prices have changed over time and the shared experience of wondering how the cart will be paid for each month. Download the Stretch app in the app store and stay tuned for all of the exciting developments to come. Andy is changing the way we shop for groceries, one item and one price at a time. Find the pod in all the usual podcast places, and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe.

Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, Episode 162. Today I welcome Ana Olson, Co-Founder of Fuerza Divina Tequila. Ana has spent several years in the hospitality business, working both front and back of house, as a tequila educator and as a restaurateur. Now, she's taking everything she's learned and bringing it to her next adventure in the tequila industry, with Fuerza Divina. We talk about women, restaurant culture, food, drink, entrepreneurship, and what it means to create your own path while staying true to the experiences that forged that path and helped make you who you are. We also get into tequila—how it's made, what makes premium additive-free tequila different, and some simple ways to pair tequila with food. This is a fun conversation with lots to learn. I can't wait to taste the tequila when it hits the market. I have a blast making this podcast and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for listening. 

Hey there food fans! I'm so excited to welcome Mauricio Velázquez de León! He's a longtime food writer, publisher, and the founder of duopress (now part of Sourcebooks), and his work has been featured in Saveur, Gourmet, Escala, and Lonely Planet. He's joining me on Episode 161 of The Food for ThoughtCast to talk about his new book, An Illustrated Guide to Tacos and Burritos: A Comic Book with Stories, Recipes, and More (it comes out August 11, 2026!), and it is going to be incredible. This book mixes authentic recipes, history, and comic-book /graphic novel type illustrations into a fresh take on two of the world's most iconic foods- tacos and burritos. This conversation was loads of fun and truly inspiring. From hearing about his great aunt, the famous Josefina Velázquez de León who pioneered the unprecedented 1947 Mexican Cookbook, to discussing the most famous flavors that go into the foods we love- this was one for the record books! I enjoyed getting to know Mauricio and I know you will too! Be sure to check out his book (support your local bookstore) and thanks so much for listening. The first listener to share this post on social media and tag the podcast will get a free copy from me.