Advertise on podcast: Kitchen Confession

One reason Mary began the Kitchen Confession podcast was to help people get more comfortable in the kitchen and not take mistakes too seriously. For our last hurrah, we've whipped up a tasty compilation of the juiciest, messiest, and most unforgettable kitchen confessions that have graced our show, so sit back and get ready to chow down on these candid moments.

Kitchen Confession producers, Mary and Matt, reflect on over 5 years of episodes and revisit the top ten moments that influenced their outlook on food and cooking.

We’ve spoken with many avid bakers on Kitchen Confession and learned a lot from them! So, we're offering up their best tips to help you improve your technique, build better flavour, troubleshoot recipes, and make smart substitutions for special diets.

Summer is in full swing and we revisit some of our favourite seasonal inspirations, from grilling to gardening and great drinks for sharing with friends on the patio!

Got room for seconds? This week we share bonus content from recent episodes on Cut for Time! We hear about challenges and trends in the olive oil industry from international expert, Fil Bucchino; Ryan Hinkson of EatFamous shares the ups and downs of social media for creating food content; and cookbook author Susan Spungen shares her favourite flavour combos from her new book Veg Forward!

At age 19, John Grimes survived bacterial meningitis; but after waking from a coma he learned that neural damage had left him blind. We learn about his early years in recovery and returning to college, as well as his work connecting with the community on his podcast Ambiguously Blind. Now, John enjoys cooking for crowds and says that "convenience for the masses" smart tech holds a lot of accidental accessibility features for the blind grill-master. He shares some of his favourite grilling tips and his experience collaborating with companies to improve accessibility.

Susan Spungen, a professional food stylist and bestselling cookbook author has just released her latest book "Veg Forward" to encourage people to take their cooking in new and unexpected directions. We discuss some recipes from the cookbook and hear some behind the scenes stories about food styling from the set of Julie and Julia. "Veg Forward" by Susan Spungen is available in accessible formats from the CELA website and on e-readers.

Food content creator Ryan Hinkson calls for people to dig deep to support local business and help cities retain their food culture. We hear about some incredible restaurants that Ryan has featured on Eat Famous and why he wants to put the spotlight on local business owners. Plus, he tells us how ghost kitchens have helped independent chefs beat steep overhead and thrive in a post-pandemic market.

Once a punk musician, Fil Bucchino began rejuvenating abandoned groves in Italy after receiving a life changing bottle of olive oil from his parents while touring. Fil explains why he's obsessed with olive oil; what it takes to produce and preserve a quality bottle; and the symbiotic loop of the people, the land, and our food.

Alexis is the creator of Stump Kitchen where she spends time alongside kids and co-creators with limb differences like hers and encourages body positivity and adaptivity. We discuss what led her to begin experimenting in the kitchen, the progress of disability representation online, and the double edged influence of social media in kids' lives.

Are cities losing their food identities? In part two of our conversation with Chef Romain Avril, we explore the struggle for independent chefs to create unique and affordable dining experiences post-pandemic while competing with chain restaurants for increasingly precious real estate. Romain says rent subsidies and a strong showing of Michelin-starred restaurants are key to preserving the GTAs food identity. We also discuss how tip culture in North America is damaging for both restaurant owners and their staff.

Romain Avril is a Michelin trained Chef whose work has taken him around the world and we hear how he mixes the richness of French cooking with exciting flavours from the Asian palate. Plus, Avril is always posting new "Serve It or Trash It" and "Croissant Reviews" online, serving followers with explanations of fascinating gastronomy cooking techniques and honest reviews. He tells us about some of the feedback he's received from the business owners!