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The traditional Valentine’s pairing is red wine and chocolate. You see it on all the ads. But Lauren Patz used to pair wines with chocolate for a living and she’ll tell you red wine really isn’t the best wine pairing. Today, she’s head distiller at Purple Brands and she’s creating flavors that she hopes will be as classic as Valentine’s Day. Lauren Patz on the Hidden F&B.

Art DeCaro is the trainer at Waters Edge Winery and he has a lot to say about pairing wine and cheese, and the one wine and cheese pairing he would NEVER do. Art is a big advocate of using technology smartly in the wine business. Art DeCaro,on the Hidden F&B.

Pork, cornbread, seafood...Marcie Cohen Ferris looks at a place's history and culture through its food. She talks about that in her book, "Edible NC," and on the Hidden F&B!   

We're talking with Jon Murray and Wilson Brannock of Noko Nashville. They've joined with a third partner to create their dream restaurant in Nashville. Besides the food, they want nothing less than to change the whole model of the hospitality industry. They are offering their employees health insurance, a travel stipend, and more. As Murray says, “We want our guests to be happy, but we want our people to be happy.” The two talk about how to make that happen, how a restaurant can afford to make it happen, and how it shows up in customer service. Jon Murray and Wilson Brannock of Noko Nashville on the Hidden F&B.

Ryan Mitchell and his dad, Ed, of North Carolina, have just released a book about whole hog barbeque. Ed’s first time cooking a whole hog came when the older guys in the family were passed out from a bit too much moonshine, but his son, Ryan, says cooking a hog can be an almost spiritual experience. Ryan Mitchell, on the Hidden F&B.

Zak Melang, one of the owners of 10 Matador Restaurants across the country, says he’s done everything you can do in restaurants, from washing dishes to managing. Owning seemed a natural extension.

 Ashleigh Fleming is the chef at the Blue Jay Bistro in Littleton, North Carolina. How little is Littleton? Well, in the town proper, the census says there are around 600 people. But Littleton is also known as the little town with the big heart and part of that big heart is the Blue Jay Bistro and its chef. Ashleigh Fleming on the Hidden F&B.

Sam Hart, owner of Counter in Charlotte, North Carolina, didn't know during this chat that he'd shortly become a finalist for a James Beard award. In a world where restaurants often struggle to survive, he’s succeeding with his restaurant by deciding the customer is NOT always right.

Marcus Hammond started the Black Food Truck Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, and he may not be a chef, but he loves to eat, and he wants everyone to try the food coming off these food trucks! He started the festival because he got tired of going to food fests for and by people who didn't look like him. Marcus Hammond, on the Hidden F&B.

Chitra Agrawal sells achaar – and, if you are like I am and weren’t familiar with this condiment, it’s like an Indian pickle relish, only Chitra uses American produce and about 75% less salt than you find in most of the stuff on the shelves. She talks about building her New York business – love the pun, the name is Brooklyn Delhi, but Delhi like in India – about how getting laid off gave her the push she needed, and about why onions frying in ghee is her happy smell. Chitra Agrawal on the Hidden F&B.

I first heard about Alak Nanda from Keya Wingfield (Episode 83) of Richmond, who raved about the podis – or Indian seasoning blends –  that gave Keya a taste of home. This is an Atlanta, Georgia business that was began as a way for Alak and her mom to reconnect during COVID lockdown in India, and it’s grown from there. Alak Nandi, on the Hidden F&B.    

Byron Bradley's in New Orleans and he spent some time with legendary chef Leah Chase, learning and even teaching her a few tricks. Now he’s quietly trying to build his own empire…cooking, coffee, rum…Byron Bradley on the Hidden F&B podcast!