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If you grew up loving treats like Kudos Bars, Italian Rainbow Cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, you’re going to have a lot of fun with this conversation. I’m chatting with Alex George, the self-taught baker and creator behind Lily P. Crumbs, about her new cookbook, In the Mood to Bake: Extraordinary Treats from Lily P. Crumbs. Alex takes the nostalgic desserts we remember from childhood and gives them a homemade twist, while sharing her approach to “riffing”—playing with recipes and making them her own. We also talk about Alex’s journey into baking and the very personal challenges she faced while writing this book. It’s a conversation about nostalgic desserts, creative baking, and the joy of making something delicious from scratch. And, of course, we talk about what makes the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Follow Alex on Instagram @lilypcrumbs, and learn more on her website, lilypcrumbs.com. Episode show note: https://kitchenconfidante.com/in-the-mood-to-bake-alex-george

For many of us, baking with a grandparent is a wonderful core memory. And for Justin Ellen, the baker and cake artist behind Everything Just Baked, his love of baking started at a young age with the grandmas in his life. That early passion has taken him from nostalgic homemade desserts to show-stopping custom cakes for celebrities and major brands. His new cookbook Better than Grandma’s is filled with nostalgic cakes and desserts inspired by the kind of baking that brings people together — banana pudding, apple fritters, baked Alaska, and more. The book is also a tribute to Justin’s three grandmothers who each played an important role in his life and love for baking. In this episode, we talk about what he learned from his grandmothers, some of his favorite baking tips and techniques, and how that little boy with the KitchenAid mixer grew into the accomplished baker he is today. Learn more about Justin on Instagram @everythingjustbaked, and learn more on his website, everythingjustbaked.com. . Episode shownotes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/better-than-grandmas-with-justin-ellen-of-everything-just-baked

When we think about eating well, it is easy to get caught up in rules, trends, and the latest nutrition advice — but Stephanie Valentine reminds us that good food isn’t about restriction — it’s about finding joy in what’s on our plate. Stephanie is a nutritionist, recipe developer, and the author of Love What's On Your Plate: Finding Joy in Seasonal Cooking. In this episode, we talk about the inspiration behind her book, why growing even just a few herbs can change the way you cook, and the nutritional wisdom woven throughout its pages. Whether you're looking for fresh seasonal inspiration or simply a reminder that healthy eating can be both delicious and deeply satisfying, you'll love this conversation! Learn more about Stephanie at https://svliving.com and follow her on Instagram: @s.v.living Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/love-whats-on-your-plate-stephanie-valentine

Chef Crystal Wahpepah is a registered member of the Kickapoo Nation of Oklahoma and the chef and owner of Wahpepah's Kitchen in Oakland, California — one of only a handful of Indigenous restaurants in the country. Born and raised in Oakland's close-knit urban Native community, Crystal was the first Indigenous chef to compete on Food Network's Chopped and is a James Beard Award finalist for Emerging Chef. Her debut cookbook, A Feather and a Fork: 125 Intertribal Dishes from an Indigenous Food Warrior, is a collection of recipes, history, and storytelling that celebrates Native foods and the people who keep them alive. In this episode, we talk about her path to becoming an Indigenous chef, what it means to be a food warrior, and how returning to seasonal, ancestral foods can nourish both our bodies and our communities. Learn more about Chef Crystal at https://www.chefcrystalwahpepah.com. Follow Chef Crystal on Instagram: @crystalwahpepah Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/a-feather-and-a-fork-crystal-wahpepah

Have you ever considered how cooking can nourish your body, mind, and career? Adam Kingl is a leadership expert, educator, and co-author of Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life. Written with educator, scientist, and culinary professional Dr. Jakub Leszek Radzikowski, the book explores the fascinating connection between what we eat and how we think, work, create, and connect with others.  Rather than organizing recipes by meal type, Executive Eats is built around the outcomes many of us need and seek, such as sustained energy, sharper concentration, stress relief, creativity, comfort, and even celebration. It is part cookbook and part scientific exploration of food and wellbeing. While the book is written with executives in mind, its message resonates far beyond the boardroom. It offers a wonderful perspective for anyone on how cooking and eating can support a more fulfilling life. In this episode, we talk about the inspiration behind the book, the surprising benefits of cooking, and the ingredients and habits that can help all of us perform at our best. Learn more about Adam at adamkingl.com Follow Adam on LinkedIn. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/executive-eats-with-adam-kingl

Bobby Hicks is a chef, food historian, and author of the new cookbook, Retro Recipes: Vintage Dishes with a Modern Twist. You may recognize him as a contestant on Season 4 of Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef. His debut cookbook, Retro Recipes, contains 100 previously forgotten recipes — like Chicken A La King, Orange Sherbert, and even Jello Salad — that he has revived for modern tastes. Bobby revisits the dishes that filled family tables throughout much of the 20th century with updated techniques, clear instructions, and plenty of historical context. Through his unique blend of culinary expertise and humor, Bobby explores why these recipes were so popular in their time and what they can still teach us today. In this episode, we chat about his unconventional path into professional kitchens, how a pandemic-era hobby turned into a deep dive through a century of food history, and what it actually took to bring 100 retro recipes back to life for the modern table. Learn more about about Bobby at retrorecipeskitchen.com, and follow him on Instagram @retrorecipeskitchen and at @thisfellow. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/retro-recipes-with-bobby-hicks

The last time Vietri founder Susan Gravely joined us on the podcast, we celebrated 40 years of her passion for handcrafted Italian tableware, the remarkable story behind the Vietri lifestyle brand, and the inspiration behind her memoir and cookbook, Italy on a Plate, which explored the connections between Italian and Southern hospitality. Now Susan returns with a beautiful new book, Italy in a Glass. In this episode, we talk about Bellinis and beyond, the rituals of Italian entertaining, and the simple pleasures of gathering with friends and family. Join us as we explore how a thoughtfully poured drink can become an invitation to slow down, connect, and celebrate life—one glass at a time. Learn more about Vietri at https://www.vietri.com and Susan Gravely at https://susangravely.com Follow Vietri on Instagram: @vietriinc Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/italy-in-a-glass-susan-gravely

It was a joy to welcome back returning guest, Pailin Chongchitnant, the best-selling and award-winning author of Hot Thai Kitchen and the creator and host of the popular YouTube cooking channel, Pailin’s Kitchen.  Born and raised in Thailand, and based in Vancouver, Canada, Pailin is a professionally trained chef. Pailin has made it her life’s mission to show everyone how to create authentic Thai dishes, wherever they may be. You may remember our conversation in Episode 67 back in 2023, where we explored her journey as a chef, the balance of flavors at the heart of Thai cooking, and how to make Thai cuisine more approachable for the everyday home cook. In this episode, we catch up on her cookbook — a 10th anniversary edition of the book that started it all. Learn more about Pai at HotThaiKitchen.com, and follow her on Instagram at @HotThaiKitchen. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/10-years-of-hot-thai-kitchen-pailin-chongchitnant

In this week's episode, we welcome back returning guest Ji Hye Kim. Ji Hye is an award-winning chef, including a Food & Wine Best New Chef and five-time James Beard Award semi-finalist, and she is a powerful cultural voice redefining contemporary Korean cuisine in the United States. She is the chef and owner of Miss Kim and Little Kim in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where her cooking beautifully bridges time-honored Korean traditions with Midwestern seasonality and sensibility.  You may remember our conversation in Episode 39 back in 2022, where we explored her journey as a chef, the inspiration behind Miss Kim, and how she brings traditional Korean cuisine to life using local Michigan ingredients.  In this episode, we catch up on everything she has been working on — including a new restaurant, a major milestone, and how she and her team create delicious, approachable vegetarian dishes rooted in Asian American tradition. Learn more about Ji Hye's restaurants at misskimannarbor.com and littlekimannarbor.com, and find her on Instagram at @chefjihyekim. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/from-miss-kim-to-little-kim-with-chef-ji-hye-kim

In her debut cookbook, Dig In! Over 100 Easy, Delicious, and Stress-Free Recipes to Make on Repeat, Erin O'Brien shares a collection of recipes inspired by family, heritage, and real life in the kitchen. Woven throughout the book are the stories of the women who influenced her cooking and the idea that feeding people can be many things at once: love, necessity, and a form of reinvention. In this episode, we talk about the three generations of women who built a life through food, how a pandemic-era blog became a calling, and the philosophy behind a cookbook that is as much about connection as it is about cooking. Learn more about Erin at https://erinobrien.life Follow Erin on Instagram: @erinnobrienn Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/dig-in-with-erin-obrien

Olive oil an essential building block of Mediterranean cooking, and I had the joy of discussing all things olive oil with Tony Kasandrinos, Co-Founder and CEO of Kasandrinos International and author of Kasandrinos Kitchen: Unlock the Power of Olive Oil with Over 100 Family Recipes. From his family’s olive groves in Greece to kitchens here in the United States, Tony shares how extra virgin olive oil connects tradition, health, and everyday cooking.  In this episode, we talk about what makes a great olive oil, how to shop for quality olive oil, and how to build meals and a lifestyle inspired by the Mediterranean Way. Follow Tony on Instagram @tonykasandrinos. Check out Kasandrinos Olive Oil at kasandrinos.com, and follow on Instagram at @kasandrinos. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/olive-oil-mediterranean-tony-kasandrinos

After graduating from the French Culinary Institute in New York, Chef Nick Wong built an impressive career with the Momofuku Restaurant Group, with additional time at Gramercy Tavern in New York City and Incanto in San Francisco, and stages at Noma in Copenhagen and Bar Tartine. When he was ready to open his own restaurant, he partnered with his longtime friend Lisa Lee, and together, they opened Agnes and Sherman in Houston, Texas. In just its first year, Agnes and Sherman earned a Michelin recommendation, was named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by both Eater and The Infatuation, and was named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant. In this episode, we chat about Nick's winding path from UC Berkeley to culinary school, the deeply personal story behind the restaurant's name, and how Agnes and Sherman is redefining what American dining can look like through the lens of Asian American food. Learn more about Agnes and Sherman at https://www.agnesandsherman.com and follow on Instagram at @agnesandsherman. Follow Nick Wong on Instagram @_nickwong_  Follow Lisa Lee on Instagram @rrrlisarrr Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/agnes-and-sherman-chef-nick-wong

Helen Goh -- esteemed baker, author, and food columnist based in the UK -- draws on her Malaysian roots and Australian upbringing in everything she makes. She is the co-author of the books Sweet and Comfort with Yotam Ottolenghi and writes food columns for The Guardian and The Observer. Her new solo cookbook, Baking & the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes, brings together her two great passions — baking and psychology — to explore the deeper meaning behind why we bake. In this episode, we chat about her unlikely path from pharmaceutical sales to professional baker, the joy of sharing and connecting with others through baking, and the deeper meaning we find in every recipe. Learn more about Helen at LINK and follow her on Instagram @helen_goh_bakes. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/baking-the-meaning-of-life-helen-goh

What if I told you some of the best sushi in the United States is in the Midwest? Chef David Utterback is a multiple-time James Beard Award finalist and the first Nebraska chef to be nominated for Best Chef Midwest. Chef Utterback is the force behind three critically acclaimed Omaha restaurants — Yoshitomo, Ota, and Koji — with two new concepts on the horizon. The Washington Post has named Ota one of the best sushi restaurants in the country. In this episode, we chat about the transformative trip to Japan that changed everything, and why Omaha's food scene deserves a lot more attention than it gets. Learn more about David Utterback at https://www.yoshitomo.com, https://www.omakaseota.com, and https://www.izakayakoji.com. Follow David Utterback on Instagram: @davidyoshitomo Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/omahas-sushi-secret-with-david-utterback

Chef, food writer, and culinary teacher Michelle Doll Olson is the Senior Manager of Culinary Development at HelloFresh, where she helps shape the chef-developed recipes that land in millions of home kitchens each week. With a background spanning pastry, savory cooking, teaching, and entrepreneurship, Michelle brings both creativity and practicality to the way people cook at home. In this episode, we chat about her winding path to becoming Head Chef, how HelloFresh recipes are developed to balance flavor, health, and convenience, and why getting people back around the dinner table without stress or waste is at the heart of everything they do. Learn more about Michelle at michelledollmakes.com, and follow her on Instagram @chefmichelledoll. Learn more about HelloFresh at HelloFresh.com. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/michelle-doll-olson-hellofresh