FoodCrush

Tropical fruits. Fresh seafood. Community. All of these things come into play during this week's episode of FoodCrush.
Join us as we explore the riches of the Hawaiian islands with David Lau and Guy Roeseler, owners of Ono Kine Grindz. We chat with them about their journey from the Central Pacific to Milwaukee Along the way, we explore the origins of poke, the story behind the “Loco Moco” and the cultural flavors inherent to the delicious dishes of the Pacific Rim.

When it comes to comfort foods, there's nothing quite like a steaming bowl of soup. But what's the true magic behind these warm bowls of bliss? We chat with Scott McCowan, the new owner of Soup Otzie's, about his unexpected transition to owning a soup restaurant. He shares insights about his passion for soup, what it's like to take over an established business and the art behind the creation of lobster bisque, pot roast soup and the ubiquitous chicken noodle.

Old fashioneds. Fish fry. Relish trays. They're all part of the classic Wisconsin supper club experience. But where can you find some of the State's most interesting supper club dishes? And how did supper clubs really come to be? We chat with award-winning film-maker and author Ron Faiola to debunk myths and uncover hidden gems in the supper club circuit.

Every chef has a unique story to tell. On this week’s podcast, we talk with Dane Baldwin, chef and owner of The Diplomat about his passion for food and his journey to becoming a chef.
From his first food-related job to opening his own restaurant, Baldwin shares stories about his early years working at Sendik’s to his first cooking gig in the kitchen at the former Gil’s Cafe. Along the way, he shares tales from his work at Bartolotta’s, SURG Restaurant Group and -- finally -- his own restaurant. We also chat about how it feels to make the James Beard Foundation’s semi-finalists’ list and what it takes to recreate the flavors of a fast-food burger to create the Diplomac.

Life is often a meandering path, and for many, it takes years of exploration to discover the direction our lives were meant to travel. Such was the case for chef and owner Jennifer
Betances of Fresh Baked Cafe.
On this week’s podcast, we chat with Betances about her culinary journey. It’s a path which began in her home kitchen but which ultimately led her to Europe, the place where she found her true calling. During the course of our conversation, Betances offers us a firsthand look at the origins of her passion for French pastries as well as the drive that led to her mastery of the tender, flakey laminated dough that became the foundation for her bakery business. But she also offers up a story of hope, inspiration and the immense power of second chances.