Kitchen Confidante Podcast

Rachel Riggs is a San Diego-based former specialty food shop owner who experienced a life-altering diagnosis, which forced her to overhaul her diet in favor of more nutrient-dense, allergen-aware recipes. She has written for Bon Appétit and Camille Styles and has now published a new cookbook: In Good Health: Uncomplicated, Allergen-Aware Recipes for a Nourished Life. In this episode, we chat about how chronic illness transformed her relationship with food, why nutrition matters more than ever in today's world, her love of dark chocolate, and more! Learn more about Rachel at rachriggs.com and follow her on Instagram @the.rachel.riggs. Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/in-good-health-rachel-riggs

As a native New Yorker, Chef Tara Punzone brought her Italian American roots and love of vegan cooking to Los Angeles, where she opened Pura Vita in West Hollywood—the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant in the country. She has teamed up with acclaimed writer Gene Stone, whom you may know from Forks Over Knives, 72 Reasons to Be Vegan, How Not to Die, and many other bestselling books he has written or co-written. Together, they’ve created Vegana Italiana: Traditional Italian the Plant-Based Way, a celebration of Italian classics reimagined without meat or dairy, and without ever sacrificing flavor. In this episode, we chat about how they joined forces to write the book, Chef Tara’s journey to vegan Italian cooking, and the process of turning instinct-driven recipes into something home cooks can follow with ease. Learn more about Chef Tara at puravitalosangeles.com Follow Chef Tara on Instagram: @cheftarapunzone Learn more about Gene Stone at http://www.genestone.com/ Follow Gene on Instagram: @genestone2022 Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/vegana-italiana-with-chef-tara-punzone-and-gene-stone

Raised in a Lebanese-American family in Michigan, Maureen Abood’s passion for cooking, baking, and storytelling shines through her work—whether on her website, in her first cookbook Rose Water and Orange Blossoms (an IACP Award finalist), or in her New York Times features on Middle Eastern cuisine. Now, she’s released her newest book, Lebanese Baking: More than 100 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Baked Goods. Her book is the first cookbook to fully explore the depth and breadth of Lebanon’s baking traditions, blending classic recipes with thoughtful American adaptations. In this episode, we chat about her journey into food writing, how she worked to preserve and celebrate Lebanese baking in her new book, her memories of cooking within a tight-knit family community, and her best tips for home bakers. Learn more about Maureen at maureenabood.com Follow Maureen on Instagram @maureenabood Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/lebanese-baking-with-maureen-abood

Dana Pollack is the founder and creative force behind Dana’s Bakery. Trained in fine baking and pastry arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, Dana transformed her love of baking into a thriving business known for its playful, colorful, and innovative treats. You may have seen her DIY macaron-making kits featured on QVC or discovered her first cookbook, Dana’s Bakery: 100 Decadent Recipes for Unique Desserts. A busy mom and entrepreneur, Dana was also honored with EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Emerging Business category. Now, she’s back with her second book, Bake It Gluten Free: 100 Recipes for Classic Treats, featuring indulgent, approachable recipes that prove gluten-free baking is delicious and for everyone. In this episode, we chat about Dana’s journey from photo editor to baker, how she built a pioneering online bakery, and her mission to make gluten-free desserts that everyone will love. Learn more about Dana's Bakery at danasbakery.com Follow Dana on Instagram at @itsdanapollack and @danasbakery. Podcast Show Notes:

Melissa Knific is a recipe developer, writer, magazine editor, and editorial food director with over 20 years of experience with some of America’s beloved food brands and media outlets, including New York Times Cooking, Allrecipes, TODAY Food, National Geographic, and more. With a background in journalism and a culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute, Melissa began her food media career as a Food Editor for Family Circle, has developed content for HelloFresh, and was recognized for her work as the Food Director of Rachel Ray in 2021 with an Eddie Award. . Throughout her work, she helps make cooking approachable and joyful for home cooks everywhere. Melissa and coauthor Nina Elder have written the upcoming National Geographic National Parks Cookbook: Dishes Inspired by America’s Great Outdoors, which will be released in February of 2026. In this episode, we chat about how she creates recipes her audience will love, how she finds cooking inspiration for her own family, and how she and Nina Elder researched and developed recipes for their upcoming book. Learn more about Melissa at https://www.melissaknific.com/ Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissaknific Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/cooking-with-melissa-knific

Mary Bryant Shrader created the immensely popular YouTube channel, Mary’s Nest, where she shares with over a million subscribers how to be a modern pioneer, no matter where they live. With her approachable style, Mary shares traditional recipes such as bone broth, sourdough, and other nutrient-dense foods that connect us back to the kitchen skills of earlier generations. Her passion for preserving and nourishing has led to two bestselling books: The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and her newly released The Modern Pioneer Pantry: The Complete Guide to Preserving Food, a must-have manual for stocking your pantry with confidence. In this episode, we talk about Mary’s traditional cooking journey, the Four Corners Pantry system, and why building a nourishing kitchen is a journey you can take one step at a time. Learn more about Mary at marysnest.com Follow Mary on Instagram: @marysnest Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/the-modern-pioneer-pantry-with-mary-bryant-shrader

Chocolate lovers, you're going to love this conversation with Nicole Patel, the chef owner and chocolatier of Delysia Chocolatier. With a background in engineering, Nicole embraced her passion for making chocolate truffles and launched her business in 2008, and quickly rose to become a master chocolatier. In 2025, Nicole was honored as a Six Star Award: Grand Master Best Chocolatier in America by the International Chocolate Salon Awards, a distinction she has held for over 10 years. But this is just the tip of the iceberg - Nicole has amassed multiple awards, including for her mastery in chocolate categories. Her creativity with flavors is represented in her truffle collections - spanning standard favorites to flavors inspired by collaborations with other Texas tastemakers, including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Salt Lick BBQ, and more. In this episode, we chat about how her training in engineering and chocolate overlap, how she develops Delysia's unique chocolate flavors and tastings, how to taste chocolate, and more! Learn more about Nicole and Delysia Chocolatier at delysia.com Follow Delysia Chocolatier on Instagram: @delysia_choc Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/engineering-chocolate-with-nicole-patel

Are you ready for grilling season? This episode with Meathead is for you. Known as the BBQ Whisperer, Meathead is the founder of AmazingRibs.com, a go-to destination for grilling and barbecue enthusiasts since 2005. He’s also the New York Times bestselling author of Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling. Now, he’s back with a new book: The Meathead Method: A BBQ Hall of Fame Secrets and Science on BBQ, Grilling, and Outdoor Cooking with 114 recipes, featuring mouthwatering recipes and a deep dive into the science behind great outdoor cooking. In this episode, we talk about the origins of his name, the myths and science behind perfect grilling, and why understanding heat, flavor, and chemistry can transform the way you cook. Learn more about Meathead at AmazingRibs.com Follow Meathead on Instagram: @amazingribs Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/the-meathead-method-with-meathead