854: Cooking con Omi with Omi Hopper and Ohana Style with Sheldon Simeon

854: Cooking con Omi with Omi Hopper and Ohana Style with Sheldon Simeon

From The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

August 14, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

This episode features Omi Hopper discussing Puerto Rican cooking and Sheldon Simeon sharing Hawaiian family recipes and cooking hacks.

This week, we bring delicious island flavors and home hacks to your kitchen. First, Puerto Rican home cook Omi Hopper joins us to talk about her love letter to Puerto Rico and the journey that started it all. She teaches us her secrets, aka the key seasonings to delicious traditional Puerto Rican dishes like her Mofongo, mashed plantains with garlic and pork cracklings. Omi’s latest book is Cooking con Omi: A Love Letter to Puerto Rican Home Cooking . Then, we take a trip to another island with Top Chef finalist Sheldon Simeon to explore the global flavors of Hawaii. Sheldon shares his favorite home cooking hacks and the family recipes he learned from his dad. He leans on everyday pantry items to create family-style meals that are easy to whip up and delicious, like his over-the-top Loaded Mandoo recipe. Sheldon is the author of Cook Real Hawai’i, and his latest book is Ohana Style: Food from Hawai’i, for Your Family. Subscribe to @TheSplendidTable on YouTube for full podcast episodes and full-length video interviews! Broadcast dates for this episode: August 14, 2026 (originally aired) Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

People in this episode

Guests: Omi Hopper, Sheldon Simeon

Topics covered

  • Puerto Rican cooking
  • Hawaiian cuisine
  • home cooking hacks
  • family recipes
  • cooking techniques

Keywords

  • Mofongo
  • Loaded Mandoo
  • plantains
  • garlic
  • pork cracklings
  • cooking tips
  • island flavors

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Cooking con Omi: A Love Letter to Puerto Rican Home Cooking, Cook Real Hawai’i, Ohana Style: Food from Hawai’i, for Your Family

Places: Puerto Rico, Hawaii

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