
The Leftovers with Karen Akunowicz
From Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle by Rachel Belle
April 2, 2026 · 8 min · Episode 284
About this episode
Karen Akunowicz shares insights on restaurant regulations and her favorite dining spots in Boston.
This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Karen Akunowicz, James Beard Award winning chef, Top Chef contestant & chef/owner of Boston’s Fox & the Knife and Bar Vulpe. In this week’s lightning round, Karen talks about the surprising rules and regulations of opening a restaurant in an airport; what her favorite restaurant in Boston is and where to get the world's best carrot cake. Listen to the full episode of Your Last Meal with Karen Akunowicz here ! Become a Cascade PBS member and support public media! Watch Rachel’s Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle. Sign up for Rachel’s (free!) biweekly Cascade PBS newsletter for more food musings. Follow along on Instagram. Order Rachel’s cookbook Open Sesame.
People in this episode
Host: Rachel Belle
Guest: Karen Akunowicz
Topics covered
- restaurant opening
- cooking
- food culture
- chef insights
- Boston dining
Keywords
- Karen Akunowicz
- Top Chef
- James Beard Award
- restaurant rules
- carrot cake
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Fox & the Knife, Bar Vulpe, Cascade PBS
Products: Open Sesame
Places: Boston
More episodes of Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle
- The Leftovers with John Cameron Mitchell · June 11, 2026 · 10 min
- John Cameron Mitchell: Pan-Asian Omakase · June 4, 2026 · 31 min
- The Leftovers with Hrishikesh Hirway · May 28, 2026 · 9 min
- Hrishikesh Hirway: Pav Bhaji & Mom's Mango Pie · May 21, 2026 · 38 min
- The Leftovers with Eve Plumb · May 14, 2026 · 5 min
- Eve Plumb: Spaghetti with American Cheese · May 7, 2026 · 27 min
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