Podcast Content


Chef Chris Bianco - A Journey of Passion and Culinary Artistry

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This week's podcast episode features beloved Chef Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco, Panne Bianco and Tratto. This episode features his story from his early days in the Bronx to working his way to the West Coast and ultimately Phoenix where he quickly ascended the culinary ladder becoming a renowned chef not only known for his pizza making skills, which are now world renowned, but also for his culinary skills of bringing locally sourced ingredients to the table at his wonderful restaurant Tratto, which is one of Isabel and my favorites.

Chris has a wonderful book called Bianco - Pizza, Pasta, and Other Food I Like which is a staple in my kitchen for sure. Chris is definitely outspoken and is never afraid to speak what is on his mind, which is something we all love about him. He is honest, hard-working, passionate about his craft, a true artist, a thinker, and Chris most definitely epitomizes Inspiring Living.

I encourage you to enjoy this podcast and visit all of his dining venues as they all offer a unique experience and menu.

Organic Catering with Chef Jennifer Johnson

This week’s podcast guest is Organic Chef Jennifer Johnson. Jennifer graduated culinary school over 20 years ago while working for a corporate engineering firm and in 2015 decided to break away and start an organic, farm to table catering company, Witnessing Nature In Food. Today she’s a leader in healthy organic dining experiences, recognized as a Platinum Level Phoenix Green Business Leader, City of Scottsdale Environmental Quality Award Winner and featured in Green Living AZ magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Fox 10 News and Channel 3 News, to name a few. Services include catering for corporate events and weddings, providing lunches for local schools, meal prep/plans for individuals and families, and teaching via cooking classes and her blog.

Mark & Tiffany Candelaria talk to Jennifer all about the food we find in stores, what costs and standards are required by farmer’s produce to be certified organic, why eating fresh, organic, local food is so important and how to make delicious meals. They also discuss their favorite local chefs, restaurants, farmers markets, their travels, and favorite cooking shows. We are looking forward to featuring Jennifer on our virtual cooking class in March and having her teach us more about organic cooking and healthy recipes.

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Things are Always Cooking with Chef Angelo Brunson

Chef Angelo at his restaurant with Mark

Chef Angelo at his restaurant with Mark

This podcast episode features Chef, restaurant owner and friend, Angelo Brunson of Angelo’s Ristorante. Mark met Angelo during a dinner at his restaurant back in 2004 while Mark was up in Idaho working on a luxury log home on Lake Coeur d’ Alene. Mark and his clients were very impressed with this newly opened, authentic Italian restaurant and of course Mark wanted to meet the chef behind this great food. Over a decade later, Mark continues to take his friends and family to dine at Angelo’s during their trips to Cd’A as the food and staff are still as marvelous as ever.

This year, Mark was in town for a long weekend to visit his daughter Bella during her summer job. They enjoyed a great dinner at Angelo’s and found out he was going to be harvesting and crushing grapes for a small wine label he has the next morning with the famous winemaker Pasquale from Paso Robles, CA! This definitely sounded like something they wanted to check out and decided to join him the next morning and have him as a guest on our podcast!

In this episode Angelo talks about learning to cook, opening his first restaurant in Seattle, what led him to the small resort town of Cd'A, his faith, his family, his restaurant and the wine he makes!

At the vineyard in Northern Idaho Angelo shares with the famous winemaker Pasquale from Paso Robles, CA!

At the vineyard in Northern Idaho Angelo shares with the famous winemaker Pasquale from Paso Robles, CA!

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Angelo’s Ristorante has featured an extensive menu of homemade, authentic Italian dishes since it opened in the resort town of Coeur d’ Alene in 2004. The food is prepared from scratch daily, using recipes passed down from generation to generation, with the freshest and local ingredients ensuring his patrons the taste and flavors of Italy in every dish. Listen to the podcast to hear all about how Angelo learned to cook and run a restaurant and his journey navigating the ups and downs of life!

A few dishes at Angelo’s Ristorante

A few dishes at Angelo’s Ristorante

Making a Full Pirouette in the Restaurant Business with Mark Tarbell

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Today’s guest is one of my all-time icons, Mark Tarbell of Tarbell’s Restaurant! You all know how much I love to cook, but this guy is at the top of the top when it comes to this profession and passion we both share. Mark will talk about his culinary beginnings in Amsterdam and Paris, share what it was like to compete and win Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” and achieving his dream of opening his own restaurant in 1994.

Hundreds of accolades later, the Tarbell’s team continues to serve contemporary dishes and classic comfort food in the elegant, art-filled space. Being in the restaurant business right now as we all know is as tough as it gets and we will get into this during the podcast. However, this guy is still open and cooking every day, so I encourage all of you within driving distance to support not only Tarbell’s, but all of your favorite dining establishments in your neighborhood.

 We also LOVE his show “Plate and Pour” on PBS Arizona that takes viewers behind the scenes of local restaurants, which is the perfect escape right now while stuck at home!

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Follow Mark Tarbell here:

https://www.tarbells.com/ www.tarbellswinestore.com www.tarbellstavern.com

https://www.facebook.com/TarbellsRestaurant/

https://www.instagram.com/tarbellsrestaurant/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/Tarbells

Host - New Emmy Award winning PBS show “Plate and Pour” 2019

Host - Emmy Award Winning "Check, Please! Arizona” 2017

Iron Chef America Winner - Food Network

Founder - NG Hospitality