The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef
Life is better with food. Join Melissa as she chats with other chefs, and friends alike or just waxes poetic on all the culinary things that bring us together. At the virtual table, there’s something tasty for everybody!
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98
March 13, 2025
98. Dan Abel Jr. - A Guest Ep!
Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 98 and life just got a little sweeter. Today we are talking to the Willy Wonka of The Midwest, Dan Abel! He is the Chief Chocolate Officer at Bissinger's in St. Louis, Missouri- not only is he an incredible podcast guest and natural conversationalist, this guy really knows chocolate- and he should, after all- this chocolate-making tradition has a history that dates all the way back to 1668! We ask Dan all of the burning questions- d
108
May 22, 2025
108. Phillip Foss- A Guest Ep!
Hey there food fans, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! Melissa and Steve are honored (and Steve is so excited!!!) to talk to Chef Phillip Foss today. Chef Phillip is not only one of Steve's culinary idols, he's also got one heck of a story pioneering his way through the food world. He is currently at El Ideas in Chicago- an incredible restaurant that hopes to flip the script on fine dining. From their home page: Paying homage to Chicago’s elevated train system, EL ideas is an abbreviati
113
June 26, 2025
113. Cookbook Time Capsule
Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast - It's time for Episode 113! After catching up a little, Melissa and Steve are taking you through the pages of a few of their cookbooks at home. We're asking each other.... What was the one recipe you bought this book for? What is your favorite part? What all have you actually cooked out of this book? Why did you buy it? Sometimes, not unlike some of our listeners I'm sure- we've purchased them for the title or the pictures-- and other times, the book has
122
Sept. 25, 2025
122. Chef Joe Sasto- A Guest Ep!
Hey there food fans! Get ready to lose your minds and be inspired to grow creative facial hair- because Chef Joe Sasto is here! You may know him from Top Chef: Colorado, Chopped, or The Great Food Truck Race or you may also know him for having the sickest handlebar mustache this side of a crazed railroad villain. Whatever the case, we're glad you're here. It's time for Episode 122 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We are talking about pasta, white people taco night (that's what Chef Sasto has nicknam
124
Oct. 9, 2025
124. Bennett Rea- A Guest Ep!
Would you ever try beef tongue jello or Newt's fruit? What about tuna loaf or a mayonnaise ice cube with pears and nuts? Bennett would, and he has! Buckle up food fans, today we're talking to Bennett Rea from Cookin' with Congress. It's time for Episode 124 of The Food For ThoughtCast. You may have seen his content through Facebook or Instagram, the Los Angeles Times, Eater, or NBC California. Bennett is an incredible guest with tales of woe from all over the culinary map- including his unique,
Recent Sound Bites
170
Nov. 12, 2026
170. Gearing Up For A Peruvian Wine Release with Daniel Valverde
Hey there food fans! It's time for Episode 170 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today I am talking to Daniel Valverde, the co-founder of Valtierro. After years in US restaurants and building a service business from scratch in Puerto Rico, he headed back to Peru to jump into wine-making. His team just bottled their debut vintage—a 2025 Negra Criolla from Tacna—and they're officially kicking off pre-sales. If you're curious about what it actually looks like to introduce people to a grape and region th
169
Oct. 29, 2026
Seamus Higgins Teaches Us About The Global Food Supply
Hey there food fans! I'm so happy to be back with you all this week for Episode 169 of The Food For ThoughtCast. My guest today is Seamus Higgins. Seamus spent over 30 years calling the shots and consulting for major global food giants like Nestlé and Premier Foods. In 2017, he made the jump to academia, joining the University of Nottingham to build and lead their brand-new Food Process Engineering MSc program. He's also a freshly minted author! His new book, Food and Us: The Incredible Story of
168
Oct. 9, 2026
168. Candy Corn Walked So Slime Could Run
Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's spooky season and time for Episode 168! It's a solo episode today, and I'm going on a deep dive into the history of some iconic Halloween foods. There is a little history, a little science, a dash of nostalgia, and a lot to learn! Did you know that candy corn used to be sold year-round and was initially a marketing gimmick? Did you know that oranges, carrots, and turnips were the initial pieces of produce to be carved, long before anybody put a pump
167
Sept. 24, 2026
167. Woody Creek Whiskey Dinner
Hey there food fans! It's just me today as I share the eats and drinks I experienced this past Sunday at the Woody Creek Whiskey Dinner at Whiskey Cake Restaurant in Plano, Texas. I had the immense pleasure of experiencing five carefully crafted courses paired with cocktails and pours from Woody Creek Distillery in collaboration with the team at Whiskey Cake. The dinner was hosted by none other than William H. Macy himself, and the culinary and dining team of the restaurant. The standout was the
166
Sept. 17, 2026
166. The Culinary Origin Story with Greer Jackson
Hey there food fans! It's time for Episode 166 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today I was honored to be joined by Greer Jackson, a fermenter, forager, and story-keeper of all things food and family. We talk about what it means to carry on culinary legacies, and how all of the elements of the people that came before and where and how you grew up can influence your kitchen identity. Greer writes a beautiful substack that examines food and culture, specifically the connections between ritual and belo
165
Sept. 3, 2026
165. Christina Mitchell- The World's First Korean-Bulgarian Kitchen Manual
Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It is time for Episode 165. My guest today is Christina Mitchell. Christina is the creator behind MANDUBRE, a food and lifestyle project that brings together the food she grew up with, the places she’s lived and worked, and all the flavors she’s picked up along the way. She’s spent more than 20 years working with photography and visual design, so she’s always been interested in how things look, feel, and tell a story. Food is just an
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About the Host
Melissa Reagan
Host/chef/dog mom
Hi, I'm your host, Melissa Reagan! I'm a 20-year veteran of the foodservice industry formerly of steakhouses, private clubs, restaurants, other random locations, catering events, and near nervous breakdowns. I reside in Texas with my two canine companions who are doing their best to make sure it isn't quiet enough for me to effectively record these podcasts. Food and wifi will bring us together! Thanks for listening.