Episodes
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Episode 18 Travel Food and More
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
I'm back and in a hotel room!
I missed a few weeks - sorry everyone! I was suffering imposter syndrome, working wearing too many hats and so much more. But, now I'm here again and realizing that I love making these episodes. They won't be perfect but that doesn't mean I can't still record and publish them.
A few things - so much travel lately! I speak in this episode about how to pack for my travels because eating out all the time isn't feasible. Needing to bring things like jugs of water - yup, it's a thing!
And, for those on the platform X, I'm back on there! I'm actually super excited as I have decided on a plan for that platform and what I want to post. So check it out if you're there...say hi!
https://twitter.com/FoodExpPodcast
See you next week!
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Episode 17 Texture Time
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Ohhhh-eeee have I got a fun one for you all today!
I figured last week was pretty sad so let's just jump right into something fun - texture! I love texture; crunchy, crispy, smooth, and all the ones in between! I'm trying some new techniques again this week - adding in some more music and transitions.
Let me know what you think and new microphones are coming soon so I can be on location and get some great interviews done!
Have an amazing last day of January (also, how did that happen??)
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Episode 16 CEBA Loan Blues
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Hello!
Happy Wednesday night! Time management my friends is not my friend right now! But, I've been working on some cool things which I'll be announcing mid-year...gotta wait!
Today I am on what might seem like a tangent but is related to food and the restaurant industry and a part of why so many places here in Canada are closing down and that is the CEBA loans. These loans (CEBA stands for Canada Emergency Business Account) are now due, well as of 6 days ago they were due. And, many places in Canada have come up short and can't repay them. This is a terrible situation because if you were a business in good standing, then you were getting a nice forgiveness portion to the loan. So, on a 40K loan, you didn't have to repay !0K and on a 60K loan you didn't have to repay $20K. If you didn't pay or didn't make arrangements (after MANY extensions) then you're hooped!
I explain a bit about these loans today and what it means for some businesses but also the trend that bothers me of armchair commenters putting in their 2 cents that businesses should be forgiven the loans, or subsidized or some other such arrangement.
There is also a campaign on Restaurants Canada's website asking for CEBA loan extensions for restaurants until the end of this year and why the government should do this. Read about it here:
https://www.restaurantscanada.org/extend-ceba#take-action
The gist of their plea is that 1 in 5 restaurants will have to shut their doors because they can't make the repayments. This will definitely leave a gap in the industry and be awful for those small businesses...but also this wasn't a surprise deadline.
Let me know what you think?? I'm less ranty in this than I thought I would be!
Also, my awesome mug is from Emma Cranston Pottery! Check her out!
https://emmacranstonpottery.ca/
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Episode 15 Radishes Galore
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Heyyyyy!
So, apologies as this episode is out way too late! I have been having massive issues with getting the videos uploaded - so next week I need to go back to filming on Sunday so I have a 2 day buffer to get the episode done - my apologies!
Now, on to radishes! Yup - this week is the first of the books I've chosen for the first quarter of 2024. Each book is quite different and for some of them it will be a full review, some will be a few recipes from it, and the book today - I'm using it as a reference for ferments!
This week's book is:
Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz - find it here:
https://www.audreys.ca/item/WE-DK7PwCwCIXEavqm01nA
This is the second edition version, so newer than mine.
I love fermenting food and over the past few years I haven't hardly done any! Time and a crazy schedule has led to me just not making the time. Today was a great day - it's cold here in Alberta and I took the time to make 3 different recipes.
First, an easy brine for my 4 species of radishes which I purchased from:
Thistle Hill Farms is located just outside of Edmonton, AB and I got 4 species of radish in my bag - Bravo daikon, Luobo daikon, Nero Tondo, and Alpine daikon. All of them were delightful and I can't wait to taste them when they're ready!
I also did 2 types of quick pickle because I couldn't help myself! Instead of using sugar though, I used a white balsamic vinegar from:
The A-Premium is a classic white balsamic vinegar that is not caramelized. Try it!
Then, after I had finished doing all the recording I had all these little pieces leftover and so I figured, I've got dark balsamic vinegar here too so I did a combination of a Neapolitan Herb and a Mission Fig balsamic vinegar! So now all the radishes are having a bath! LOL I'll do a follow up of what they all taste like - the pickled ones are already awesome!
Stay warm everyone - it's been banana pants here in Alberta!
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Episode 14 Welcome to 2024 and Cookbooks Revealed
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Happy New Year everyone!
So far I've been ringing in the New Year by sleeping - no really, I'm exhausted! LOL Coffee, books, puzzles, and sleep has been my motto while I recover from an insane holiday season.
But, now for the fun part - planning out the new episodes, the cookbooks for the 2024 Cookbook Challenge and so much more!
In today's episode I will reveal the books I will be making recipes from and featuring in the first quarter of the year. Honestly, I got too excited thinking I could pick for the entire year, c'mon! Let's be serious, I have too many books to narrow it down so for the first quarter here's the books I'll be featuring in no particular order:
Tawaw - by Shane Chartrand and Jennifer Cockrall-King
https://www.audreys.ca/item/temoIPlhFAjL4zG2XbuvWQ
Honey and Jam - by Hannah Queen
https://www.audreys.ca/item/c3-MTXNi6dk9gMLCaENsGQ
The New Nordic - by Simon Bajada
https://www.audreys.ca/item/rUwUF1-0EniffKwS2FJUsw
Pucker - by Gwendolyn Richards
https://www.audreys.ca/item/AolIUVnIbmzYEJDEfs6Z9g
New School Sweets - by Vinesh Johny and Andres Lara
https://www.audreys.ca/item/TRPV0W7YA33i5qi46OsYqw
Wild Fermentation - Sandor Katz
https://www.audreys.ca/item/WE-DK7PwCwCIXEavqm01nA
The covers are gorgeous because yes I will buy cookbooks because of the covers. I have put links to my local indie bookstore that has a huge cookbook collection - many of these I bought from them. You can buy from your own indie store of course - go support those little gems!
Other than that, get ready for some super delicious episodes! Full disclosure, I am also that person that buys cookbooks to look at the recipes and pictures, get an idea and then make my own thing! So this will be a true experiment for me to actually make something following the actual recipe!! I don't know who I am anymore!
If you want to follow along and make the recipes as well please do and let me know how they go. Plus, don't forget to tell all your friends and get them to Subscribe, Like, and Share!
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Episode 13 Recap 2023 and Look Ahead 2024
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Hey all you lovely people!
How is it almost Christmas?? Insanity! Today's episode is a little bit of a mix. I talk a bit about the messaging that some businesses are putting out at this time of year. From "help we aren't going to make it!" to "we didn't make it, last day of business is coming up!" Both of these are not great for ending 2023.
Overall, this year has been okay for our small business but being plagued with injuries has been tough. So, from the breakdown we're going to build back up and that will happen by taking a hard look at what worked in 2023 and what didn't. And, where do we want 2024 to go - both in the small business and with this podcast.
I talk about an exciting podcast project that's coming up in the New Year and if any of you want to join me or co-create a project let's do it!
The tea I was enjoying during the episode was from Jolene's Teahouse in Banff, AB, Canada. Give them a follow or shop online with them - great local business and tea is just so good!
As always, please make sure you Subscribe, Like, and Share this podcast. You're all amazing - thank you!
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Episode 12 Let’s Chat (end of year questions!)
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Hey hey!
How is it already almost the end of 2023? I mean c'mon!
Today's episode is a fun one full of burning questions that I need to know the answers to. Such as:
- favourite hot chocolate (recipe please!)
- are you a farmer's market shopper, yay or nay?
- advent calendar - day by day or no way! They're already all gone!
- holiday gifting
I'm really loving the community that is starting to build around this channel - let's keep it growing! Share the love by sharing the links to these episodes.
I am also looking forward to laying down and sleeping for a month!
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Episode 11 Free Samples are not Free
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Hey hey!
Another quick episode this week as we are definitely in the holiday madness still! More markets, and tasting events to finish off the year but I still wanted to remain consistent in posting episodes.
This one is the start of the conversation about "free samples" which are definitely NOT free. There's a cost to them; ingredients, packaging, and time. But is there also a return on investment or not? We're just going to scratch the surface in this episode and then in a future one I'll have a panel discussion with vendors that do samples and those that don't. I know it will be interesting!
Enjoy this episode and remember to Subscribe, Like, Share, and let me know - free samples are you here for them or meh - it doesn't matter to you?
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Episode 10 In the Weeds
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Hey hey all!
This week is a short one! I want to make sure I'm consistently posting even though right now the chocolate business is definitely in the weeds! This is a saying that relates to being so busy and swamped that you can't see a way out - we're totally there right now between markets and events.
I chat a bit about our Devoured events where we team up with Daisy Chain Book Co. and have a blast. Plus getting ready for a double market weekend.
If you haven't had a chance to listen to the other episodes, this is a great week to go back and give them a listen.
As always, we really do appreciate you being here. If you can leave us a review, that is a big help to getting our podcast out to more ears.
Thanks all!
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Episode 9 Holiday Madness
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
It's that time of year, the build up to the holidays! For me, being a chocolatier it is an entirely different ballgame. There's chocolates to make, orders to fill, events to host, markets to attend, and all while trying to hold on to a tiny bit of sanity.
In this episode I share a bit about how the holiday season is a challenging one for those in the food and hospitality industry, some of what my chocolate company https://colleenschocolates.com/ does differently, and how self care is perfect in a perfect world and that's not where I'm living right now!
Plus, I've been chatting with some cool cats (those are people that do cool things) and I have some interesting conversations that I am working on for future episodes.
Give this a listen, tell your friends and don't forget to Subscribe, Share, Like, and Comment. Thanks everyone - I didn't work until 2am so everything is now a win for the night!