1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Niel Savedra. You're listening to kfi EM six 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: forty the four report on demand on the iHeartRadio app. 3 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: Len me did you had it? Let me tad you 4 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: had it? Adam Marin Nathan, Let me tad you had it. 5 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: It's a columnarage name. Let me teach you had it. 6 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: Let me tj Afil six forty live everywhere on the 7 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app. Happy Saturday to you under the weather, Nil 8 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: Savadri here, but happy to be with you anyways. Today. 9 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: A lot of news going on, of course, which is 10 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: intense in the Middle East, as far as the US 11 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: and Israeli strikes going on what has been deemed and 12 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: dubbed rather Operation Epic Fury. A lot of controversy surrounding 13 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: this and a lot of destruction as it stands now, 14 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: including the death of the Iatola, the Supreme leader, been 15 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 1: in leadership there since about nineteen eighty nine. Crazy response 16 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: by Iran as well with an unprecedented wave of retaliatory 17 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: strikes using missiles and drones in the like. Anything you 18 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: need to know stick around here. There's a lot of 19 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: crap on the internet I'm seeing that is unvetted, but 20 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: you're going to get the vetted news here as we 21 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: continue to do what we do on Saturdays, and that's 22 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: celebrate Food. You can contact us by way of the 23 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app by pressing the red icon or the red 24 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: button with the mic icon on there, and the talk 25 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: back come directly to us, and we appreciate that. All right. 26 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: Right now, we want to introduce you to somebody and 27 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: their name is Chef Renee Johnson. She's the leading leading 28 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: the health Cry with a Healthy Soul food movement. You 29 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: find out more about her at the website blackberrysoul dot 30 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: net blackberrysoul dot net. Chef, Welcome to the Forker Part. 31 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: Hi, how are you? 32 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: I am, well, look at that lovely face. It's nice 33 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: to see you, even though we're connected today via zoom 34 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: because I'm sick and the last thing I want to 35 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: do is get a chef sick because they don't stop working. 36 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: Ever, That's so true, And I do not want your 37 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 2: cooodies eat. 38 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 1: Nobody does. Nobody ever does. But I'm happy to have 39 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: you on. I didn't want to cancel the show. You're 40 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: kind enough to take the time to come on, and 41 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: I figured you're going to be able to hang with 42 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: miss Kayla there and still have some camaraderie. Tell us 43 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: a little bit about what you do and what led 44 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: you to the path of Blackberrysoul dot net. 45 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: You know what happened is in my official company Nay. 46 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: First of all, let me say this, thank you so 47 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 2: much for having me. It is such a pleasure to 48 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: be here. But what I will say is that what 49 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: started me down this path is that years ago when 50 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: I was a teenage mom and I divorced my husband. 51 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: I'm going to go quick. Divorced my husband. You know, 52 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 2: we were teenage kids and so you know, I turned 53 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: twenty one and didn't like him anymore and he didn't 54 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: like me. So but we had three babies together, beautiful babies, 55 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: and we have ten grandchildren now. But anyway, so we 56 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: ended up getting a divorce and I went into the 57 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: mortgage industry and I was a wholesale rep. I was online, 58 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 2: I co made phone calls with its voice I have 59 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 2: and I was a wholesale mortgage rep. And then the 60 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 2: more voice it is, yes, and so the industry crashed. 61 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: But what happened is that when I had my so 62 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: mortgage on der Street, I used to hand out food 63 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: to everybody when they would refinance and purchase a home, 64 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: I would allow them to order pound cakes or banana 65 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: pudding or red velvet pound cake, general chocolate cake as 66 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: a gift as a thank you for doing business with me. 67 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: Thats where were you when we bought our house? Gee whiz, 68 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: I keep buying houses just for the cake. 69 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: It's for the cake. But when the industry crashed, I 70 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 2: decided to do something else that I love, which is food, 71 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 2: and so I ended up opening BlackBerry So Fine Catering 72 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: and it started in Georgia, believe it or not. And 73 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: then that's then I brought it home. 74 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: Then I bought good for you. There's nothing you know 75 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: that's one of the best things about multicultural communities is 76 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: bringing bringing things, moving them around. Now we do it globally, 77 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: but moving them around the country, moving them around the 78 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: globe and learning about new flag or new techniques or 79 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: new things like that. So were these your favorites as 80 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: a kid, or these things that you just grew up 81 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: loving or you found later on that you liked making 82 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: and did them well. 83 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: Well, I am going to tell you the truth. I 84 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: hated food when I was younger. Absolutely I hated it 85 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: all right, this is over, We're all done. 86 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: And I didn't understand that. 87 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: And I had a grandmother. I was her first grandbaby, 88 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: and my grandmother made every single thing we ate. So 89 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: when we got stewed tomatoes, she stewed the tomatoes from 90 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: the peaches that we used in her cobblers. There were 91 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: her peaches. We pulled everything out of the ground, every chicken, 92 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: piece of ham, everything she made or farmed. But I 93 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: didn't like food, but I love spending time with her. 94 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: So what ended up happening is that I got her 95 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 2: gift though, because you know, when you're the first grandbaby, 96 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: she picks puts everything in your mouth. Taste this, baby, 97 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: taste this. So I did get her gift. And so 98 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: when I realized I had the gift is when I 99 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: had my own children. 100 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: No, you got the gift of a phone call too. 101 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I didn't tear my thing of somebody's like I 102 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: hear you on the radio. But I did ended up 103 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: getting her gift, and I took it. And who would 104 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: have ever thought that this gift would allow me to 105 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: do the things that I've done. I just won the 106 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: Powerful Women of the Bay Entrepreneur of the Year for 107 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five. I am passing the torch next month. 108 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: But who would ever thought that my grandmother is red 109 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 2: beans and rice and BlackBerry cobbler and biscuits and all 110 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: the things that she's that gift she's given me to 111 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: allow me to do the things that I've done. 112 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: It's about those simple things too. There is in many 113 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: cultures and many different communities, rice and beans is a 114 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 1: part of their staples. But man, they're different everywhere. 115 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 116 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: I would have thought two ingredients can be so different 117 00:06:54,720 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: in preparation, and you know, style, even black beans and 118 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: rice in Cuba is different than black beans and rice 119 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: slightly in Nicaragua or all these things, you know, and 120 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: it's one of those things that is pure comfort. So 121 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: we come back, we're going to talk more with Scheff, 122 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: with chef Renee Johnson. She's leading the healthy soul food movement, 123 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: and we're going to talk about more of that when 124 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: we come back. But you want to find out what 125 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: a smile she has that matches that lovely voice. Blackberrysoul 126 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: dot net is where you want to go. Blackberrysoul dot 127 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: net is where you can find out more and stick around. 128 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: We'll talk more when we come back. 129 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 3: You're listening to the Fork Report with Nilsavedra on demand 130 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 3: from KFI Am six forty. 131 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: There's a lot going on in the world, but as 132 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: we promise you, every Saturday, we still set aside three 133 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: hours to just celebrate food, the people that make it, 134 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: the culture behind it, cooking at home, going out to 135 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: eat new cookbooks. Whatever's going on in the world of 136 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: food and hopefully joy happiness is what we like to 137 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: talk about. But of course we are not ignoring what's 138 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: going on in the Middle East. Eileen is here and 139 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: the KFI News team will bring you everything you need 140 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: to know. A lot of misinformation out there, so stick 141 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: around here. Tim Conway Junior comes in with the Crest 142 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: Report at five o'clock, so go know where. But the 143 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: United States and Israel have partnered in an operation referred 144 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: to as Operation Epic Fury. Started. I don't know just 145 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: before eleven o'clock our time last night. I think that's 146 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: when I found out about it, targeting leadership. It seems 147 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: that the Supreme leader there Ayatola, has been killed. He's 148 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 1: been in power since about nineteen eighty nine. President Donald 149 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: Trump obviously is referred to this major combat operation here 150 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: due to the falling of diplomatic conversations that have been 151 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: going on in Geneva. So this is, in his words, 152 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 1: intended to eliminate the existential threat of a nuclear armed Iran. 153 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: So that's what's going on right now. Iran has unprecedentedly 154 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: it just launched a wave of retaliatory strikes both with 155 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: missiles and drones across the Middle East. And we will 156 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: keep you posted right here. No reason to go anywhere else. 157 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: Right now, I have the pleasure of chatting about healthy 158 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: soul food from Chef Renee Johnson. She's been chatting with 159 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: us a little bit about her path. Always fun to 160 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: hear about someone's path to know in their journey and 161 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: when it comes to food. And I don't use journey 162 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: that often because it always sounds sappy, but I'm always 163 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: fascinated at what brings people to where they are. And 164 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: if you want to find out more about her and 165 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: what she's doing, you can go to her website black 166 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: bear ysol dot net, Blackberrysoul dot net. So your grandmother 167 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: gave you the gift, she passed it along to you. 168 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: You weren't a big food person. Obviously that has changed 169 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: and in the industry of finances. You found a way 170 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: to speak to people and thank them through food, and 171 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: now it is your main focus as you shifted gears, 172 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: What are your primary What are you? What are the 173 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: things that you that bring you joy to cook or bake? 174 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 2: You know what? I think that everything that I do 175 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 2: is about an experience. I kind of lived my life 176 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 2: in a way that whatever corner I am in, or 177 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 2: whatever corner I'm standing on, or whatever table I'm at, 178 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: I want whoever's with me to feel something and having 179 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 2: a wonderful experience. So as far as my food is concerned, 180 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 2: I want someone to take a bite of my food, 181 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: make a whole and word on the street is I'm 182 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: the chef that requires you to make a whole lot 183 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: of noise like, oh my god. 184 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: That is so good and audible. Eaters right and. 185 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: Give me a kiss. So I really feel like, no 186 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: matter what I cook, that I want people to enjoy 187 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 2: my food and have an experience that they will never 188 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 2: ever forget. And that's kind of how I roll. Even 189 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 2: if I'm not cooking, I want when you see me, 190 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 2: you're like, that's my girl. She's gonna give me an experience. 191 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,559 Speaker 2: It's gonna be fun. But as far as food is concerned, absolutely, 192 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: I want you to enjoy that bite of sweet potato 193 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 2: waffle that I gave you, or that those creamy grits. 194 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 2: Instead of doing a fried shrimp, or doing a shrimp 195 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: we put we top it with a fried piece of 196 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 2: salmon and then you know, drizzle a little lemon on 197 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 2: it and cheese and take it to a whole nother level. 198 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 2: Or when you take a bite of our homemade biscuits 199 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 2: and dip it in that BlackBerry compod, it's a game changer. 200 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: And it's an experience that most people, you know. And 201 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 2: the other thing is that I enjoy food so and 202 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: the like you talked about all the different cultures. You're right, 203 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: red beings and rice is a universal thing. I was 204 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 2: on a cruise and the boys said to me, we 205 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 2: were stuck. We couldn't get off. And he said, I 206 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: got to get off this boat because my mother's making 207 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 2: red beans and rice tonight. And it was Monday. I said, 208 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:20,599 Speaker 2: Monday nights is red beans and rice to night for 209 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: everybody in the South I know. And so he was like, yeah, 210 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: I got to get off the phone. I got to 211 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: get off this boat. My mama's cooking so red rice 212 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 2: and beans are totally a universal staple, you know, and 213 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 2: I like you. I like the rice and beans from 214 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 2: Cuba and they put pumpkin in it, all kinds of 215 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: different things. But I don't want to make this seem 216 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 2: like my experience and what I do. My experience is 217 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: universal in the way that I feel like when you 218 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: take it, they take a bite of it. It's an 219 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 2: experience you won't forget. But there's so much good food 220 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 2: out there. I don't want to put nothing in my 221 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 2: mouth that I don't get a good experience from either. 222 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: You know. You know, and I love that, and I 223 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: think that if you can stick around, I'd love to 224 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: talk to you some more, get into the moniker of 225 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: soul food. I think secretly you kind of described it 226 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: in this last segment, unbeknownst to the listener. But we'll 227 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: talk about that, coming back on those experiences that reach 228 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: deeper than just your taste buds, and talk more about 229 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 1: your cause driven focus of making things you know good 230 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: and you know that will stop you in your traxt 231 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: Food doesn't have to be unhealthy at all, So we'll 232 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: talk about that when we come back. 233 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 3: You're listening to the Fork Report with Nil Sevedra on 234 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: demand from KFI Am six forty. 235 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: Excuse voice, trying to get over this stupid head cold 236 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: going around everywhere. But I'm happy to be with you today, 237 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: even though it's a rough news day. A lot going 238 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: on in the Middle East as far as what is 239 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: being referred to as Operation Epic Fury, which is a 240 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: United States and Israeli combination partnership as they coordinate their military, 241 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: theirs and our military in this assault on Iran. So 242 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: the focus obviously has been diplomatic up until now, even 243 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: as early as this past week. We talked about it 244 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: on the Handle Show about the conversations going on. They 245 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: weren't face to face per se. That's an interesting way 246 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: that they did them there in Geneva, and those were 247 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: breaking down. We had heard some good things, but those 248 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: were breaking down to the point where just before eleven 249 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: o'clock or so our time last night, you had this 250 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: mission start with bombings. In the Life from Home, President 251 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: Donald Trump says that it's an accidential threat going on 252 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: with the thought of a nuclear armed Iran. He has 253 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: said for the Iranian people to take over their government. 254 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: The Ayahtola, their supreme leader, has been killed by every 255 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: point of information we have received, no reason to go 256 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: anywhere else. We're keeping with our regular programming of you know, 257 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: celebrating food and the like, but this is going on 258 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: and our news team is here. Eileen Gonzalez will bring 259 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: you or cut in any information that you need to know. 260 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: There's no reason to go anywhere else right now. By 261 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: way of the show, we're celebrating food with the founder 262 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: of Blackberrysoul dot net net, chef Renee Johnson, talking about 263 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: healthy soul foods. So what's what's your mission and how 264 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: can the listener participate in that mission? 265 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 2: So I think my mission is, you know, times are 266 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 2: changing and wasn't onon a time we weren't so cautious 267 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: about aware of what we used to eat. We were 268 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: just only looking for a really good food, you know, 269 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 2: And nowadays are you know? Nowadays things are We're more 270 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: aware of who we are. We're eating healthy, we're walking, 271 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: even though I've been allergic to it lately. I got 272 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: to start working on walking board. 273 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: I think I have those allergies as well. 274 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 2: Right, But people are aware of what they're doing. People 275 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 2: are trying to stay healthy, they're trying to stay young, 276 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: and so what I decided to do is, well, let 277 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 2: me tell you what really happened. My children bossed me 278 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: around a little bit and said, Mom, you got to 279 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: get with the movement here. Do not put that smoke 280 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 2: turkey in the greens. You don't have to. But what 281 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: ended up happening is we had an event with Guy 282 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: Farira years ago, and he had ordered one hundred and 283 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: fifty vegan meals, and he had ordered three hundred regular meals. 284 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 2: And we had these tables going down this auditorium in 285 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 2: San Francisco. What word on the street was a vegan 286 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 2: food was excellent, and so we ran out of vegan food. 287 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 2: So I came home and I said, that could never 288 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: happen again. I'm really conscious about how we show up. 289 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 2: And so when I realized I had a gift to 290 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 2: make soul food. Take my grandmother's recipes, keep her flavor, 291 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 2: keep her style, keep her goodness, and make it vegan 292 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 2: and healthy, I said, I'm about to do this because 293 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 2: what I really wanted to do is have everyone who 294 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: eats my food have the same experience. I didn't want 295 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 2: the vegans to be left out, or the people who 296 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 2: to eat traditional soul food to be left out either, 297 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 2: and I didn't want to compromise our flavors and our style. 298 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 2: So I took my grandmother's recipe and I tweaked them 299 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 2: a little bit, and I took it to a whole 300 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: another level, I'm gonna say, a whole another funky level, 301 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 2: and created BlackBerry Soul. And it's been a wonderful experience 302 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 2: for us and for everybody else. I cannot believe that 303 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 2: BlackBerry Soul has allowed people to eat greens without the 304 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 2: pork or even the smoke, turkey meat or any of 305 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 2: those things. I was at an event in Oakland at 306 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 2: MOAD and we were doing their Thanksgiving and I did 307 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 2: all vegan. You know, everybody was coming in moaning and groaning. 308 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 2: Oh my god, Oh my god. I remember my mother 309 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 2: said to one of the young men there, you have 310 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 2: to taste this. You have to taste it. He was like, 311 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to. I don't want to. And it 312 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: was cornbread dressing. He came back to my mother and said, 313 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 2: you are lying to me. That cannot be vegan, and 314 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 2: she said, yes, it is, Yes it is. So I 315 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 2: have learned to create something that's really beautiful and delicious 316 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: and healthy, and I want to be healthy. I'm not 317 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: talking I'm talking about everybody else. I'm almost sixty two 318 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 2: years old. I have ten grandchildren that call me all 319 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: day long, and I want to be there for them. 320 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 2: I want to celebrate with them. I want to make 321 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 2: sure that I get to experience them any time in 322 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 2: any way I can. I don't want them to be 323 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 2: having them to walk with me and walk slow. So 324 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 2: I needed to be healthy as well. You know, I 325 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 2: can't catch a ball and I can't do different things. 326 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: I can run with my grandchildren. They have to pick 327 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 2: me up afterwards, but I can't run with them. 328 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: You have to have some relaxed down time afterwards. I 329 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: hear that completely cross aboard. I think that's lovely and 330 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: that you know. Walt Disney said he didn't care if 331 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: people complained about the price of Disneyland walking in. He 332 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 1: cared if they complained walking out. So it made me 333 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: think of what you said. People can complain about it 334 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: being plant based on the way in, but on the 335 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: way out they should be singing its praises. That's what 336 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: you want because everyone has their preconceived notion plant based. 337 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: We in the United States. You say vegan, and it 338 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: sounds like a cult or a group or whatever. But 339 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: the reality is plant based food has always been seen 340 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: as a side dish in the United States, but it's not. 341 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:41,439 Speaker 1: There's great protein driven foods that are plant based that 342 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: are great for us and that are hearty and have 343 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: that experience, and we need to mix it up. I'm 344 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,239 Speaker 1: a you know, I'm an omnivore through and through. But 345 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: the fact is we eat too much meat, and the 346 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: fabrication of our meat in the United States States has 347 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: gotten whrror. We've gotten from small farms where people, you know, 348 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: gabor rats as to these big factory farms that don't 349 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: know what's going on half the time in their own farms. 350 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: So I love that. 351 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 2: Let me chime in on that too. It's well as that, 352 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 2: you know, we've we've grown up having the meat, so 353 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: it makes understand it's understandable that you would be a 354 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 2: meat eater and love meat. We've grown up to think 355 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 2: that meat needs to be the star of our plate. 356 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 1: Now. 357 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 2: My thing is that we're making our vegetables the star 358 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 2: of our plate now. We're absolutely absolutely so. You know, 359 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: when I do something, I want my children and my 360 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: grandchildren to be and I've been able to create that 361 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: they're excited about Brussels sprouts and and broccoli. And you know, 362 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: my grandchildren are saying, oh my god, Grandma, you bought 363 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 2: us carrots, and even now that we've been eating this 364 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: way and and let me say this, and not all 365 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: of them are vegan. But most importantly I like to 366 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 2: even encourage people just to eat real food, real food. 367 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 2: You know, instead of opening up a care a spaghetti 368 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 2: sauce for your children, just cut up some fresh tomatles 369 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: and some onions, some bell pepper and not even some 370 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 2: bell pepper, some basil, and throw it on some noodles. 371 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 2: Just eat real food. It's not even so much about 372 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 2: vegan and vegetarian, because vegan doesn't mean that it's a diet. 373 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: Oh no, some of the worst ultra processed food out 374 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: there is vegan. Yeah, because you know, oreos are vegan. 375 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: So it's yeah, it's not about the v it's about 376 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: the end for nutrients and what's in there. And you 377 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: know how that's going to work with. 378 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 2: Wedge fries and ketchup a vegan And I'm. 379 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: Actually doesn't sound half battery. 380 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 2: Right, I know, I love it. You know, I can 381 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 2: ride with some French fries. But that's why I want 382 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 2: to encourage people, not so much about being vegan and vegetarian. 383 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 2: It's when I speak about childhood diabetes and I talk 384 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 2: to mothers and I teach them how to cook. I 385 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 2: just make fresh green beans and blant them and throw 386 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: olive oil on them and some salt and pepper and 387 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 2: hand them to a kid. And they're like, oh my god. 388 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 2: I'm teaching parents to embrace food and find their kids 389 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 2: on like vegetables and food. Pick their favorite color, make 390 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 2: food out of those those colors, and they get excited 391 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: about that. You walk in this store and say, hey, 392 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 2: I know orange is your favorite color. I want you 393 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 2: to pick three things at an orange and we're gonna 394 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 2: make them. 395 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 1: I love that. God, that's a great idea. Can you 396 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: hang on for one more segment? Absolutely, I'm enjoying our conversation. 397 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: We come back, we'll talk more with chef for Nane Johnson. 398 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: To find out more about her boutique, catering and events, 399 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: you can go to blackberrysol dot net. Blackberrysoul dot net. 400 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: Is you know, the way someone has love for food 401 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 1: is always going to show up in their food, and 402 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: you will see by going to that website, which I love, 403 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: has her smiling while eating a cookie, so she knows 404 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: how to eat and enjoy it. And those are the 405 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: people you want cooking for you. We'll talk more when 406 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: we come back. 407 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 3: You're listening to the Fork Report with Nil Savedra on 408 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 3: demand from KFI AM six forty. 409 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: A lot going on today, but we're keeping our programming 410 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: as we normally do, as a sanctuary away from the 411 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: news because we need three hours to celebrate food. But 412 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: we are not ignorant of what's going on in the 413 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: Middle East, and our news team is here to give 414 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: you everything you need to know that it's filtered and 415 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: not the garbage I've been seeing online, a lot of 416 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: it unverified and or false, completely false. To stick around 417 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: here if you haven't heard what's going on. Operation Epic 418 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: Fury is the name of the US and Israeli military 419 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 1: event coordinated going on right now, focusing on Iran's leadership, 420 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: nuclear program, and military infrastructure. They have thirty one providences 421 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: there in Iran, and about twenty four of them have 422 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: been targets of some kind or another. The Aetola is 423 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: said to be dead. He's been in leadership since the 424 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: late eighties and that would be massive of the atrocities 425 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: going on there with people being killed, protester being killed 426 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: in the thousands, if not tens of thousands and beyond. 427 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: So a lot going on with this. We're here and 428 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: anything you need to know, any press conferences or the like, 429 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 1: we will go straight to them. So go no where, 430 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: but we continue to talk about and celebrate food. We're 431 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 1: talking with Chef Renee Johnson. She's got a boutique catering 432 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: and events company blackberrysol dot net, blackberrysol dot net, and 433 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: she's really leading the health soul food industry. And healthful 434 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: food is imperative to all of us. And it doesn't 435 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: mean and it's not mutually exclusive to vegan food, but 436 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: certainly plant based food is something that we have not 437 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 1: focused on enough in this country like they do in 438 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: other places. The Mediterranean diet that they call it, and 439 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: I hate calling it a diet because it's really just 440 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: great food. But the Mediterranean food has long put a 441 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: smaller emphasis and focus on animal proteins, sticking with fish 442 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: and things like that, some seafoods, but primarily on grains 443 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: and wonderful things to eat. And there's no reason that 444 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: other groups and ethnic groups can do the same. So 445 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: we're talking with chef Renee Johnson as a Latino, you 446 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 1: as a black woman. A lot of times in areas, 447 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,159 Speaker 1: you know, I joke about my dad not wanting to 448 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: raise poor Mexicans, so he moved us and raised us 449 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: as poor white kids. But the thing is, in our 450 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: communities there is a problem with the type of type 451 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: of garbage that pops up in fast food and things 452 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: like that. And so you're right, we're not trained to 453 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 1: eat that way. We're you know, through I don't know, 454 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: through through sorrow, through frustrations, through all kinds of things. 455 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: We've put that into fat in our food thinking it 456 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 1: was love and it's not. It's you know, there's still way. 457 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: And that's what I think about with soul food. You 458 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: were talking about you don't want people to be quiet 459 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 1: when they eat your food, and that's something that hits 460 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: your toes, not your tongue. So talk about how you 461 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: modified where you found the love, where you found not substitutes, 462 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: but better nutrients and kicking the bad nutrients out when 463 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: you do a recipe, now, a traditional recipe, well. 464 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 2: I'm going to say this, Neil. You know, let's think 465 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 2: about this, how anything that we do that's good for 466 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 2: us is more expensive all the way around. If I 467 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 2: want to take my children to the ballgame, if we 468 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: want to go to see the San Francisco Giants, it's 469 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 2: going to take us. It's going to cost me at 470 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 2: least five hundred. Everything that we have to do that's 471 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 2: going to be healthier fun, it's more expensive nowadays. And 472 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 2: I think a lot of people do not are they 473 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 2: do not have the resources to eat healthy as well, 474 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,159 Speaker 2: or they think that they cannot. And when I say that, 475 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, white bread is cheaper than wheat bread. 476 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 2: You know, canned food is you know, you can buy 477 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,959 Speaker 2: a can of beans for a dollar twenty nine. But 478 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 2: when you think about drive beings, people, for some strange 479 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 2: reading thinks that it's more expensive. And if you look 480 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 2: at it, and if you buy things in small batches, 481 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 2: it can be cost effective both ways if we if 482 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 2: we think like that. But what ends up happening is 483 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 2: that people tend to think that they have to eat 484 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 2: this way because this is what they can afford, or 485 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: this is what they know doing that is not something 486 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 2: that people think that they can think out of the box. 487 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 2: When I speak to them parents at when I talk 488 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 2: about childhood diabetes. We go on a shopping trip and 489 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 2: we pick up a pound of green beans, and we 490 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 2: make a pound of green beans and let them see 491 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 2: that we've gotten the same amount of those two cans 492 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 2: of beans that we did from fresh green beans. So 493 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 2: I think that it's thinking outside of the box so much, 494 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 2: and that's what I had to do with BlackBerry. So 495 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,719 Speaker 2: I had to think outside the box because buying vegan 496 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:34,919 Speaker 2: food and buying fresh food and buying and making my 497 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: own beings. Of course, I could open up a can 498 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 2: of beans, but I don't know what went into those beings. 499 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 2: I don't know. I know that, yeah, and some kind 500 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: of preservative. So I know that I needed to elevate 501 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 2: my experience. And you know, the other thing I wanted 502 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: to do is I wanted to like our tag line 503 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 2: is where elegance Meat. So so I wanted to make 504 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 2: sure that, you know, back in the day, grandmothers were 505 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: in the kitchen with an ape on and a rag 506 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 2: on their head and we drank out a Mason jars. 507 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 2: When we do BlackBerry Soul, there's none of that going 508 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 2: on with our and nothing's wrong with it, because that's 509 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 2: our journey But when I did my cookbook, I remember 510 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 2: the lady said to me, well, you know, I wanted 511 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 2: to use some slate colors and some wood. And I said, girl, 512 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 2: that's not me. I'm royal. So we're gonna use gold, 513 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 2: we're gonna use black, we're gonna use color. It's going 514 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 2: to be vibrant. And then she looked at me and 515 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 2: she said, everything, I'm never using black again. I can't 516 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 2: get my figures. I don't have black on it. She 517 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: went and bought all these different things to make sure 518 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 2: that we knew that to embrace who we are. So 519 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 2: when I did BlackBerry Soul, I wanted it to be eggle, elegant. 520 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 2: I wanted it to be fresh. I wanted to be delicious. 521 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 2: I wanted people to have an experience. When we show 522 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 2: up for catering. We have no wire racks. We have 523 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 2: all polished chafing dishes, fresh flowers. Everything is elevated to 524 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: a whole another experience in my vision of what I 525 00:29:57,720 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: wanted my clients to experience. 526 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 1: And I'm looking at your menu. You have meat on 527 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: your menu as well, all rightly, because people can order, 528 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: but go look at the menus to see what they 529 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: have we're out of time, but I want you to 530 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: do this. My challenge to you go to blackberrysoul dot net. 531 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: Blackberrysoul dot net see Chef Renee in all her glory, 532 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: and you can get a quote there for a party 533 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: or something you're doing an event. You can look at 534 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: the menus from breakfast to comfort food to whatever you 535 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: may be doing, and we'll have you back on in 536 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: the future to talk more. Thank you so much for 537 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: taking the time. 538 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Neil, thank you so much for having me, and 539 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 2: I can't wait to feed you cause there's food here 540 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 2: in this house. 541 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: Don't tell me that just makes it worse. Thank you 542 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: so much. I know everybody's enjoyed you as well. My 543 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 1: dear Chef Renee Johnson will be back with more. Go nowhere. 544 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: You've been listening to the Fork Report, you can always 545 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 1: hear us live on KFI AM six forty two to 546 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: five pm on Saturday and anytime on demand on the 547 00:30:56,160 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app.