1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Flakey Biscuit is a production of Shondaland Audio in partnership 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: with iHeartRadio. Hi, Welcome to Flaky Biscuit. Each episode here 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: on Flakey Biscuit, we are cooking up delicious morsels of nostalgia. 4 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: These are meals and recipes that have comforted and guided 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: our guests to success. And I'm so excited about what 6 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: I made today, mostly because I'm hungry. I'm Brian Ford, 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: cookbook author, TV show hosts, but most importantly, I love 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: the cook and bake for people. I have someone incredibly 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: special in my kitchen today, someone who has broken boundaries, 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: someone that is changing the course of history. She was 11 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: recently appointed an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: the CIA, and she is the first black email chef 13 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: instructor in the school's history since it's founding in nineteen 14 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: forty six. This is groundbreaking, absolutely incredible feat. She's also 15 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 1: a Food Network Chopped champion, recognized as a Forbes thirty 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: Under thirty overachiever. In twenty eighteen, a James Beard Foundation 17 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: featured chef as well as a participant in the foundation 18 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: Chef's foot camps for policy and change. Wow. What a resume. 19 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: Who am I please welcome chef for Shara Sanders. 20 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: A chef ro Thank you, Jeff Bryan. That was amazing. 21 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: Listen, you're actually changing You've changed history, specifically in the 22 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: culinary field in this country, but just black history in 23 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 1: general American history. How that make you feel? 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm humble, you know, I'm very humble. And 25 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: like I said, you know, it's all God is not me. 26 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: It's all purposeful, and I'm just gonna start it. 27 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: Listeners at home, she just locked eyes with me and said, 28 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: I'm just getting started. You gave me look camera. Yeah, 29 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: you gave me goose. 30 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: You just get started. 31 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: But before we jump into the stuff that's gonna make 32 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: us cry and proud. What are you doing in New York? 33 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: You're chilling. 34 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: I'm chilling. I'm hanging out. You know. New York is 35 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: I guess the second home to me. My mom's from Queens, 36 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 2: so to be in Queens and it's just nostalgic. This 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 2: whole day is nostalgia for me. I came to see 38 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 2: you show. You're brilliant, you're talented, and we're going to 39 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: talk about how you've impacted my life. So you know 40 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: I'm coming for you. 41 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, you can definitely spread the love, and 42 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: that's what the show is all about, nostalgia love. I 43 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: like how you said this day is nostalgic already. You know, 44 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: I live in Queens, man, I don't know what part 45 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: of what part of Queens, Jamaica. 46 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: Jamaica Avenue real, she's real, Quel. 47 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: I mean we're in soft Queens right now. Would you 48 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: say that we're in soft Queens? 49 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, you know. And she's you know, I mean 50 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: nineteen fifty eight, so she's an og baby boomer. So 51 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: it was different back then. 52 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: Og Queens og Jamaica Queens. Talk to me about how 53 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: the food wasn't means back then? 54 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 2: Do you know anything from Connecticut? 55 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: So you don't, okay, yeah, so what are you eating Connecticut? 56 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: Everybody says that there are people of color in Connecticut. 57 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: Let's just say that first and foremost. We're out there. 58 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: It's everything Caribbean, Spanish, everything, we have everything. You know, 59 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: a lot of seafood. We're by the coast, so freshwater, 60 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 2: salt water, Long Island Sound, a lot of seafood Connecticut. 61 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: So we're overrated, well underrated, underrated, So we're overlooked. 62 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: Is what I'm trying to say, what city again is it? 63 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: I'm from Bridgeport. 64 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 1: Bridgeport. 65 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: We just had two chefs, James being nominated for Northeast. Okay, 66 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: so we we we're here. 67 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: So it's going down. 68 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 2: It's going down in Connecticut. It's going down. 69 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: Like they might like some good like situation. 70 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: I don't know about all that, but one thing at 71 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: a time. We're coming though. We do have good eats. 72 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: We did all right, shout out Connecticut, shout out, shout 73 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: out that overlooked and underade Connecticut. But anyway, we are 74 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: not here to talk about Connecticut's food scene, as honestly 75 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: interested I am in learning more about it. We're here 76 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: to talk about a very special dish that you've enjoyed 77 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: for the holidays. Tell our listeners what the nostalgic dish 78 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: I made is for you? 79 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: Okay, so you have made today my favorite of all time. 80 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 2: Of course, cornbread. We can't do anything holidays without corn bread. 81 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: Corn Bread first and foremost. Rice and gondulas and some 82 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: Bennie pork shoulder succulent, beautiful roasted cheat. You I don't know. 83 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 2: I hope you got that cheat. It all nice and crispy. 84 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: That's the most important thing when you're making some benny. 85 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: So we'll get to that. There There may or may 86 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: not have been some technical difficulties, yes, during the process. However, 87 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: I think from a flavor perspective, you should be pleased. 88 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: But yeah, well, so describe this dish to me. You know, 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: when is the first time you had it, when's the 90 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: first time you remember it? And when is the first 91 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,559 Speaker 1: time you realize how special it was to you? Okay, 92 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: So if they're two differents. 93 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: I mean, it's no. I think it all happened at 94 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 2: the same time. A lot of people don't know this 95 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: about me. I am African, American and Caribbean, so my 96 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: father's Jamaican, but I don't know my father. So I 97 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: was raised by two women and my step mother is 98 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 2: Puerto Rican. She's raised me since I was one years old, 99 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 2: so I think maybe by the age of seven you 100 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: start to get memories. This is probably the first male 101 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: I can remember from my stepmother, her mother, which is 102 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: my grandma. I don't know my biological grandparents. My grandfather 103 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: World War two veterans, passed away. My grandmother never got 104 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 2: to meet her. So my stepmother's family has raised me 105 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: and taken me on so, I feel like I'm like 106 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 2: half black and perto Rican. To be honest, the first 107 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: holiday I can remember rice and gandulas, beni bastellez ottos, 108 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: anything that you can think of, Puerto Ricans making a kapukia, 109 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 2: anything that you can think of I was introduced to 110 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: as a child. 111 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: Wow, let me tell you something right now, you're speaking 112 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: my love language or that kind of food. I've been 113 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: to Puerto Rico. It was like a couple of weeks, 114 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: and I'm jealous that you were able to enjoy that 115 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: food since you were very young, because that's like, that's 116 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: very special food. I actually feel like Puerto Rican cuisine 117 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: is underrated globally. 118 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: Really, I think so, I think it's top five. 119 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: Describe to me the flavor profiles. Then, you know, so 120 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 1: the listeners out there who may have never had bernila 121 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: or arosples, I hope y'all have had corn bread. If 122 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: podcast and you've never had corn bread, turn off your radio, 123 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: go buy a box of Jiffy make it and eat 124 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: some corn bread. I'm not gonna judge you, I'm gonna 125 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: support you, but please go eat some corn bread. 126 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, But to my. 127 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: Initial question, describe these flavors that you're talking. 128 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,799 Speaker 2: About Puerto Rican cuisine to me, you know, I'm speaking 129 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 2: from my own perspective, is savory, A lot of freshness. 130 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 2: Like so my stepmother Maria, she used to make homemade 131 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: sofrito right, rakaito and cilantro or culantro right, which is 132 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 2: used all over the Caribbean, and garlic and onions and peppers, 133 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: and you know she would freeze that and we have 134 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: it all winter. A lot of savory things, spices, herbs. 135 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: I love rice rices all over the Caribbean as well 136 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 2: as African American. I feel like rice is a staple. 137 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 2: So gondulas is my favorite pigeon piece. Right. So you 138 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: can have kenney beans, you can have black eyed peas, 139 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: but for me, gondulas is a special texture. Like we're 140 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: talking about benit today. Just like I said, that's sucking important. 141 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: I don't even eat pork. But let me tell you. 142 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: I don't eat pork, but I'm telling you I me 143 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: im pork on Thanksgiving. I mean important. For Christmas, I 144 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: may import for three kings. 145 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you're eating pork right now and import. 146 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: Right because it's holidays. This is the holidays, right. 147 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: I do want to backtrack a little bit. Some of 148 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: THO listeners probably don't know exactly what sofrito is. I 149 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: know that you mentioned some of the ingredients, but is 150 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: this something that you make often? 151 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: I do make sofriita. 152 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, tell me quickly the process, like what's in sofriito, 153 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: what's the process of making and why is it so 154 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: important in Puerto Rican cuisine? 155 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: I think sofriito is the base of everything. It gives 156 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: you flavor to whatever your soups, your stews, your rice, 157 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 2: your if you make the beni, you can marinate it. 158 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: I guess it's a marinate if you could say, it's 159 00:07:58,960 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: kind of like jerk. 160 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: Right. 161 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: If you're Jamaican, you know that jerk marinad or whatever 162 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 2: jerk spices is a wet based because you're gonna cook 163 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 2: the garlic, You're gonna cook the onions, You're gonna cook 164 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: the herbs. Even if it's tomato based, you're gonna cook 165 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 2: down the tomatoes and I puree it and then I 166 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: use it on everything. So if I'm making rice, I'm 167 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 2: gonna put the sofito in the pan first, I'm going 168 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: to parch the rice, and the I'm gonna add the 169 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 2: water so sofito not only gives flavor, it's going to 170 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 2: give coloring as well. So it's a base. It's a 171 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: marinade for everything. 172 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: Wow, I'm like damn. Now, I'm like, oh man, what 173 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: have I got myself into? 174 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 2: I have to did you make it? You bought it? 175 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: Buying it? It's good too. 176 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: I'm busy, man. 177 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, I think you can buy soshi tho. Yeah, 178 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: which one tomato based or tomato bas okay? I like 179 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: the tomato based, depends on what you're making. 180 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: Light amounts of it. No, I just you have you 181 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 1: heavy guys. I think that's a flavor. 182 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 2: I need the flavor. I love onions, I love garlic, 183 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 2: I love tomato. And then you stew it down and 184 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: you cook it and you just pull out an extra 185 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:00,599 Speaker 2: all of that. 186 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: You know. This it's a holiday meal, and I think 187 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: we really need to talk about every component of this dish. 188 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: I want to talk about that beranilla. It's typically shoulder picnic. 189 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: You know, some people will use different parts of the 190 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: pork to try to kind of replicate. Talk to me 191 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: about what you consider to be the perfect beranilla. What 192 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: when it goes into your mouth happens? What do you taste. 193 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: What are the textures you mentioned that crispy top, which 194 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: you may or may not be getting to do. But 195 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: if you're not familiar with what beranilla is and how 196 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: it's cooked in Puerto Rico, I want you to pay 197 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: attention to what Chef Roe is about to say. 198 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: Right. So for me, Bene pork and general coming to 199 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: the Americas and the Caribbean is talking about history, yep, right, 200 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 2: because we know pigs were brought over by the Spaniards, 201 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: so when we talk about colonization, we really get into 202 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 2: the history of Puerto Rico. So that's what I look 203 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: at when I see the pig and that succulent, that juiciness, 204 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: that slow roast. My stepmother Maria, I mean, she got 205 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 2: a cook up, a need for minimum minimum at least 206 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 2: five hours. That's a long time in the oven. So 207 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: that meal is cooked with love. I feel like me, 208 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: especially I'm a young chef and I got things to do. 209 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 2: I'd be Russian food and sometimes it tastes like crap, 210 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 2: right because I'm Russian. I'm going I gotta go right, 211 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 2: But something like that that takes five hours, four hours, 212 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: six hours, depending on who you are, that's cooked with love, 213 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: because we're talking about the pork shoulder. If you know 214 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: anything about an animal, if an animal is walking right, 215 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 2: a lot of tension, a lot of muscle. This is 216 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 2: something that has to be slow cooked, either as a 217 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 2: braid or as a roast. We gotta break down that 218 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: connective tissue. We gotta break down that collagen, et cetera, 219 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 2: et cetera. So when you slow roast something, you're pulling 220 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 2: out all of the juices. You're making sure this is 221 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: super fatty and beautiful. Right, because it's pork, it is 222 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: fatty as well, So you know you're gonna trim off 223 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 2: some of that fat, but you really want the fat 224 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 2: cap because that's what turns into that cheat your own right. 225 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: I'm from Bridgepork, Connecticut. We consider that the hood of Connecticut. 226 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 2: So I remember going to the corner store grain pork rinds, right, 227 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 2: So all of that it reminds me of that. That's 228 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: that in the nostagia. So that crunchiness on the outside 229 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 2: and then that tender shoulder that's been cooked and roasted 230 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 2: for four to five hours. 231 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: They go get a bag at each other on this quick. 232 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:10,719 Speaker 1: We need it, you know what I'm talking about? That 233 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. 234 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 2: It's good that crunchy, that soft, that gelatinous. You know 235 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 2: I'm talking about You know you eat cels is gelatinous. 236 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 2: You got suck that bone, right. So I feel like 237 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 2: Berne has that same because under that cheat your own 238 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,319 Speaker 2: you still get that fatty part. I eat it. I 239 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: ain't gonna hold you. 240 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: Eat it got you. I mean, like for once we 241 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: hit my heart good appointment. 242 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 2: Remember this is a holiday meal. We're not eating it 243 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: every so often. We're not eating it every week or 244 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 2: every every other day. You know, growing up in my household, 245 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: eating protein was a specialty. We're not eating in every meal. 246 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: Correct and call it Sunday food. My dad will make 247 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: a roast that might be the only time with eating 248 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: meal exactly. I'm kind of in all with how naturally 249 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: you're able to describe cooking processes the way you just 250 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: just I was just why are you so? 251 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,319 Speaker 2: Because food is science and people don't understand that it 252 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 2: is spiritual. So you know, if you Brazilian condom blay, 253 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: you know voodoo and Haiti, you like, all of these 254 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: food is cooked around ceremonies too. Use a spiritual aspect 255 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 2: for me. Spirituality, though, I'm a Christian. Is like, while 256 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: somebody cooks something for me, and I feel that energy 257 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 2: in that food, that pig has sacrificed its life for me. 258 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: So it's spiritual, right, and it's love okay, and it's nourishment. 259 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: So not only is it that, it's science. Because the 260 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: thing about this, you can buy a pork shoulder, or 261 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:38,719 Speaker 2: you can buy a piece of steak, depending on what 262 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: cut it is. You can't just see anything. You might 263 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 2: have to braiz. It might there's certain cooking techniques that 264 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: you need to know before you just get anything. If 265 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 2: you get a chicken breast, or you're gonna see the 266 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 2: chicken breast, you're gonna braize, are you gonna ste it? 267 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:51,839 Speaker 2: It just kind of just depends. You need to know 268 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 2: what the end result is so you can know the 269 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 2: cooking process. I pay attention to stuff like that. Like 270 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: for example, I've actually as a young chef, I had 271 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: duck legs and I seared them and it was like 272 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 2: chewing on a rubber shoe because because I don't understand 273 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 2: that that's where the toughness because ducks swim all day, right, 274 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 2: they're walking, so the legs are tough. You have to 275 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 2: braise them or you have to com fee them. 276 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: I wish I knew you when we were in France 277 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: last year because I remember when I got them duck legs. 278 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:20,599 Speaker 1: I just like that. 279 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 2: But you can't. But if you don't, you can't. You know, 280 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: you got to understand, like this technique is for this cut? 281 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: Wow? All right. What I love the most is how 282 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: you started with the history with the work you're doing. 283 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: Obviously we kind of dabble in the same things, but 284 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: I love when I talked to someone and you asked 285 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: them about a dish. You didn't start with the pork 286 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: and the tenderness and the cooke. Time you started with well, 287 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: you got to understand where pigs even how did they 288 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: get here because you know, like in Cuba, the original 289 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: Cuban sandwich was not with pork. It was a hard 290 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 1: tapioca starch based bread with vegetables. And when they brought 291 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,559 Speaker 1: those pigs into the end till this area, they started 292 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: cooking it and putting it in the bread, and that's 293 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: how it evolved. So it's interesting. Obviously, you know, I 294 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: know you, and I knew that we would get down 295 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: a little bit, but I love that that's how you 296 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: lead because food, like whether it's chocolate or vanilla, pork, rice, 297 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: any of these staples. Like if you talk about vanilla, 298 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: you're really talking about or cinnamon, like you're talking about 299 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: colonists setting up monopolies right in indigenous lands, just like 300 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: stripping them of what they had and taking it for themselves. 301 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: Right, And if you want to honor these people, we 302 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 2: got to talk about the history of food. 303 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: We have to. 304 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 2: I'm going to honor Puerto Rico. I gotta talk about 305 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 2: the history of or Jamaica or Cuba like you're saying, 306 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 2: or even African American, Like if were talking about rice, 307 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 2: we need to talk about Golagichi. We need to talk 308 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 2: about West Africa. We gotta talk about Cinabon, we gotta 309 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: talk about Nigeria. We can't just talk about rice. 310 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: It's the backbone of Yes, I mean, I agree with you. 311 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: Enslaved people were really the backbone of most, if not all, 312 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: cooking and baking traditions. I mean in Latin America when 313 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: it comes to baking, it's easy to attribute Europeans with oh, 314 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: like clearly this looks like a bag ad or this 315 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: looks like it you know, that looks like brios or whatever. 316 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: But people forget that it wasn't just Europeans that pulled up. 317 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: They brought a bunch of African people with them that 318 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: they had enslaved, and those were the people actually making 319 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: exactly food and. 320 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 2: The bad So they were their original teachers. 321 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: They were the original because they were the ones actually made. 322 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: It's like the restaurants here today. You go to Italian restaurant, 323 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: it's owned by some Italian guy, but it's us in 324 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: the kitchen cooking. 325 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 2: Exactly, especially the Hispanic culture. Listen, every restaurant I've ever 326 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 2: worked in one hundred percent Hispanics in the kitchen. You 327 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: got to learn some kitchen Spanish period. You have to, 328 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 2: because those are the people in the kitchen. So I 329 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: want to pay homage and I want to give respect 330 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 2: to those people because they taught me everything I know. Honestly. 331 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: Will be back after these messages from our sponsors. All right, 332 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: all right, let's just jump back in time, person to eat. 333 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: I think it's time for me to present to you 334 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: what I made, explain to you what I did to 335 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: make it. So I'm gonna take a moment. I'm gonna 336 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: step over a couple of plates. Thank you. 337 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: I'm waiting on you. I I need another one, chef, 338 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: Thank you? 339 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: All right, So here's how this goes down. 340 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 2: What do you want to start? This smells the aroma 341 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: is beautiful. Talk to me about the corn bread. It 342 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: looks super moist buttery. 343 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: Saying it looks super drag about like looks on. I 344 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: think that you got kind of dry. I put the 345 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: gravy from the Better Neil all over it just now. 346 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 2: Why because you feel like it's dry because I. 347 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: Baked it earlier and it's kind of it's not like 348 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: warm out of the oven, and I thought it might 349 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 1: be dry. So I just kind of drenched in some. 350 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 2: Soft Okay, you think it's gonna save you, let's see. 351 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: No, I think I'm about to get shipped on. 352 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, all right, you know I love you though. 353 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: Look it ain't like my mom's, but. 354 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: We do not serve cornbread Artist and Briana Bakery, No one, 355 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: no customers need to worry about it. 356 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 2: It's good. The flavor is good. It is a little dry. 357 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: Listen, the corn bread came out a little dry. 358 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 2: I talked to me about your recipe. 359 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, the recipe lives on China dot com. 360 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: So we would definitely want to get our listeners over there, okay, 361 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: to try it out. I've made several different iterations of 362 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: corn bread, you know, just using cornflour, obviously getting some 363 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: of that butter going. 364 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: I know that, you know, corn flour not cornmeal cornmeal. 365 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: Like literally literally this blend that's right here on the table. 366 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: I think part of the issue is, like that's a 367 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: blend of three different types. Okay, like that's a blend 368 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: of three different types of corn flowers. You know what 369 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: I think honestly, the issue is that I think there's 370 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: masada in there too. I think there's an extimalized corn 371 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: in there which can affect texture, which can absorb a 372 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: little bit too much moisture, you know. So I think 373 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: that there was like a technicality and not necessarily my fault. 374 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: It was a technicality that I did not I was 375 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: not aware of. And the rice the not trying to 376 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: reinvent the wheel here, like you already know what it is. 377 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I almost think bomb Okay, you know, before 378 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: I just tell me what you're tasting the rice is. 379 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 2: I do taste of sofrito. The rice is cooked really nicely, 380 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 2: is not overcooked, It's not mushy. It's not super dry 381 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 2: or super crunchy. It's not like you're making for me. 382 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 2: You know, I'm happy to make for me. But the 383 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 2: chicken and the rice is super crunchy because they've got 384 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 2: that caramelization at the bottom. So I don't like that. 385 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 2: It's called pick al. I think Dominicans call it that, 386 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 2: So that's not what you're looking for. And adols and gondola, 387 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 2: So this is good. I like this a lot though. 388 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: Benny is very good too. 389 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: All right, sorry, I haven't eaten today, so I'm going 390 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: just like savage. 391 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 2: He's being a savage, all y'all hear him? 392 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: Okay, And you need to tell me where where you're going? 393 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: Where's your mind going? 394 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: The beni is really good. The beni is very very good. 395 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 2: It's very tender. It's very juicy. I see what you 396 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 2: mean when you say that is not crunchy. Talk to 397 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: me about that. I think it's perfect. It reminds me 398 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 2: of my stepmother's. It's very good. It's seasoned perfectly well. 399 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 2: With the chiatto. 400 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: What happened with I feel like I'm in I'm in class. 401 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: I'm in class with you right now. I'll show you 402 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: what happened. 403 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 2: With you need a broiler? What happened? Oh, so chef 404 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 2: cheated everybody he has So the inpot got is super 405 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 2: juicy but not crunchy exactly. 406 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: That's what people with time constraints do. They use pressure cookers. 407 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 2: No, that was smart. Yeah. 408 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: And as soon as you started talking about it, and 409 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: as soon as my memory was going, I was like, damn, 410 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: that did I did not even think about getting that 411 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: crunch right. You could do that, but you got to 412 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: finish it, finish it in the oven. 413 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 2: You got to finish it in the oven. 414 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: All right. So the recipe on tinline dot com. Obviously 415 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: you know with the be neil you know this. We're 416 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: talking about slow roasted marinated pork shoulder or picnic garlic oregano. 417 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, A nice combination to get that. 418 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: I did it the quick way. Maybe I cheated, maybe 419 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: I didn't, but our listeners are dying to No, Chef, 420 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: did I bring you back to your holiday table? And 421 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: if not, where did I bring you? 422 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 2: You did bring me back to the holiday table. I 423 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: feel it. I feel good, I'm happy, I'm laughing, I 424 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 2: feel positive. We have good vibes, get energy. So you 425 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 2: definitely want me back to the holiday table. I think 426 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 2: just a corn bread. 427 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: That can't make corn bread. 428 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 2: It's just a corn bread chef. 429 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: That's it, you know. Honestly, I feel kind of. 430 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 2: Something will go wrong for the viewers something or the listeners. 431 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 2: Something will go wrong, and the kitschen it's never going 432 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 2: to be a perfect be like that. 433 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: That's your show. Something will go wrong? Will you tell 434 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: listeners how to phys with all your knowledge? 435 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 2: All right? 436 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: So listen, You've had such an esteemed career already, and 437 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: you're quite young. How did the nostalgia of food, the 438 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: nostalgia of this meal in Puerto Rican cuisine, and your 439 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: upbringing get you from that holiday table to becoming an 440 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: iconic chef in you know, the culinary world right now? 441 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess I just feel like food gave 442 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 2: me my purpose. Some of you may know my story, 443 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 2: but I serve six years in the United States Army. 444 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 2: I reck in Afghanistan combat veteran. So when I joined 445 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 2: the military, I knew when I got out I had 446 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,719 Speaker 2: to be a chef. And I feel like growing up 447 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: in food and having my Puerto Rican grandmother and my 448 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 2: uncles and my aunts and Titi whoever, and Uncle Macho whoever. 449 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: And then I come from a black background. So my 450 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 2: mom's making CALLI greens and you know, she's doing her 451 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 2: fried chicken. I was like, damn, this is giving me 452 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: a purpose. It really gave me a way to get 453 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 2: out of the military and survive. So I feel like 454 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: the nostalgia of being raised in the kitchen, like my 455 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 2: mom was raising me by herself, and her first job 456 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 2: off of the streets. She was in the streets was 457 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 2: a soul food restaurant called Bird's Place in Bridgeport. I 458 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 2: was running around the kitchen at two years old just 459 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 2: see my mom cook. So it showed me away from 460 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 2: my mom to get off the streets. It was away 461 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 2: from my stepmother to help her mental health because she 462 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 2: struggles with depression. So the only time I really saw 463 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 2: her at her happiest moment, and that relationship and that 464 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 2: marriage that my mother and my mother had was over food. 465 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 2: So it got me out of the military, it got 466 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 2: my mom off the streets, and it helped my stepmother 467 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 2: with depression. So I owe food everything. 468 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: Wow, thank you for sharing that. Yeah, And it sounds 469 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: like mental health is really important to you. Is this 470 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 1: something in this industry that you advocate for and actively 471 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: work towards improving for yourself for others. 472 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean for me personally, Like I said, it is. 473 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 2: You know, when I got home from Afghanistan, I was 474 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 2: diagnosed with postraumunic stress disorder. So you know, you could 475 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 2: go to the VA. They're going to try to give 476 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 2: you pills and all this stuff like that. I'm like, 477 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 2: you know what, I find myself finding peace when I'm cooking, 478 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 2: So then let me do that. Wow, let me do that. 479 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 2: So mental health is real in the industry, you know, chef, 480 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 2: we come from a toxic industry, whether you're baking in 481 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 2: pastry or you're in the culinary side. We come from 482 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: that era of shut up, do what you're told, and 483 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 2: you know, be quiet and the yelling and the scream. 484 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 2: I've lived that in the kitchen. I've lived that in 485 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: the kitchen, and you know, I just go into my 486 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: happy place. I kind of work with my head down 487 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 2: and think about anything else. But don't burn nothing. Make 488 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 2: sure it tastes good, you know. So food is just 489 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 2: my escape. It's my escape. 490 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: You know. 491 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 2: I've actually worked with women veterans who suffer from sexual 492 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 2: salt in the military, and they found their way back 493 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,159 Speaker 2: to their marriages, and they found their way back to 494 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 2: their children through food. 495 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: Wow. 496 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: So teaching them culinary skills, they can bring it back 497 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 2: to the household. They can rebuild these relationships. So when 498 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: I saw that, I'm like, Okay, this is something that 499 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,159 Speaker 2: is real. Food can help mental health. Anything can. If 500 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 2: you might like golf, you might go out play golf, 501 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: you might like basketball. We all have our things. But 502 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 2: for me, food is my peace, and honestly we're going 503 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 2: back to spirituality. Food is the way I see God 504 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: because I mean we talk about the DNA of a seed, 505 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 2: you got one hundred species of apples, you got all 506 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 2: of these things. It's like, Wow, God is real, God exists. 507 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 2: How can who made this? I didn't make it. It 508 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 2: wasn't me. It's such a big picture. So for me, 509 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 2: food is a way to defeat depression and mental health. 510 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 2: It's just one avenue. 511 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, the most delicious oven it is. I mean, everyone 512 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: wants to eat, right, so why not, you know, become dedicated. 513 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: I have to say that I relate to a lot 514 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: of what you're saying. I suffer from anxiety, panic disorder, 515 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: stuff like that. Is a chef thing. 516 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: Don't how rich. It is a chef thing. 517 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: The people think it doesn't have panic disorder, but no, 518 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: I've found many, many days of feeling at peace baking. 519 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: And you know, I used to be a cook on 520 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: the line in New Orleans late nights. Mm hmm, I 521 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 1: caught what I call gremlin activity. You know, it's New Orleans. 522 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: First of all, the cooking culture there is a little intense. 523 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 1: And when I started baking, I realized how much more 524 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: peaceful it could be to serve people food. I'm a 525 00:25:55,920 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 1: morning person. I activate fully, like when I wake up, 526 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 1: I'm ready to like accomplish. I'm like so ready for 527 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: my day to start, right, not really a night person. 528 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: So I'm waking up tomorrow at three to go do 529 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: this bake. It's quiet, no one, no one's around, no 530 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: one to bother you, no one's gonna text me. I 531 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: mean three in the morning, four in the morning. The 532 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: city is asleep. And I just I find so much 533 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,239 Speaker 1: like p and solace in baking. Because of that. Now, 534 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: obviously the flip side tired. It's like, you know, it 535 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,400 Speaker 1: is kind of a rigorous thing to get people their 536 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: bread in the morning. So I can relate to what 537 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: you're saying seeing food as a way to overcome mental 538 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: health struggles, because it's definitely been the vehicle that's propelled 539 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 1: my mind into better places. But then, you know, there's 540 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: the flip side, you know, the social media, the expectations. 541 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: Now there's expectations that expectations, expectations we talk to me 542 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: about that. I want to hear it. 543 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 2: I do what I want when I want. I do 544 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 2: not subscribe to posting every day. And because life is 545 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 2: too short, one day, you're gonna wake up. One day 546 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 2: you're not gonna wake up. So God woke me up today. 547 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 2: This is the day that God has given me. I'm 548 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 2: gonna do what I'll need to do to make me 549 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: feel good. And social media does not make you feel 550 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 2: good all the time, by the comparison, and this person 551 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 2: doing that, and what is it? What I use social 552 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: media for is inspiration. That's how I'm at you, you 553 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 2: know what I mean. I'm researching. I'm like, who's this 554 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: Afro latito over here doing these big things? And that 555 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 2: was inspired by you? Other than that, I don't because 556 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 2: it can sink you, It can really drown your mental health. Yeah, 557 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 2: so if we don't learn the balance, then it's a negative, 558 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 2: So fuck the expectation. 559 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 1: I don't know what kind of spiritual energy happened today, 560 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: but I really needed to hear that. It's a lot 561 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: to keep up with. 562 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 2: It's tiring. 563 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 1: It's insanely coincidental that you just said what you said, 564 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 1: because it is very difficult to maintain. You know, it's 565 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 1: something that I think I need to do. 566 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 2: But listen, don't attach your success or don't attach your 567 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 2: worth to social media. If you don't post for the 568 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 2: next six months, you are still Brian Ford. You understand 569 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 2: what I'm saying. It doesn't matter. You still got on 570 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,439 Speaker 2: your own bakery. People wake up in the morning, they 571 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 2: come see you, you start their day. Social Media is fake. 572 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 2: It doesn't it's not real. It's not rigila total this 573 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 2: shaking her head. It's you have no idea, this confirmation. 574 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: It's not real. It's not it's not. 575 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 2: It's not attached to who you are. You think when 576 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 2: God created you, God created you like, oh, Brian's gonna 577 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: be on social media. No, you have a bigger purpose 578 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 2: because if social media crashed tomorrow, is your purpose is 579 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 2: your dead? 580 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 1: No? 581 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 2: No, it's bigger than social and. 582 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: Also intertwining all sometimes like business endeavors or income or whatever. 583 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: If it's too tightly tied into that, then it's like, yeah, 584 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: if it does crash, well, how I eat. 585 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 2: You're gonna eat. 586 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: You're gonna eat eat, You're gonna eat, definitely gonna eat. 587 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,239 Speaker 2: I don't even look at it like that, because if 588 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 2: you do that, like, oh, I got a post, and 589 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 2: I got this brand, and I got that brand. Looking 590 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 2: at me, and I might get this show, and you're 591 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 2: gonna eat. If it's for you, it's for you, whether 592 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 2: you want so. I'm a social media person, per se, right, 593 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 2: I post when I need to put. I haven't posted 594 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 2: in three weeks. I'm going on a month, you know 595 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 2: what I'm saying. But I'm in negotiation to do things 596 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: with these media companies and I don't even post because 597 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 2: they love me. They love my spirits. You know what 598 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: I'm saying, Chef, that's real shit. Wow, that's yours. It's like, 599 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 2: I don't need to you know what I'm saying. I listen, 600 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 2: I'm wearing I'm wearing the Uncle Near's shirt. It says 601 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 2: I'm making black history. I made one post. One post. 602 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 2: The CEO of Uncle NER's Fun Weaver sent me a 603 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 2: whole care package with a letter. And that was one post. 604 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 2: I wasn't out there Uncle Near's Uncle nears. That was 605 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 2: one post that was a real, just one genuine post 606 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 2: because I'm just what I'm doing. I like the brand, 607 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 2: but she respects me. Social media is there is an avenue. 608 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 2: It's good for inspiration, it is good to market. It 609 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: has its pros, but it has its cons. But I want, 610 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 2: you know, young influencers to know, like listen, if you 611 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 2: take a break. You might need a break, you might 612 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 2: need a break, but you're still worthy because it's not 613 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 2: about social media. It's about what you do and for 614 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 2: people and their spirit and your spirit. 615 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm kind of speechless right now. That's wild. I feel 616 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: like it's something I think is difficult to navigate, but 617 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: I'm starting to realize it's not difficult because it's a choice. 618 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: It's a choice. 619 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: It's a choice to scroll, it's a choice to compare. 620 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: It's a choice to get consumed. A lot to talk 621 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: about again, you know, I can't wait to crack beers 622 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: with you another time. But there's obviously articles and this 623 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: and that that we can read about you, but you know, 624 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: your journey through the CIA, I think you said one 625 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: black instructor. He was a male in the culinaris department, 626 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: Like that was the only black instructor you've ever seen, right, 627 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: And that's wild. Yeah, So I want to hear a 628 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: little bit more about where you know, there's a clear 629 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: lack of representation and there's a clear need to change that. Right, 630 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: How were those first moments in there? How did you 631 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: feel talk to me? 632 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 2: I mean for me as an alumni, I had and 633 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 2: the colinary supers one black chef, and I think in 634 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 2: the Patriarch's department we had another black chef, two men. 635 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 2: I never saw a woman, especially women of color there. 636 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 2: So when I got the opportunity to get the job, 637 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 2: I applied and I said, what do I got to lose? 638 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 2: So when I got the job and the New York 639 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 2: Post announced I'm the first black woman, and it just 640 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 2: went kind of I don't want to say viral, but 641 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 2: it did make a spark. It was my legacy has 642 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 2: just activated. I've always had a legacy, but this is 643 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 2: like the first time in history, like you said, in 644 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 2: seventy six years. We're celebrating our seventy sixth anniversary this 645 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 2: fall at the CIA, and I'm honored, and I'm grateful 646 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 2: to be that first black woman because I'm coming with 647 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 2: a force. You know, I'm coming with a force, and 648 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 2: I didn't come to play. And a lot of my 649 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 2: students now have somebody who looks like them. Right, So 650 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 2: it starts with one, it starts with two, now with three. 651 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 2: And like I said, how I met you, I have 652 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 2: been developing the cuisines and cultures of Africa and its 653 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 2: diaspora in the America's concentration. So at the CIA, we 654 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 2: have the Japanese concentration, we have Barcelona, Spain, we have 655 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 2: I think Singapore might be a concentration. So these students 656 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 2: are able to immerse themselves in this culture and travel 657 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 2: abroad to these locations to really be developed in this cuisine. 658 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 2: So now we have the cuisines and cultures of Africans diaspora. 659 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 2: And I think the challenge for this course is when 660 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 2: you say diaspora is the journey of people. We're not 661 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 2: just going to Japan. We can go to South Carolina, 662 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 2: we go to New Orleans, we can go to Brazil, 663 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: we can go to Cuba, we can go to Nigeria, 664 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 2: we can go to et cetera, Congo wherever. Right now, 665 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 2: the class has been approved campus wide, all campuses, all 666 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 2: branch NAPA voted on is Singapore voted on the San 667 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 2: Antonio voted on at High Park has voted on it. 668 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 2: Because they all have to see the curriculum before we 669 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:48,960 Speaker 2: usher something new in. I created it. I went to Yale, 670 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 2: I got a library card. I used it Leelle's Library 671 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 2: digital library. I was there for eight hours a day, 672 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 2: reading books, talking to people. You know, Doctor Harris was influential, 673 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 2: just kind of setting the groundwork, tell us you you 674 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 2: need to get this done. She's the mother of this shit, 675 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,479 Speaker 2: you know, doctor Harris. She just got a lifetime achievement. 676 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 2: But we were there at the family reunion watching her 677 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 2: get honored. And you know, you got Alexander Small's there, 678 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 2: you got peertm was an influential. Madi Seta Pasia was 679 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 2: influential helping me and Kevin Mitchell, who's in South Carolina. 680 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 2: So I had great mentors. But when I say reading 681 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 2: the books and sitting there and my eyes hurting in 682 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 2: front of the computer, and you know, me developing every 683 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 2: recipe for this class me, you know that's why I 684 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 2: called you, because I found you when I was looking 685 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 2: up Honduras and Afro Panamanian and Belize, and I just 686 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 2: didn't really know where to go when I was talking 687 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 2: about Latin America and I stumbled across you in Isaac 688 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 2: villa Verde. Isaac's from Panama, and you guys really helped 689 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 2: me navigate this Afro Latino cuisine. So now we're at 690 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 2: the CIA, we're trying to say, finally, people of color 691 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 2: have a seat at the table. Yeah, because like you 692 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 2: just said, you talk about French cuisine, you talk about 693 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 2: all these European cuisines, but it's like, why do black 694 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,560 Speaker 2: people not have a seat at the table. I'm here 695 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 2: to break those glass ceilings and make sure we have 696 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 2: a seat at the table is developed. But whether I 697 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 2: teach it or not, it could be another black woman, 698 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 2: that could be another black and I don't who cares 699 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 2: who teaches it. It just needs to be maybe, I 700 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 2: don't know. I mean, we had actually a pilot that 701 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 2: it was a white Jewish man. He's a mentor of mine, 702 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 2: great ally, but students were like, we want to see 703 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 2: somebody of color teaching his class. That's he's great, but 704 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,320 Speaker 2: he's not black. How are you talking about African American 705 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 2: cuisine or Afro Caribbean or whatever you're talking about. But 706 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: you're not actually a person, you know what I'm saying. 707 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 2: If I'm French, you need to be teaching French cuisine. 708 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 2: I'm a black woman. Do you want me to teach 709 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 2: French or do you want to get somebody from friends? 710 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:41,800 Speaker 1: I suppose that's like if you go to a school 711 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,359 Speaker 1: or whatever, if you go to a college, you'll see 712 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:48,279 Speaker 1: a black professor teaching things that white people. Did you know? 713 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 1: Or it's like, but this is our food, this is different. 714 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 2: Have you eaten it? That's what I'm saying. I mean, 715 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 2: if you're a white man, have you had goosey soup? 716 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:04,760 Speaker 2: That's what I'm saying. But and has he made fufu? 717 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:07,399 Speaker 2: And even as a black woman, I haven't even I'm 718 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 2: not even fully equipped to be honest. I'm from Connecticut 719 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 2: and I'm really real about that. I am the only 720 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 2: black woman teaching their colunter currently, so right now I'm 721 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,400 Speaker 2: the only person that can really teach it. But I 722 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 2: want to bring more people on. 723 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: That's fair. You're doing the role to get people in 724 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 1: the door of like, hey, listen, Like I'm black and 725 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 1: I want to teach this, but you want to bring 726 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: in people. 727 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 2: There's more people authentic than me. There's so many. 728 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 1: City of the teacher at the CIA is going to 729 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: be more important it is anything. 730 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm black, yes, but I'm not African. I've 731 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 2: been Africa twice. Going Africa twice doesn't mean anything. You know, 732 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 2: you could spend your whole life like Nigeria. I could 733 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 2: teach his whole concentration in fifteen weeks just on Nigeria. 734 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 2: I'm black, and I'm honored to do it, and I've 735 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 2: written it, But I do feel like there's other candidates looks, 736 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 2: and we're hiring. That's what I'm trying to say. We 737 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:00,759 Speaker 2: are hiring at the Colias with America. Brian Ford, if 738 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:04,359 Speaker 2: please come back, let us know. We need Afro Caribbean, 739 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 2: Afro Latino, West African, North Africa doesn't matter. We need 740 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:09,839 Speaker 2: that in the baking and pastry department too. 741 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,479 Speaker 1: I'm coming. I can only imagine how white the bread 742 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 1: and pastry program is. It's probably the whitest thing at 743 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 1: the CIA. 744 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 2: It is so we don't even they don't even know. 745 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 2: You will be teaching people that have been cooking and 746 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,400 Speaker 2: baking for twenty something years. You're going to be teaching. 747 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 2: I'm teaching people about this cuisine that I've been teaching 748 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 2: since I've been born, right, and it. 749 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 1: Must be an interesting dynamic to feel that, right, Stay Flaky, 750 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:56,359 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. Welcome back to Flaky Biscuit. Let 751 00:36:56,440 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 1: me tell y'all something right now, let's go. Chef is 752 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 1: the most confident, intelligent. The energy I'm feeling is just different. 753 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. You're bringing a different energy to me. I 754 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: feel like I'm learning from you, and I am honored 755 00:37:14,719 --> 00:37:16,960 Speaker 1: that you're here, not the other way around. Thank you 756 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: for coming on, Flakey Biscuit. We are not done. There's 757 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: a couple more things to go over here at Flaky Biscuit. 758 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,880 Speaker 1: We like to play a fun little trivia game. You know, 759 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 1: it's no pressure, you know what I'm saying. There's a 760 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 1: couple of questions. I canna ask you some questions, all right? 761 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: You ready? 762 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 2: Yes? 763 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: In which popular Jamaican dish is the plant or fruit 764 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: the main ingredient? I'm gonna give you some give you options. 765 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 1: Don't worry. It's not like if it was a blank 766 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 1: that would be so. Is it corn mill porridge? Is it? 767 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: I'm selfish? 768 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,800 Speaker 2: I was gonna say that before you answer, that's. 769 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 1: I'm not know you. You have exposed me, so I'm 770 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,440 Speaker 1: not extremely familiar with this dish. Talk to me about it. 771 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:14,320 Speaker 2: It's I mean, you were talking about allow soft fish. 772 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,360 Speaker 1: Icon, which was the way of preserving things and everything, and. 773 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 2: Aki is a Caribbean fruit and it's just sweet. It 774 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 2: gives you that sweetness and then that salty. I guess 775 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,799 Speaker 2: with Mammy flavor profile you would. But it's I don't 776 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,400 Speaker 2: know if it's Jamaica's national dish. Don't quote me, but 777 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 2: I think it is. Can we google that real quick? 778 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 1: Let's google Bridgie. 779 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,440 Speaker 2: Can't google that? And I think you have to eat 780 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:36,479 Speaker 2: aki in a certain season. 781 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:36,719 Speaker 1: It is. 782 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 2: I think you have to eat aki in a certain 783 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 2: season or a certain way because I think all of 784 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 2: it's not edible or there's something something's poisonous in it. 785 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,480 Speaker 2: So there, it's not just the way it's probassing. 786 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 1: You guys got that like cyanide. 787 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's Jamaica's national dish, and wow, I. 788 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:03,200 Speaker 1: Feel like we should just end the game. We got 789 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 1: one that maybe you ain't gonna know because it's more 790 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 1: of like a weird fact what food holds the world 791 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: record for being the most stolen around the globe. And 792 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:19,759 Speaker 1: there's no options. You just have to pick because you 793 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 1: which food. 794 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 2: Is the most stolen throughout the world the world? Which food? 795 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:29,720 Speaker 2: Which food? 796 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:33,560 Speaker 1: Yeah? I think staples. 797 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,400 Speaker 2: Mm hmm. That's a hard one. Well, can you tell 798 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:38,800 Speaker 2: me is it? 799 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 1: Is it a spice it? I'll give you three options. 800 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:48,759 Speaker 1: Is it rice? Is it cheese? Or is it tomatoes. 801 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:52,799 Speaker 2: I'm gonna go with cheese. You are right, you are 802 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 2: man cheese? Is lyfe cheese? I haven't, But if it's 803 00:39:57,920 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 2: parmesan reggiano, I might. 804 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:11,879 Speaker 1: Speaking of geez here with chefro no surprise. And next question, 805 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 1: if you have magerio mageero co phobia. 806 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:20,920 Speaker 2: How you spell it m A g e I r 807 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:25,120 Speaker 2: o c o okay phobia? 808 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:34,000 Speaker 1: Magaro coo phobia? What are you afraid of? Is it ants? 809 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:38,600 Speaker 1: Is it walking? Is it cooking? 810 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 2: Or is it magnets mcghero coco. 811 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 1: Let's do this thing where it Google tells us how 812 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:52,839 Speaker 1: to pronounce something madeiro caphobia? 813 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:53,919 Speaker 2: And now what is it again? 814 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:58,600 Speaker 1: Ants? Walking, cooking or are you afraid of magnets? 815 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:04,680 Speaker 2: I don't know, I mean is it cooking? Because we're 816 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:08,719 Speaker 2: on a cooking show. I'm like, are people scared to cook? 817 00:41:09,560 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 1: That's a thing I suppose, but I think I got that. 818 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:13,239 Speaker 2: I might have it. 819 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:15,480 Speaker 1: You might have that. Yeah, but you just told me 820 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 1: to come up and you're cook for me. 821 00:41:17,719 --> 00:41:20,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I might be a little scared. You don't 822 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:21,879 Speaker 2: get scared, ween cook for people. 823 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:24,080 Speaker 1: I didn't get scared to serve you dry corn. Back 824 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:30,080 Speaker 1: the last part of Flakey Biscuit podcast. Talk to me 825 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: about the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and what that 826 00:41:34,040 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 1: means to you and what's in the pipeline with regards 827 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:36,759 Speaker 1: to it. 828 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:40,400 Speaker 2: So the NRAF is basically we all know the National 829 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:43,279 Speaker 2: Restaurant Association. They're the not for profit sector of that. 830 00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 2: So we just kind of go around and raise money 831 00:41:46,239 --> 00:41:48,560 Speaker 2: for scholarships because as an instructor, I see a lot 832 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:51,239 Speaker 2: of my students drop out, especially my students of color, 833 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 2: drop out because they can't afford school. So you know, 834 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 2: hopefully I'm going to be working with them to have 835 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:59,479 Speaker 2: my own scholarship and partnership with another brand or whatever, 836 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:01,640 Speaker 2: just to give back to the community. And I think 837 00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:05,360 Speaker 2: I'll be able to build the criteria. If you're a woman, 838 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,360 Speaker 2: if you're a person of color, if you're a veteran. 839 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,200 Speaker 2: I don't know. I think I'll be able to work 840 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:13,960 Speaker 2: with the NRAF to have some guidelines that we put 841 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:16,799 Speaker 2: in place to give scholarships. Back Brian, we were at 842 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:20,200 Speaker 2: the family reunion and destined right the kid who just 843 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 2: showed up. I've been in contact with him. So he's 844 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:26,560 Speaker 2: somebody who is passionate about cooking but can't afford it. 845 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:29,200 Speaker 2: So what do we do to help people get money 846 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:31,040 Speaker 2: to go to these colorment Whether it's Johnson Wells, whether 847 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:33,400 Speaker 2: it's Ice, It doesn't matter if school costs money. I 848 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:35,120 Speaker 2: had to join the army just to go to school. 849 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 2: I had to use a GI bill. Nobody should have 850 00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:39,320 Speaker 2: to join the military to go get an education. So 851 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:41,200 Speaker 2: they're close to my heart. I'm doing events with them, 852 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,600 Speaker 2: I'm doing pop ups with them, all to sponsor and 853 00:42:43,680 --> 00:42:44,880 Speaker 2: raise money for education. 854 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,040 Speaker 1: Wow, and how can we help? Is there a way 855 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:48,879 Speaker 1: to volunteer as well? 856 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:50,840 Speaker 2: And there's always a way to volunteer, there's always a 857 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:54,920 Speaker 2: way to donate. NRAF has a website and anything that 858 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:57,399 Speaker 2: I'm doing or with other chefs, just pop up and eat. 859 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:01,200 Speaker 2: If you buy a ticket, those proceeds go to somebody's education. 860 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:05,200 Speaker 1: Amazing chef Ro. One of the biggest inspirations that I 861 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:08,560 Speaker 1: have in the game right now is you, and I 862 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:12,560 Speaker 1: really encourage all the listeners of Flaky Biscuit to follow Chefro, 863 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:15,080 Speaker 1: not just on social media as we discuss, but in life, 864 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 1: pull up to the events, find ways to support and 865 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:19,440 Speaker 1: help make these changes. 866 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:23,360 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming to Thank you a pleasure. 867 00:43:24,120 --> 00:43:24,919 Speaker 2: Until next time. 868 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 1: All right, thank y'all so much for tuning in today. 869 00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:40,680 Speaker 1: Find the recipe for the pernil and that cornbread on 870 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:43,279 Speaker 1: Shondaland dot com. I want to know how it goes. 871 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: Make sure you tag me artists in Brian and of 872 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 1: course the magnificent chef ro at Chefro one two three, 873 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:52,240 Speaker 1: post your photos let us know how you did. Remember, 874 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:55,759 Speaker 1: Chefro is a real deal chef. Don't play around when 875 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:58,279 Speaker 1: you make this recipe. Make sure your cornbread don't come 876 00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 1: out dry like mindded it was an act. You can 877 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:06,880 Speaker 1: support the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation at Choose Restaurants 878 00:44:06,920 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 1: dot org. All of these handles and links that I've 879 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:13,960 Speaker 1: mentioned are in the show notes for this episode. If 880 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,880 Speaker 1: you like Flaky Biscuit, leave us at Shiny five star review. 881 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:20,439 Speaker 1: You already know, make sure you subscribe, you like, you share, 882 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:25,120 Speaker 1: Thank y'all for to support. Blakey Biscuit is executive produced 883 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: by Sandy Bailey, alex Alja, Lauren Homan, Tyler Klang, and 884 00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:33,759 Speaker 1: Gabrielle Collins. Our creative producer is Bridget Kenna and our 885 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:37,000 Speaker 1: editor and producer is Nicholas Harder, with music by Crucial. 886 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:40,040 Speaker 1: Recipes from Flaky Biscuit can be found each week on 887 00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:43,920 Speaker 1: Shondaland dot com. Subscribe to the Shondaland YouTube channel for 888 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 1: more Flaky Biscuit content. Flaky Biscuit is a production of 889 00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:53,680 Speaker 1: Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from 890 00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 1: Shondaland Audio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 891 00:44:58,719 --> 00:44:59,879 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.