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No sooner had Russia invaded Ukraine under false pretenses of exterminating Nazis, World Central Kitchen was there. They set up a kitchen inside a warehouse in Przemysl, Poland and set about feeding the refugees from Ukraine. In mid-March I spent ten days there and on May 1st I returned for a second tour, and this time I recorded short interviews with my fellow volunteers. I hope this compels you to consider volunteering with WCK and if you have any questions about this please feel free to reach out to me. 

You've read her essays on Greenville's food and beverage scene in Town Magazine, Spirit which is the magazine of Southwest Airlines, Tempus Magazine, 10Best.com, and USA Today. Prior to that Linda was the executive editor of Michelin's Red Guide of the US. Chefs across the country trembled at the prospect of being included in the Red Guide and it takes a battery of perfectionists to even attempt to achieve three stars. Listen in as Linda talks about meeting Chef Eric Ripert, lunch at Per Se, and a week joining a Michelin inspector team for lunch and dinner.

He's done an internship at The French Laundry, cooked at Greenville's favorite modern restaurant, Devereaux's, and is a graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary. He also spent time as a GM of Chuck E. Cheese and those experiences taught him the secret of preparing for success. Listen in as Chef Brian and host John Malik talk about the many joys of cooking in the eldercare space. 

How would you like to get your product in front of the ears of a great Greenville, SC audience? One that’s interested in our chef driven restaurant scene, local coffee roasters, organic farmers, craft breweries, local writers, and all the wonderful people that make these places rock and roll. 

At the Greenville downtown market,  Nathan Vanette is the best dressed guy on Main Street. He has an affinity for vintage clothing and his vegetables are equally as well dressed. He's one of the folks that make Greenville a wonderful place to live and he's got big plans for the future of farming in the Upstate. Tune in and hear his story then find him at his farm in the west village or join his CSA.

In a short time, Jason Janson has created a respected mobile seafood market that Greenville loves. He's a native of Charleston and a fan of fresh seafood. You'll be surprised to learn he does not have a background in hospitality. Tune in to learn more about Jason's love of shrimp and where to find his market. 

I've been friends with Tony Keely for 20+ years and we've learned a great deal from one another. This is an interview we taped before the whole CV19 mess started and I had to edit out a few references to events that were in the past and now irrelevant. Also I have an essay I wrote while part of the Kairos Prison Ministry and it's a Christmas letter to my departed father. With that in mind, enjoy. 

Where have I been? Funny you should ask. Belize, Central America. When you're ready to catch up on all our news, tune in to our first show in a year. 

My Dad used to tell me, only James Bond gets to save the world, YOU can save a small piece of it. And that's why I went to Lake Charles, to help save a small piece of the world ravaged by Hurricane Laura. Operation BBQ Relief is a charity whose mission is to provide a hot meal and a warm smile to those affected by natural disasters. I worked with them the week after Laura had came ashore and on my final day I took out my phone and recorded some interviews with the folks I was working with. And if you'd like to donate, or volunteer, just find their website at operation bbq relief dot org.

Braised Beef Short Rib sandwich with A1 aioli, melted Havarti cheese and real au jus. This might be my favorite sandwich in Greenville and it's not something I'd eat every day, rather it's a treat, something after a workout or a long ride. And it's the specialty of Woodside Bistro, a small, authentic diner in our Sans Souci neighborhood. Chef Ken Frazier is my guest on this episode of the show and we'll talk about that sandwich and the challenges of keeping the lights on during the mess that is 2020. Enjoy.

He's a native of Brazil, a fan of the farmlands of Colombia, owner of one of Greenville's most iconic coffee roasters, and about to be my neighbor. He's Ricardo Pereira and he's got some amazing coffee knowledge to share with our listeners. And when you're ready for an amazing cup of coffee, stop in at Due South Coffee in Hampton Station. 

Is okra the greatest vegetable ever or a quirky, slimy mess only meant for the fryer of a diner? Author Chris Smith joins John Malik and they discuss the good, bad, and the ugly of okra and his new (James Beard Award Winner!) book, The Whole Okra. Have a listen then light the grill and get ready to cook some okra. 

For many thousands of years, bread was made by combining a wild yeast starter with a combination of flours, salt, and water. After World War Two, automation and commercialization took over the bread industry and the old ways were soon practiced only by a few bakers and aritsans. Sourdough bread is now in a resurgence and Greenville's newest sourdough bakery is the garage of Julian Loue at his Rise Bakery. Tune in and hear his story then get a loaf of his bread because it is wonderful.

Yeah it’s been a few months and you have my sincere apologies. The last episode of the show, the one I recorded right after our Euphoria Food & Wine festival, received well over a thousand plays and I was thrilled, terribly excited. Couldn’t wait to get the next one up.  Then after that my job got in the way. A chef's position is all consuming and...

Participating in a food and wine festival as a chef is quite demanding. There's high expectations and a sense of urgency as well our normal work routine to manage. The day after Greenville's four day food and wine festival, Euphoria, I invited Chefs Jacques Larson and Jeff Kelly, cheesemaker Christian Hansen of Blue Ridge Creamery, and food writer Ted Lee of the Lee Brothers into the studio to discuss Euphoria. 

Care to buy a forlorn farm and turn it into an actual working farm? Our next guests did just that when they bought Belle Oaks Farm in Piedmont. I've known Bryan for many years when he was the lead mechanic at Sunshine Cycle Shop here in Greenville and we recently reconnected. Bryan and his wife Jenny have a great story and they're regulars at the Traveler's Rest Farmer's Market and they supply the eggs for the wonderful 'nuts from Fancy Fox doughnuts.

In the middle of the recession of 2008, Gina and Roberto went way outside of their comfort zone and started cooking at festivals across their recently adopted state of South Carolina. Without any background in food, much less the restaurant business, they built a following with their clever interpretations of Mission Style California/Mexican cuisine. Then came the food truck, then came their brick and mortar location on Wade Hampton Blvd. Her family is Japanese, he's Nicaraguan and they met in southern California while working in IT. While they may not have come through the ranks in the traditional manner, they've built a name for themselves with their gracious hospitality and wonderful food at ASADA. This is one of those personal statement restaurants that feels special. The art work is all Roberto's, their staff are all familiar and their work ethic is unwavering. Join me and my wife Amy as we sit down with Gina and Roberto. 

What were you doing in high school? Will Shurtz of Greenville's Methodical Coffee was already brewing, serving and pop uping his way to stardom in the coffee limelight. Then he was traveling across the southeast as the Vagabond Barista and he turned that into a thriving business that now reaches across the country. From the NY Times to the cover of Imbibe Magazine and Daily Coffee News, Will and partners Marco Suarez and David Baker are pushing Greenville's coffee culture forward. On a gorgeous early spring day, Will visited Tin Roof Farm, brewed a pot of coffee, and got a tour of the farm. He loved meeting all the chickens, turkeys, dogs, bees and was a great guest. Listen in as he discusses all things caffeinated. 

Is it a sensitivity or an allergy? So many diners insist they're sensitive to this, allergic to that. What's the difference and what does a chef need to know? Is it possible to be allergic to sea salt? Boiled but not roasted peanuts? Doughnuts?  Join Chef Malik as he sits down with Dr. Reid Johnstone, Allergist with Allergy Partners in Greenville, SC and discusses all the latest evidence on allergies and sensitivities. 

Although Stella's Brasserie is the sister restaurant to one of the best known Southern restaurants in the Upstate, they dabble in a variety of cuisines. Jeff Kelly, their executive chef, has a well rounded background that includes stints in Washington, DC, Charleston,SC andhis home of northern Virginia. He brings an exciting ethos to the Upstate and his high standards have made the Brasserie and worthy destination.