Ann Delisi's Essential Cooking

Food & Cooking Podcasts

How to sharpen your knives, what drinks to serve, where your seafood comes from – WDET's Ann Delisi and James Beard-nominated Chef James Rigato are here to empower you in the kitchen and have some fun along the way. Through interviews with chefs and industry experts, Essential Cooking is a key ingredient in your culinary journey.

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Location:

Detroit, MI

Description:

How to sharpen your knives, what drinks to serve, where your seafood comes from – WDET's Ann Delisi and James Beard-nominated Chef James Rigato are here to empower you in the kitchen and have some fun along the way. Through interviews with chefs and industry experts, Essential Cooking is a key ingredient in your culinary journey.

Language:

English

Episodes

Planting a Food Forest with Samantha Stanisz

12/14/2022
You can replace your lawn with a food forest. Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato talk with Samantha Stanisz about the food forest she planted. They talk about the benefits of replacing your lawn with food and how to prepare for next year's growing season in the winter.

Duration:00:26:24

How to Prepare a Vegan-friendly Thanksgiving

11/22/2022
Chef James Rigato talks with Ann Delisi about some of his favorite vegan dishes to prepare for Thanksgiving.

Duration:00:15:30

CuriosiD: Who Made Detroit-style Pizza First?

11/17/2022
What are the origins of Detroit-style pizza? Who is your favorite? Listen to this episode from the CuriosiD podcast to find out. Have a question about the Detroit region or the people who live here? Anything you’ve always wondered about, found strange or downright confusing? You ask the questions and WDET helps you find answers.

Duration:00:16:40

Chef Javier Bardauil on bringing a wood-fired Argentinian culinary experience to Detroit and learning from Francis Mallmann

11/9/2022
Chef Javier Bardauil joins Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato to talk about his Core City restaurant Barda, which is known for its wood-fired cooking and Argentinian menu. He also talks about learning from world-renowned chef Francis Mallmann, and about his journey to Detroit.

Duration:00:29:05

What's Wrong With Food Media, with Chef Andrew Carmellini

10/27/2022
Chef Andrew Carmellini, a two-time James Beard Foundation awardee talks with Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato about how the rise in media attention surrounding Chefs has changed the industry, and how the work has changed in his thirty years in the industry. (Note: this episode contains explicit language.)

Duration:00:58:15

Accessing Michigan’s Agricultural Diversity With Abby Olitzky

9/29/2022
Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato talk with Abby Olitzky, operator of Spencer, a wine shop and restaurant in Ann Arbor. discussing engaging with the farming communities in Michigan, sourcing fresh produce year-round and more.

Duration:00:33:20

Chef Phil Jones on Doing Good with Good Food

9/16/2022
Detroit Chef Phil Jones joins Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato to talk about what drives him to provide Detroiters with affordable, locally-sourced, plant-based foods. Jones is a member of Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good, and the co-creator of Farmacy Foods.

Duration:00:28:48

James Travels to Tokyo

9/1/2022
Chef James Rigato tells Ann Delisi all about his recent trip to Japan, and why the timeless and futuristic food culture there left him feeling inspired.

Duration:00:16:13

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow on the Restaurant Industry and Pandemic Shutdowns

8/17/2022
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow joins Ann Delisi and James Rigato to talk about how COVID-19 forced the state government and restaurant industry to work together. Plus, how the health of the Great Lakes region’s lakes and rivers affect food producers and restaurants.

Duration:00:33:35

Third Culture is a Creative Superpower for Jon Kung

5/26/2022
Jon Kung, a Detroit chef, has exploded in popularity with his TikTok cooking lessons. Kung joins Ann Delisi to talk about third culture food and the success he’s found in recent years. You can follow him on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @chefjonkung.

Duration:00:23:38

Inside Culinary Tours in Mexico City with Anais Martinez, aka The Curious Mexican

5/4/2022
Food writer and tour guide Anais Martinez talks about the culinary gems that travelers can look forward to when visiting Mexico City, which she also writes about in her blog, The Curious Mexican (thecuriousmexican.com).

Duration:00:20:35

The Most Demanding Culinary Job in Detroit with Master Chef Shawn Loving

4/21/2022
Master Chef Shawn Loving is the executive chef at one of the most prestigious, and demanding, kitchens in Detroit — The Detroit Athletic Club. In this episode, Chef Loving talks with Ann and James about how he came to be one of only 72 Master Chefs in the U.S., cooking for thousands of guests at a time, and how LeBron James got him cooking for USA Basketball at the Olympic Games.

Duration:00:39:44

Traditional Japanese Cuisine with Ken Nagao of Sharaku

4/6/2022
Ann and James talk with Ken Nagao, the managing partner at Sharaku, an acclaimed Japanese restaurant in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Sharaku is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, thanks to its commitment to serving traditional Japanese cuisine.

Duration:00:40:15

James Goes to Baja

3/23/2022
Chef James Rigato reports back from his trip to the Valle de Guadalupe in the Baja Peninsula. He talks about regional differences in tacos, and how he approaches a food trip.

Duration:00:23:24

Not All Detroit Pizza is Square

3/9/2022
Val Markel of Val’s Pizza joins Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato to talk about the national popularity of Detroit-style pizza, and how she sets herself apart in Detroit. Despite starting a pizzeria in Detroit, which is already home to longstanding mainstays like Buddy’s, Cloverleaf and Loui’s, Markel has found her niche by embracing the traditions of Neapolitan pizza.

Duration:00:33:18

Fine Wine and Fresh Seafood with Antoine Przekop

2/23/2022
Antoine Przekop is a sommelier who has worked in the food and wine business for a long time. He's recently taken on a new role as sales director for Motor City Seafood. Antoine joins Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato to talk wine and sourcing fresh seafood.

Duration:00:38:50

Food Trucks and Supply Chain Headaches with Brennan Calnin

2/9/2022
Brennan Calnin of Satellite Food Truck joins Ann Delisi and James Rigato to talk about supply chain headaches, the rising popularity of vegan food, and the pros and cons of owning a food truck.

Duration:00:23:42

Supporting Food Workers in Detroit with Desiré Vincent Levy

7/30/2021
Desiré Vincent Levy talks about supporting food workers in Detroit during the pandemic and facilitating training and job placements with her company, Detroit Kitchen Terminal.

Duration:00:19:04

Hyperlocal Produce Delivery in Detroit with Dazmonique Carr

7/16/2021
Dazmonique Carr of Deeply Rooted Produce joins Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato to talk about delivering locally-grown produce to Detroiters.

Duration:00:15:35

Michigan Winemaking and Climate Change with Sean O’Keefe of Mari Vineyards

7/2/2021
Sean O’Keefe of Mari Vineyards talks about what makes Michigan-made wine so unique, and how climate change is affecting the delicate environmental balance necessary for growing grapes in Michigan.

Duration:00:28:21

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