Alpana Singh is the owner of Terra & Vine, the host of “Check, Please!” and is a master sommelier. At the time she earned that title, she was the youngest woman ever to achieve it and is still the only South Asian to claim it. In this episode, we discuss what it was like working at Everest at 23 years old, coming up in the wine world as a person of color and how that population is still under represented in wine. Singh shares her thoughts about reopening restaurants in the wake of COVID-19, shifting part of her restaurant to open a retail wine shop and how humor plays a big role in her approach to wine.

Overserved

Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier and host of "Check, Please!"

Cliff Rome is a longtime chef and powerhouse in Chicago’s restaurant industry and owner of five food and events businesses in Bronzeville, including Peach’s Restaurant. On this episode, Rome shares his history being one of a few Black chefs in the room and the infectious power of intentional community reinvestment. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent nationwide protests against police brutality that have exposed deep-rooted system abuse and racism in hospitality, Rome joins Ari, Maggie and Ernest to wade deep into the issues of justice, responsibility, cancel culture and empathy. Buckle up and get ready. This is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Cliff Rome, owner of Peach’s Restaurant

Recession-proof as coffee may seem, this massive industry hasn't escaped the effects of COVID-19. In this illuminating, energetic (thanks to its highly caffeinated participants) episode, Ari and Maggie talk with Tony Dreyfuss, owner of Metropolis Coffee Co., on how the pandemic has forced his independent roastery to adapt, its enduring impact on coffee growers and cafe culture, and how Dreyfuss continues to challenge the notion of what "great" coffee is after 20 years in the business.

Tony Dreyfuss, owner of Metropolis Coffee Company

As Chicago's dine-in ban approaches two months, it was high time Overserved unpacked what the bar industry is up against. Enter Julia Momose, partner and creative director at Kumiko and Kikko and bartendress extraordinaire who also launched Cocktails for Hope, an initiative advocating for the sale of pre-mixed, sealed cocktails to-go, which are currently illegal in the state of Illinois. In this illuminating episode, we learn about Momose's tireless efforts to make cocktails to go a reality (and thus bring back jobs to the struggling bar industry), how she recreates the luxury of Kumiko in miniature through her to-go storefront, and the beguiling song that plays in her head whenever she mixes one of her impeccable cocktails.

Julia Momose, partner and creative director at Kumiko and Kikko

Since the statewide order for restaurants to shutter in-room dining to the public due to the COVID-19 crisis, Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark haven’t stopped working to feed their customers. The married James Beard Award-winning owners of Michelin-starred restaurant Parachute and the highly acclaimed newcomer Wherewithall, both in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood, shifted their business focus to carry out and delivery while still taking care of and home-schooling three young children. We spoke with the talented couple over Zoom about staying afloat financially and mentally in uncertain times, using Kickstarter to self-publish a mini-sized cookbook, how they eventually plan to re-open to the public — and why “Young Frankenstein” is the classic movie we all need to revisit for much-needed laughs.

Beverly Kim & Johnny Clark, co-owners of Parachute and Wherewithall

It’s been just over a month since Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statewide ban on dine-in restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19–all but decimating Chicago’s thriving dining industry. To help make sense of a harrowing few weeks for independent restaurants in particular, we chatted on Zoom with Erling Wu-Bower, executive chef and co-owner of Pacific Standard Time and The Laurel Room. This important episode covers what it looks like when a dine-in restaurant pivots to carryout, whether the federal government’s response will be enough to save independent eateries, and what listeners can do to help their fave spots (buy merch!). We’ll also hear about what this longtime chef is cooking at home during these trying times (hint: plenty of chicken).

Erling Wu-Bower, executive chef and co-owner of Pacific Standard Time and The Laurel Room

Because we are all in desperate need of a little comfort and love, in the Season 2 premiere we sat down with Chicago’s OG queen of culinary cannabis and perfectly burnished pastries: Mindy Segal. The James Beard Award-winning owner of Bucktown stalwart Hot Chocolate and innovative mind behind Mindy’s Artisanal Edibles shares her journey into cooking and baking, her dancing alter ego and how to make proper cannabutter—for all those of us holed up and in need of weekend projects. And note, we recorded this just before the growing coronavirus pandemic required us to become shut-ins.

Mindy. F***ing. Segal.

It's the final episode of Season 1 so we called in the big guns: Ina Pinkney, the legendary restauranteur known as "The Breakfast Queen" who served Chicago the most important meal of the day for 30+ years from her spots in Lincoln Park and the West Loop. Learn how she got her start, her battle with polio as a young child, how obsessing over the details helped her stand out (33:00), her brief foray into local politics and civic engagement (47:03), how she helped get the citywide smoking ban passed (52:00), fun stories from her life like dancing with Fred Astaire (1:00:35) and her advice for restauranteurs (01:05:00, seriously though listen to this if you own a restaurant or plan to one day). Thank you all for listening to Season 1!

Ina Pinkney, The Breakfast Queen of Chicago

Earlier this fall, Ari and Maggie spent some time at Washburne Culinary Institute, one of the oldest culinary schools in the country. In this special episode, they talk with Associate Dean Greg Beachey and current student Jose Cruz about the venerable culinary school's history and how it provides opportunity for members of marginalized communities to become chefs.

Back To (Culinary) School

Ari & Maggie are joined by Jenni Wagoner, the superstar somm extraordinaire behind the wonderful wine lists at Chicago's Proxi and Sepia. Learn about her history as a singer(!!!), making wine more accessible to all, and offers tips on how to navigate a wine list if you're a beginner.

Jenni Wagoner, Sommelier for Proxi and Sepia

This might be the funniest episode we've ever done. Chef Brian Jupiter of Chicago's Frontier and Ina Mae's Tavern stops by to discuss his upbringing, the gang goes in-depth on mayonnaise (7:00), and Chef Jupiter shares the secret to A++++ gumbo (24:08)

Brian Jupiter, chef/owner of Frontier/Ina Mae's Tavern

MICHELIN MADNESS kicks off this episode with Ari and Maggie recapping the 2020 Chicago honorees (2:00) before diving into a chat with Paul Kahan (10:20), the Chicago hospitality legend behind Blackbird, avec, The Publican, Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, Nico Osteria (and many more) and the author of the new cookbook Cooking for Good Times: Super Delicious, Super Simple. This one is a must-listen!!!

Partner/Executive Chef Paul Kahan of One Off Hospitality

Ari & Maggie sit down with Geoff Watts, a man who knows more about coffee than most people know about anything. Hear about his travels and experiences searching for the best coffee in the world, the culture of coffee in other countries and learn once and for all what "direct trade" actually means!

Geoff Watts, VP of Coffee for Intelligentsia

Looking back at some of our favorite openings of the past year, and those we can't wait to try before we close out 2019...also, Maggie's in the Hot Seat this week!

2019 Dining in Review … and Preview?

This week's episode is a deep dive into the world of tea. Rodrick Markus might know more about the subject than anyone else alive today and he joins Ari and Maggie to talk about his history, the business of tea in the hospitality world and suggestions for tea drinkers whose experience begins and ends with Lipton or Sleepytime.

Rodrick Markus, Master Tea Blender and owner of Rare Tea Cellar

Overserved is a podcast about the stories behind the stories of people involved in the culinary world. Hosted by Ari Bendersky & Maggie Hennessy, the show spotlights the reality behind food and drink culture.

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Overserved

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