Dear Food

World traveler, biscuit connoisseur, and soul food aficionado Lem Gonsalves joins the show this week! Lem makes us drool over his favorite soul food dishes, and tells us the best spot to get fried chicken in the United States. We talk about the BLM Movement, and how Lem is using his voice in Hollywood to speak out against social injustice. We get some inside scoop on the drama that unfolded on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’, and we dish a little about our time together at Maria Menounos’s network, Afterbuzz TV.

What’s in this episode:

• Lem and Ashley’s shared Hosting background
• How Lem is involved in the BLM movement
• Lem’s take on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’ drama
• The first food Lem remembers tasting? His Mom’s biscuits.
• Lem’s family dynamic; his mom was the cook
• The true roots of soul food
• Lem’s favorite soul food dishes
• What exactly ARE chitlins?
• Hot water cornbread versus regular cornbread
• The best fried chicken Lem’s ever had. Gus’s fried chicken in Chicago
• The holy trinity of fried chicken
• White girls’ PR campaign for quinoa
• Lem’s mom has some interesting eating habits
• A special ‘Love, Listeners’ call: a story about carbonara
• What Lem’s up to now and where you can find him
• Lem’s Dream Dinner is sushi in Japan with Chef Jiro

About Lem:
Lem “Saint” Gonsalves first began his poetic journey reciting poems at his father’s church. Since then, he has performed internationally and produced CD’s and documentary films.

He uses humor and passion to inspire and entertain his audiences. In addition to performing spoken word poetry, he is also an accomplished host working with television networks like VH1, FOX, MTV and online network Afterbuzz TV. He has opened for artists like Kirk Franklin, Lupe Fiasco and Common! He was also selected to be on Seasons 3&5 of the NAACP Image Award nominated show, “Verses and Flow”.

Lem was one of the first ever podcast hosts for the television show “Love and Hip Hop” which is VH1’s most popular show. Lem can also officiate your wedding! He’s an ordained minister who has traveled domestically and internationally, conducting personalized wedding ceremonies. He has recently begun an acting career and has starred in commercials for Apple and Bosch. He has studied improvisational comedy and performed on the Upright Citizen Brigade’s stage in Hollywood.

Connect with Lem:
Lem's Website | Lem's Instagram | Email Lem

Quotes from This Episode:
“I’m a connoisseur of biscuits.” - Lem

“We would hate it when Dad cooked. It was just like, ugh, dad’s cooking again.” - Lem

“You have to have the right consistency of the crispy skin, versus the juicy inside. So there has to be a good marriage. And then bonus points on flavor. It sucks to have people who fry chicken and don’t season it. That’s the cardinal sin.” -Lem

Share YOUR food stories!

I want to hear your stories! Tell us about the foods that have affected your life, the first time you remember tasting food, any questions you have for me - I’d be SO happy to connect with you.

Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to [email protected].

Spread the love!

Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe, drop a 5-star rating and don’t forget to share it with a friend who adores food as much as you do!

Welcome to Dear Food, I am your host Ashley Chaney. I LOVE food. I love to make food, I love to eat food, I love to talk about making food. I believe that food has the power to transport us to different places around the world and different moments in our lives through memories.

In this episode, I was joined by none other than the renowned TV Host and Food Writer, Eleonora Baldwin. Eleonora is the co-owner of Casa Mia Tours and a culinary connoisseur. She and I talk about Italian cuisine including her first carbonara experience, a few of her favorite Italian dishes and her rituals around food!

What’s in this episode:

• How she’s been doing during the pandemic
• Why Eleonora finds comfort in rituals
• Eleonora’s background and childhood experience
• The first food she ever remembers tasting
• What Italian cuisine means to Eleonora
• Her signature dishes to make
• What her first carbonara experience was
• The ritual around sourcing, cooking and eating meals with her family
• Her virtual cooking classes and experiences
• What’s for dinner tonight in Eleonora’s household

About Eleonora:
American-born and Italian-raised Eleonora is a TV celebrity, bilingual journalist, and culinary connoisseur.

After a successful career in graphic design and motion picture, Eleonora’s attention transitioned to journalism and blogging with a strong focus on her great passion: slow travel and the culinary culture of Italy.

Constantly on the lookout for tantalizing food in Italy and beyond, her reporting appears regularly in several online and print food & travel columns. Her topics range from the Italian lifestyle to culinary customs and traditional recipes.

She is the creator of popular food, travel and lifestyle blog Aglio Olio e Peperoncino, which has subscribers in over 100 countries.

She is the Host and Creator of prime-time TV hits “ABCheese”, “Uazz’America” and "A Tavola con Mamma" broadcast by SKY TV for Gambero Rosso Channel, Italy's number one food network.

Connect with Eleonora:
Website | Casa Mia Tours' Instagram | Personal Instagram | Email

Links:
Carbonara Recipe
Amatriciana Recipe

Quotes from this episode:

“Food is love and it’s also therapy.” - Eleonora

“Every little moment that’s tied to food or nourishment is so much more than just nourishing the body and the stomach. It’s nourishing everything else.” - Eleonora

“Italian food is not just food. It’s eating, sitting down with the family, with friends or loved ones or by yourself and making that moment the most important moment of the day.” Eleonora

Share YOUR food stories!

I want to hear your stories! Tell us about the foods that have affected your life, the first time you remember tasting food, any questions you have for me - I’d be SO happy to connect with you.

Call in to leave us a voicemail at 626-709-6551 or send your messages to [email protected].

Spread the love!

Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe, drop a 5-star rating and don’t forget to share it with a friend who adores food as much as you do!

Do you love food? Like really, really love food? Food strikes a chord with just about everyone and has the power to bring us together. Ashley Chaney and her guests are taking it one step further and digging into the foods that have shaped their lives, and how theirfavorite foods make them feel.

Warning: this show will make you hungry! Subscribe for free now and never miss an episode!