Episodes
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Show Notes:
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Subscribe for info on the Female Foodie Tuscany Tour
Fresh off a seven-week adventure hosting Female Foodie tours in Italy, Brooke shares seven invaluable lessons she learned from Italian food culture in this episode. From perfecting signature dishes to savoring slow meals, Brooke's observations offer a glimpse inside Italian cuisine and what makes it so spectacular. Whether you're a foodie, a home cook, or you simply love Italy, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical tips to bring a touch of Italy into your own kitchen.
Key Takeaways: Perfect Signature Dishes: Italians perfect their signature dishes by cooking them repeatedly, resulting in unparalleled quality and consistency. Implement this by focusing on a few key recipes and refining them over time. (03:02) Cook with Seasonal and Local Ingredients: Embrace the seasons and cook with what is regionally available, enhancing flavors and freshness. Visit local farmers' markets for inspiration and fresh produce. (07:08) Keep It Simple: Simplicity is key in Italian cuisine. Use high-quality ingredients and let them shine without overcomplicating dishes. Aim for fewer ingredients with better quality. (10:15) Moderation over Restriction: Italians enjoy their food without obsessive restrictions. Focus on balanced portions and enjoy a variety of dishes in moderation. (14:53) Include Children in Food Rituals: Italians cherish involving children in meals and cooking, fostering a love for food and family traditions. Encourage kids to help in the kitchen and make mealtime a shared experience. (21:18) Value Family Recipes: Preserve and pass down family recipes to maintain culinary heritage and create lasting memories. Spend time cooking with older family members to learn and document traditional dishes. (24:25) Savor Slow Meals: Italians take time to enjoy their meals, using food as a vehicle for connection and conversation. Make an effort to slow down and savor your meals, especially during family gatherings. (30:35) Notable Quotes: "Food is the vehicle for connection and discussion and intimacy." - Brooke (35:08)
Timestamped Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction and recap of Italy trip 01:33 - Announcing 2025 Female Foodie tours 03:02 - Lesson 1: Perfecting signature dishes 07:08 - Lesson 2: Cooking with seasonal and local ingredients 10:15 - Lesson 3: Keeping it simple 14:53 - Lesson 4: Moderation over restriction 21:18 - Lesson 5: Including children in food rituals 24:25 - Lesson 6: Valuing family recipes 30:35 - Lesson 7: Savoring slow meals Resources:
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Carmen is a passionate and talented garden and food enthusiast who has been sharing her love for homegrown cuisine with the world for almost a decade. She’s built an incredible following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube by sharing impressive dishes, cooking tips, and gardening advice. She is trusted for her practical tips and recommendations, and her readers are inspired by her innovative use of homegrown ingredients.
In this episode, Brooke interviews Carmen, discussing her journey from how she pivoted from a prospective law school student to a gardening sensation. Carmen shares her experiences, challenges, and tips for both new and experienced gardeners that make gardening approachable and fun.
Key Takeaways: Starting Small: Begin with manageable projects like potted herbs or a small raised bed. (07:33) Soil Health: Focus on composting to improve soil health for better plant growth. (16:16) Patience and Consistency: Gardening requires regular attention and patience. (32:12) Common Mistakes: Avoid overplanting, ensure consistent care, and manage watering appropriately. (32:54) Gardening Hacks: Use felt grow bags for potatoes and understand your USDA growing zone for better plant selection. (23:00, 37:01) Importance of Zone Knowledge: Understanding your USDA zone helps in selecting the right plants for your area. (37:01) Herbs and Leafy Greens: Herbs like oregano, thyme, and basil, as well as leafy greens like kale, are great for beginners and versatile in the kitchen. (38:54) Tomato Tips: Stake your tomatoes early, prune regularly, and harvest when they start to blush. (41:14) Enjoy the Process: Embrace the journey of gardening with its ups and downs; it's a hands-on learning experience. (44:12) Homegrown Satisfaction: Growing your own food provides a unique satisfaction and better taste. (11:01)
Notable Quotes:
"Gardening is really not as hard as people think it is. It's super fun, and you just have to start." - Carmen (44:22) "There's something truly satisfying about growing your own food and knowing where it comes from." - Brooke (10:19) "The first meal that I fully sourced from my own garden was the best feeling ever." - Carmen (45:49) "Embrace the journey— there's going to be ups and downs. There's going to be a lot of successes and some failures as well." - Carmen(44:22) "You just have to start. I think a lot of people trip themselves up being like picking the perfect thing or the perfect time or anything like that." - Carmen (44:22)
Resources: Sunset Western Garden Book
Follow Carmen in the Garden on TikTok
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Subscribe to Carmen in the Garden’s Substack Newsletter
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Timestamped Highlights: 00:31 - Introduction to Carmen in the Garden 02:27 - Carmen's childhood and early influences 04:44 - Transition from political science to gardening 07:33 - Tips for beginning gardeners 10:19 - The rise of homesteading and gardening trends 14:25 - Evolution of Carmen's garden 19:02 - Composting basics 21:18 - Raised bed gardening pros and cons 27:03 - Overview of Carmen's current garden setup 32:12 - Common gardening mistakes and how to avoid them 37:01 - Importance of understanding gardening zones 38:38 - Easy-to-grow plants for beginners 41:09 - Tips for growing tomatoes 44:12 - Final thoughts on gardening 45:49 - Carmen's favorite homegrown meal -
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Mckay is a mother, wife, and SLC native and has been an insect and bee enthusiast for over 16 years. She specializes in natural beekeeping and honey tastings and shares informative and captivating content with her rapidly growing audience of over 150,000 followers. Today on this episode of That Was Delicious, McKay and Brooke discuss beekeeping and honey in-depth, including everything you should know about how honey is made, shortcuts big businesses make when it comes to the production of honey, what to look for when purchasing honey, and so much more. Resources:
Get a honey tasting box for two Follow McKay on Instagram
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Levi DeGarmo is a Salt Lake City native and has been in the food and beverage industry for over 20 years. Today on the show we discuss the dramatic changes concerning tipping over the past few years (AKA tipping fatigue), including how to tip, when to tip, and more insightful conversation between two former co-workers.
Resources:
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Kacie Rose had always dreamed of coming to Italy, but when she finally took the plunge and visited for the first time on a solo trip in 2018, she had no idea that as she says, in true Lizzie McGuire fashion, she would meet the love of her life. Fast forward to 2024 and Kacie is now a full-blown content creator and Italy expert, sharing her wisdom and day-to-day life with over a million of her adoring fans online. Today in this episode of That Was Delicious, we discuss Kacie’s story of how she ended up living full-time in Italy, some of the culture shocks she had (and still has) living in Italy, tips for travelers coming to Tuscany, and her brand new book: You Deserve Good Gelato. Resources: Cascine Market (Tuesdays) Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio Vivoli La Sorbettiera Pino’s Sandwiches Trattoria Marione Osteria Cinghiale Bianco Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone Check out Kacie’s website, Kacie Rose Travel Get Kacie’s new book, You Deserve Good Gelato Follow Kacie on Instagram
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Julia Scarpaleggia is a Tuscan-born and bred food writer, cookbook author, podcaster, and cooking class instructor. She learned to cook from her grandmother and mother and lives in the countryside in her family house with her husband Tommaso, their beautiful daughter Livia, and two rescue dogs, Noa and Teo. Today on That Was Delicious, we discuss how JulsKitchen.com came to be, what it’s like being a food blogger in Italy, how she started cooking classes, Italian food culture, and so much more. Resources: Check out Giulia’s website, Juls’ Kitchen Get Giulia’s latest cookbook, Cucina Povera Follow Giulia on Instagram
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Natalie Kennedy is a Californian who has been living in Rome since 2010. Although she initially came to the Eternal City for graduate school to study Economics, she shortly after met her now Irish husband, and the rest is history. She regularly contributes to guidebooks, magazines, and her own social media and website, An American in Rome, sharing her love of la dolce vita between pizza slices and gelato breaks.
Today, on the show, we discussed why she decided to live in Rome, her favorite parts of being in the Eternal City, what it’s like to live in Rome with children, and things she wishes she could tell every tourist that decides to visit Italy.
Resources
Forno campo de fiori (http://www.fornocampodefiori.com/)
Antico forno Roscioli (https://www.anticofornoroscioli.it/)
Piatto Romano (https://piattoromano.superbexperience.com/)
Otaleg (https://www.otaleg.com/)
Gunther gelato (https://www.gunthergelatoitaliano.com/punti-vendita/gunther-gelato-italiano-via-dei-pettinari/)
Check out Natalie’s website, An American in Rome (https://anamericaninrome.com/)
Follow Natalie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/anamericaninrome/)
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Ruth is a New Yorker and dual Italian American citizen who has lived in Italy for 25+ years with her husband and two children. She is the co-founder and president of the nonprofit Save Vernazza, a founding member of the tourism board for Visit Vernazza, and the owner of Cinque Terre Vacation Rentals where she and her husband have lovingly converted two seafront apartments into stunning properties that guests from all over the world come to stay in. In this episode of That Was Delicious, Ruth and I discuss her serendipitous story of meeting her now husband in the Cinque Terre decades ago, transitioning her life from the US to Italy, and all things Cinque Terre. If you have dreams of visiting the Cinque Terre or have plans to go there soon, this episode is a must-listen! Resources Stay at one of Ruth’s properties in Italy: Cinque Terre Vacation Rentals Follow Ruth on Instagram Follow Female Foodie on Instagram 7 Best Cinque Terre Restaurants
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Gabriel Rucker is a chef, husband, father, and has lived in the Portland area for over 20 years. He is a two-time James Beard Award winner and is known nationwide and particularly in Portland for his restaurants Le Pigeon and Canard. On this episode of the chow, Chef Gabriel shares his story of becoming a chef, what the most pivotal steps were in growing his successful restaurants, and several relatable stories about his childhood, personal food preferences, and even his experience with being a completely sober chef.
Resources
40 Best Restaurants in Portland (https://www.femalefoodie.com/restaurant-reviews/portland-restaurants/)
Canard Funfetti Pancake Recipe (https://www.femalefoodie.com/recipes/canard-funfetti-pancakes-recipe/)
Canard Steam Burger Recipe (https://www.femalefoodie.com/recipes/canard-steam-burgers-recipe/)
Le Pigeon Website (https://www.lepigeon.com/)
Canard Website (https://www.canardrestaurant.com/)
Follow Gabriel Rucker. on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ruckergabriel/)
Follow Female Foodie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/femalefoodie/)
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Tom Douglas is a husband, father, grandfather, and one of the most beloved chefs not only in his home of the Pacific Northwest but across the entire country. He’s a multiple time James Beard Award winner, the owner of 10 businesses, and a four-time cookbook author. Today on That Was Delicious, we discuss some of the culinary highlights of Tom’s life including his family and home life growing up, how he became one of the best chefs in the country, and the stories behind two of our favorite Dahlia Bakery recipes— the triple coconut cream pie and the Nora Ephron cookies.
Resources
Tom Douglas & Co.
Triple Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Follow Tom Douglas and Co. on Instagram
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Headed to Austin soon? Today on That Was Delicious, Austin local Jillian Fox walks us through her curated three-day guide to some of the best restaurants in ATX, including three breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations (plus several incredible dessert recommendations) so you can sample some of the best that Austin has to offer.
Resources:
Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in Austin
All Female Foodie Austin Guides
30 Best Restaurants in Austin
Ovenbird
Best Breakfast & Brunch in Austin
Interstellar
Leroy and Lewis
Best Barbecue in Austin
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
Churro Co.
Best Dessert in Austin
Veracruz All Natural
La Santa Barbacha
Best Tacos in Austin
Carpenters Hall
Best South Austin Restaurants
Best Burgers in Austin
Evangeline Cafe
Bésame
Best Ice Cream in Austin
Bird Bird Biscuit
Best East Austin Restaurants
Launderette
Suerte
ThoroughBread
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Headed to Washington DC soon? Today on That Was Delicious, Ellen James walks us through her curated three-day guide to some of the best restaurants in The District, including three breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations (plus several incredible dessert recommendations) so you can sample some of the best that DC has to offer.
Resources:
Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in Washington DC
All Female Foodie Washington DC Restaurant Guides
Unconventional Diner
Best Brunch in DC
Good Stuff
Best Capitol Hill Restaurants in DC
Best Burgers in DC
We The Pizza
Best Pizza in DC
Georgetown Cupcake
Baked & Wired
Sprinkles
Levain Bakery
Filomena Ristorante
Best Italian Restaurants in DC
Best Bakeries in Washington DC
South Block
Surfside
Rasika
Thomas Sweet
Best Ice Cream in Washington DC
Market Lunch
Eastern Market DC
Capitol Hill Books
Sweetgreen
Un je ne sais Quoi
Le Diplomate
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Headed to New York City soon? Today on That Was Delicious, Jeremy Jacobowitz walks us through his curated three-day guide to some of the best restaurants in NYC, including three breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations so you can sample some of the best that the Big Apple has to offer.
Resources:
Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in NYC
Utopia Bagel
Katz’s Delicatessen
Emelia’s Ballato
Radio Bakery
Joe’s Pizza
Thai Diner
Edith’s
Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
Rule of Thirds
Follow Jeremy on Instagram
Follow Jeremy on TikTok
Follow Jeremy on YouTube
Follow Female Foodie on Instagram
Get Our Free Bucket List of 100 Best Restaurants in NYC
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Headed to Salt Lake City soon? This 72-hour guide to eating your way through SLC includes three breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert recommendations so you can sample some of the best that the Beehive State has to offer. What’s your favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City? We’d love to hear! Send us a DM on Instagram.
Resources:
Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in SLC
The 15 Best Restaurants in SLC
Roots Cafe
15 Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in SLC
Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana
Brick’s Corner
Nomad East
Podcast Episode with Michael Brooks & Brad Otton (Settebello)
La Casa Del Tamal
Podcast Episode With Frida Guerrero (La Casa Del Tamal)
RubySnap Fresh Cookies
Chip Cookies
Tulie Bakery
Olive Oil Cake With Brown Butter Buttercream Recipe
10 Best Bakeries in SLC
Feldman’s DeliTakashi
Hatch Family Chocolates
V Chocolates
Cummings Studio Chocolates
Garden Gate Toffee
Oquirrh
15 Best Burgers in SLC
Oquirrh Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Freshie’s Lobster Co.
Blueberry Pecan Salad (Inspired by Freshie’s)
Valter’s Osteria
Join the Female Foodie App
13 Best Upscale & Fine Dining Restaurants in SLC
Normal Ice Cream
Nielsen’s Frozen Custard
Blacksmith Ice Cream Co.
Rockwell Ice Cream
Get our free bucket list of the 100 Best Restaurants in SLC!
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Headed to Portland soon? This 72 hour guide to eating your way through Portland includes three breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert recommendations so you can sample some of the best that the City of Roses has to offer. What’s your favorite restaurant in Portland? We’d love to hear! Send us a DM on Instagram.
Resources:
FREE Portland Restaurant Bucket List
40 Best Restaurants in Portland Guide
Proud Mary Coffee
Montelupo Focacceria
Pizza Jerk
Grana
Gracie’s Apizza
Ken’s Artisan Pizza
Podcast Episode with Ken Forkish
Ranch PDX
Kann
Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw Podcast Episode With Founders Kim & Tyler Malek
The Original Pancake House
Sure Shot Burger
Canard
Canard Steamburger Recipe
Canard Funfetti Pancake Recipe
Lauretta Jean’s
Matt’s BBQ Tacos
Sugarpine Drive-In
Gado Gado & Oma’s Hideaway
Oma’s Hideaway Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispies Treat Recipe
Pip’s Original Donuts & Chai
Blue Star Donuts
Portland Restaurant Bucket List
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We’ve done 19 taste tests since 2020 and have blind tested hundreds of popular food products and today on That Was Delicious, host Brooke Eliason recaps the very best (and the very worst) of each taste test. If you’ve loved the Female Foodie Taste Tests but are looking for consolidated results, this episode is for you!
Show Notes:
Subscribe to Female Foodie on Instagram for exclusive access to our brand new taste tests in 2024
Vanilla ice cream taste test
Eggnog podcast taste test
Eggnog taste test
Peppermint bark taste test
Chocolate milk taste test
Butter taste test
Chocolate chip taste test
Cinnamon roll taste test
Yellow cake taste test
Yellow cake recipe
Trader Joe’s ice cream taste test
Hot chocolate taste test
Popcorn taste test
Hot dog taste test
Peanut butter taste test
Pickle taste test
Oreo taste test
Potato chip taste test
Brownie taste test
Watch our taste tests on YouTube
Subscribe to Female Foodie on Instagram for exclusive access to taste tests
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You’ve tried new recipes over the years, but how well have they turned out? You’ve made family dinner since the beginning of time, but do you consider yourself a great home cook? Today in this Episode of That Was Delicious, we talk with Lori Vaughn from Lo’s Kitchen Co all about ways to enhance your cooking and baking skills at home. Lori shares practical tips and takeaways, plus her inspiring and empowering story of how she became a great home cook and baker herself.
Resources
A Bountiful Kitchen Tried & True Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Lori’s Classic Sourdough Paperback Book
Lori’s Classic Sourdough E-Book
Lori’s Website
Follow Lori on Instagram
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With Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, you may be considering different options and fun ideas when it comes to food. Today on That Was Delicious, we’re sharing over 30 reader-submitted traditions for Valentine’s Day, plus three different menu options including an entree, starch/carb, and dessert so you can put together the perfect meal to enjoy with your loved ones at home.
Resources:
Orson Gygi Chocolate Tempering Blog Post
Chocolate & Caramel Podcast Interview With Heather Smith of Orson Gygi
Dodo Banana Cream Cheese Pie Recipe
Dodo Coconut Coffee Cake With Caramel Sauce
Steak Au Poivre Recipe
Ribeye Steak Recipe
Cast Iron Skillet Steak Recipe (Instagram Cooking Demo Here)
Brown Butter Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipe
Lasagna Bolognese Recipe
Creamy Parmesan Risotto Recipe (Instagram Cooking Demo Here)
Pink Sauce Pasta Recipe (Instagram Cooking Demo Here)
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Recipe
Dark Chocolate Brownies Recipe
Olive Oil Cake With Brown Butter Frosting Recipe (Instagram Cooking Demo Here)
Brownie Pecan Pie Recipe (Instagram Cooking Demo Here)
Raspberry Lemon Bars Recipe
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You’ve shopped at Trader Joe’s a million times before but have you ever shopped with our tried and true grocery list of must-have Trader Joe’s items? From cheese to chocolate to pantry staples, Brooke Eliason shares her 47 must-have Trader Joe’s food items on this episode of That Was Delicious.
Resources:
100 Best Things To Buy At Trader Joe’s
Best Trader Joe’s Snacks
Best Trader Joe’s Yogurt
Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods
Best Trader Joe’s Desserts
Best Trader Joe’s Cookies
Best Trader Joe’s Chocolate
Trader Joe’s Ice Cream Taste Test
How To Make Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken In The Air Fryer
Homemade Bagel Recipe
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe
15-Minute Homemade Pesto Recipe
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Since Female Foodie began in 2010 we have shared hundreds of restaurant reviews showcasing places to eat all over the world, but if you look through our archives right now you won’t find a single negative review. Today we answered a reader’s recent question on one of our Instagram Q&As, asking, “Why not post negative restaurant reviews? Helpful for readers to know/avoid, no?” In this conversation we share the story of why we don’t write negative reviews (including a time when we did share them), and what we choose to do instead.
Resources:
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