Radio Cherry Bombe

It’s Jubilee in July! This special series features conversations from our annual Cherry Bombe Jubilee, held this past April at The Glass House in New York City. 

Today, we’re sharing Kerry Diamond’s keynote conversation with Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, the acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, and partners behind some of New York City’s most beloved restaurants, including Via Carota, Buvette, I Sodi, The Commerce Inn, and Bar Pisellino. The conversation is introduced by Deanna Ting, managing editor of Resy’s editorial team.

Rita and Jody join Kerry to talk about their favorite produce, the beauty of simplicity, and how their different cooking styles complement each other. They also discuss their self-taught paths to the kitchen, how they met, their culinary partnership with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and their Via Carota Craft Cocktails line.

Then, we’ll hear a Jubilee solo talk from Zahra Tangorra, chef and author of the memoir “Extra Sauce.” Zahra shares what “extra sauce” means to her: pleasure, survival, big swings, messy joy, and living with as much flavor as possible.

Thank you to Veuve Clicquot and Airbnb Experiences for supporting our show. 

Click here for tickets and more information on Cherry Bombe’s Farmers & Makers event. 

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Click here for more information on Cherry Bombe memberships.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Deanna: Instagram, website

More on Rita and Jody: Via Carota, I Sodi, The Commerce Inn, Buvette, Bar Pisellino

More on Zahra: Instagram, "Extra Sauce" cookbook

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today we’re kicking off Jubilee in July, a special series featuring conversations from our annual Cherry Bombe Jubilee, which was held this past April at The Glass House in New York City. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of the wisdom, stories, and inspiration from the Jubilee stage.

First up is Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon—the world’s first sports bar dedicated entirely to women’s sports. Jenny sits down with Adrianna and Olivia Maher, sisters and co-hosts of the “House of Maher” podcast, to talk about the origin story of The Sports Bra, the power of creating spaces where girls and women feel seen, and why small changes can make a big impact.

Then, we’ll hear a solo talk from Ifrah Ahmed, chef, writer, founder of the Somali culinary pop-up Milk and Myrrh, and author of the cookbook “Soomaaliya.” Ifrah shares her journey from Mogadishu to Seattle to New York, how her mother’s cooking helped preserve her connection to Somali culture, and why documenting recipes and family histories matters now more than ever.

Thank you to Airbnb Experiences for supporting our show. 

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Jenny: Instagram, The Sports Bra, invest in The Sports Bra

More on Olivia: Instagram, House of Maher podcast

More on Adrianna: Instagram

More on Ifrah: Instagram, “Soomaaliya” cookbook

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guest is Alex Snodgrass, the blogger, bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and mom behind The Defined Dish. Alex is also the founder of SideDish, a line of sauces and vinaigrettes. 

Alex joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her fourth cookbook, “Everyday Eats,” out this August; what it takes to build a CPG brand today; the challenges facing food bloggers in the AI era; and how The Defined Dish came to be and what the Whole30 program had to do with it.  

They also discuss Alex’s recipe North Star–“Can I make this on a Wednesday night?”--and why Ina is such a big inspiration to her. 

Click here for Alex’s Brothy Saffron and Lemon Fish Over Rice recipe from “Everyday Eats.”

Thank you to Whole Foods Market for supporting our show. Click here for more information on our Supper Club Series. 

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Alex: Instagram, The Defined Dish, SideDish, "Everyday Eats" cookbook

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guest is Lois Freedman, one of the most powerful women in the restaurant industry. Lois is co-CEO of the Jean-Georges restaurant group, the company led by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten that includes more than 50 restaurants in 12 countries and more than 1,000 employees. This year marks Lois’s 40th anniversary of working with Jean-Georges. 

Amazingly, this is Lois’s very first podcast. She’s been very low-key throughout her career, but fortunately for us, agreed to come on the show and talk about her remarkable career. 

She and host Kerry Diamond discuss Lois’ time as a chef, her move to front-of-house and what that unlocked, her love of to-do lists, why Jean-Georges calls her Madame No, plus advice for opening restaurants and keeping them open. You will learn a lot from Lois, whether you work in hospitality or another industry. 

This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. 

Click here for the 2026 Cherry Bombe Power List 

Thank you to American Express and Resy for supporting our show. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy – and do not constitute professional advice.

Thank you to Veuve Clicquot for supporting our show.

Thank you to S. Pellegrino for supporting our show. Learn more and follow the 2026–2027 competition at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com. 

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Lois: LinkedIn, Jean-Georges restaurants

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

For today’s show, we’re airing our first joint episode with She’s My Cherry Pie, Cherry Bombe’s baking podcast hosted by Jessie Sheehan. Today’s guests are Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, the founders of Levain Bakery, the beloved New York bakery known for its signature thick cookies. Levain started as a small bread shop on the Upper West Side in 1995, and has since grown into one of the most recognizable bakeries in the country, with more than 20 locations and fans lined up for their famous chocolate chip walnut cookies.

Connie and Pam join host Jessie Sheehan to talk about how they met while training for triathlons, how their bread business began with the support of Anthony Bourdain, and how a call from then-New York Times columnist Amanda Hesser helped put their now-iconic cookie on the map.

Connie and Pam also talk about their memoir, “Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies,” and why community has always been at the heart of Levain.

Thank you to Nonino & Fisher & Paykel for supporting our show.

Thank you to S. Pellegrino for supporting our show. Learn more and follow the 2026–2027 competition at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com. 

Click here to order The Game Changers Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine.

Sign up for our free She’s My Cherry Pie & Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Levain: Instagram, website, "Levain Bakery" book

More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series