Many of us would like to eat more farm-fresh foods, but we don't have the time, space or expertise to produce it ourselves. That’s where FarmPixie comes in. FarmPixie is a free online marketplace that steers you to fresh, local products like meat, eggs, bread, honey, bath items and more. Founder Kim Kenney owns a small family farm in Dade City. She visited our studio at WUSF Public Media on the USF Tampa campus.  In this conversation, Kim shares what led her to start FarmPixie and how supporting local farmers benefits us all.

Home cooking without the hassle. If you’re longing for a taste of home but you find yourself ordering takeout again and again, then this conversation is for you.  Get ready to meet Ciji Castro, founder and executive chef of Domestic Gourmet. It’s a food and lifestyle brand inspired by the Palm Harbor resident’s Cuban and Puerto Rican roots. Domestic Gourmet’s oils, spices and recipes are designed to make traditional family flavors fast and easy to enjoy. The products are a hit with Ciji’s scores of social media followers, as well readers of Forbes and Southern Living—just two of the many media outlets that have featured Domestic Gourmet. Whether you’re juggling a hectic schedule or just craving a convenient taste of home, Ciji’s products are designed to bring joy and tradition to your table without hours in the kitchen. Ciji visited our studio at WUSF Public Media. In this conversation, she shares lessons you can use both in the kitchen and in the world of business.

Today we’re catching up with the co-hosts of America’s Test Kitchen. It’s the PBS cooking show that teaches us which cooking equipment and recipes are worth our time and money. Two years ago, ATK co-hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison came to Tampa Bay for something they’d never really done before: a live on-stage event full of cooking tips, stories from the show and audience participation.  The evening was so much fun that the ladies have hit the road again, with live events in more than a dozen cities across the country. So you could say that Florida was the test kitchen for America’s Test Kitchen. On Nov. 5, 2025, you can join them at the Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College for Inside the Kitchen: Live with Julia & Bridget, presented by WEDU PBS. This show features new material—we’re calling it material because did we mention how funny Julia and Bridget are? So if you attended their Palladium event two years ago, you’ll want to come see what they have up their sleeves this time. Your ticket includes a cookbook and some other perks, and there will be an audience Q&A. Plus, Dalia is hosting the event and would love to meet you. Ahead of the live event, Dalia chatted with Julia and Bridget. In this conversation, they offer their thoughts on the state of public media, share the kitchen tools worth upgrading and reveal the guilty-pleasure foods they love to buy from gas stations. 

Vivian Aronson isn’t a regular mom. She’s a cool mom. As in, millions-of-social-media-followers cool. She’s also appeared on Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show and in People magazine. Known on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook as “Cooking Bomb,” the Orlando resident gained fame sharing recipes that she learned growing up in Chengdu, China. In 2021 Vivian released The Asian Market Cookbook. And now she’s out with a new book, Traditional Chinese Wellness Recipes. Vivan chatted with Dalia about Chinese wellness practices that can improve your life today. In this conversation, Vivian also shares how the COVID-19 pandemic led to her online stardom and offers tips for aspiring food influencers. Related episodes: Francis Lam on “The Splendid Table,” His Dream Guest and the Florida Foods He’s Eager to Try Yee Farms Brings Chinese Vegetables and a “Sense of Pride” to Boynton Beach In “My (Half) Latinx Kitchen,” Kiera Wright-Ruiz Explores Identity Through Food Talking Seoul Food with Miami’s 2 Korean Girls

Emmanuel Dunbar grew up hating coffee. Now, coffee is his life. Emmanuel owns Royal Diaspora Coffee Company, a cafe and community gathering place in Tampa. While Royal Diaspora is a proudly Black-owned business, Emmanuel’s customers are as diverse as the way they take their cup o’ joe. The Zest team visited Emmanuel at Royal Diaspora. In this conversation, he breaks down his love-hate relationship with coffee. (It was never about the taste!) He also shares his big plans for the space, which go far beyond java beans. Related episodes: “Call Anthony” Gilbert Reviews Food at Gas Stations and Other Overlooked Eateries Coffee Uniting People Brews Job Skills for People with Disabilities Kahwa Coffee Owners Raphael & Sarah Perrier on Building Their Business, Beverage Trends and What They Really Think of Starbucks

She pours wine, and she pours into people.  Denise Marsh is a sommelier and certified wine specialist at Society Wine Bar in Tampa’s Ybor City historic district. And vino isn’t the only thing that brings her joy. She’s also passionate about empowering people—women in particular.  Denise does this through speaking engagements, international retreats and her book, Do It For Your SELFIE!: A Guide to Loving Yourself, Redesigning Your Life, and Getting Aligned from Within and its companion journal. She also hosts the podcasts Getting R.A.W. with Denise and the aptly named Spiritual Growth and Wine: Exploring Self-Discovery, Transformation and Wine Conversations. In this conversation, the Apollo Beach resident shares how she went from battling anxiety and depression to becoming resiliant—even after getting rear-ended on her way to our interview. She explains how wine is a metaphor for our spiritual growth and shares practices to help us feel more grounded before we even get out of bed. If you’re craving more meaning and some great wine recommendations, this conversation is for you. So pour yourself a glass of something you love, get comfy and let’s dive in. Related episodes: “Epicurious One” Stephanie Love Is Disrupting the Wine Industry, One Chicken Wing at a Time Conscious Cuisine: Husband-and-Wife Master Sommeliers Andrew McNamara and Emily Pickral on How Climate Change Affects Win Summer Reading and Wine Pairings from Book + Bottle’s Terra Dunham

Supermarkets and big box stores are great. But nothing beats the feeling of shopping in a bodega. These small, often family-owned convenience stores are a fixture in New York City’s Latinx neighborhoods. In them, you’ll find everything from milk and lottery tickets to hot foods like empanadas and chicken with yellow rice. New Jerseyan Ivette Rivera wanted to bring the spirit of bodegas to her adopted home state of Florida. So she founded Loiza Foods, a company whose signature product is a line of seasonings called Bodega Flava. The Tampa resident visited our studio on the University of South Florida campus. In this conversation, Ivette shares how she went from sleeping in her vehicle to creating a food brand that celebrates what she loves about being Puerto Rican. Here is Ivette’s story from car to cocina. Related episodes: How to Have a Puerto Rican-Style Holiday Feast in Florida “Latino Orlando” Author Dr. Simone Delerme on the Rise of Florida’s Hispanic Restaurants & Markets Food Memories of Latin America

What does it take to grow confident, successful kids? To grow successfully, kids need a good foundation, nourishment and a lot of care—kind of like a garden. So when Tampa community activists Jeanette Bradley and Diana Kyle wanted to positively impact local schools, they decided to get their hands dirty. In 2018, the two founded SEEDFOLKids After School Garden Experience. The free program is the signature initiative of Bradley’s nonprofit organization What We Could Be Exchange. SEEDFOLKids combines hands-on gardening with real-world learning in agriscience, sustainability, entrepreneurship and teamwork. Throughout the school year, third and fourth grade participants grow edible plants in raised beds, participate in food system-related field trips and guest-led workshops, and host school events like SEEDFOLKids Market Day, when they sell the fruits—and veggies and herbs—of their labor. Along the way, they develop confidence, leadership skills and a deeper connection to the food they eat and the environment around them.  Several Tampa schools have hosted SEEDFOLKids programs. The very first was Edison Elementary Community School, where the program is still going strong. Shortly before the end of the 2024-25 school year, the Zest team visited Edison to chat with the students and adults who are the heartbeat of the program. To see a video tour of the SEEDFOLKids garden beds at Edison, visit the Zest’s page on Facebook or Instagram. Related episodes: Pediatrician Dr. David Berger on School Lunches & Ultra-Processed Foods Plant-Powered Education: Solid Rock Community School in Tarpon Springs Offers 100% Vegan Cafeteria Menu 10 Tips for Cooking with Kids

No gators on this menu. The writer Carl Hiaasen is best known for his satirical crime novels set in Florida. His 1993 novel Strip Tease was adapted into a movie starring Demi Moore. And the Apple TV+ series Bad Monkey is based on his 2024 book of the same name. Carl has written dozens of books for both adults and young readers. His latest, Fever Beach, involves “dark money and even darker motives,” as the description on his website reads. Carl’s No. 1 motive during the workday is to write—even if that means eating the same lunch on repeat to help put himself in the zone. The South Florida native caught up with Dalia from his home in Vero Beach. In this conversation, he discusses the role food plays in his books and in his writing practice.  Related episodes: Author & Restaurateur Randy Wayne White on Rum, Hot Sauce & His Latest Doc Ford Novel Author Craig Pittman on Quirky—and Hilarious—Florida Food Stories Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ “Cross Creek Cookery” Turns 80: Reflections from Food Writer Jeff Houck

Where there's smoke, there's the Station Chef. Firefighters are heroes. And how do we honor our heroes? Often, it’s by baking for them. There’s just one problem: All those well-intentioned cookies and cupcakes we drop off at fire stations are adding up to less healthy firefighters—putting all of our lives at risk. That’s why Martin Lemay is on a mission to help our heroes stay healthy while enjoying great food. Martin is a firefighter at North Port Fire Rescue, where he also cooks for the crew when he’s on duty. He shares his mouthwatering recipes on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where he’s known as The Station Chef. We caught up with Martin on his day off, at home in Riverview. In this conversation, he explains why he finds joy and relaxation cooking at home and on the job. He also shares money- and calorie-saving advice he learned at the fire station that we can all use, offers fire safety tips every home cook needs and suggests healthier alternatives for showing our appreciation to first responders. Related episodes: Firehouse Chef Manny FD on Cooking for his “Second Family” and the Right Way to Extinguish a Kitchen Fire To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution, Start with the “Lowest-Hanging Fruit,” Says Wellness Coach & Cookbook Author Jo Bakal How to Prepare Restaurant-Quality Meals at Home: Advice from Chef Dennis Littley

Plant-based picadillo? Say less! When Ellen Kanner went vegan in the 1980s, she couldn’t imagine buying oatmilk or plant-based cheese in a grocery store. Today, she says being vegan is easier than ever, thanks to restaurants and mainstream supermarkets accommodating the plant-based lifestyle. And the food writer is herself helping folks lean into eating vegan with her cookbook Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table. The book veganizes South Florida favorites like picadillo, ceviche and key lime pie.  Ellen chatted with Dalia about her must-have pantry staples, navigating social situations as a vegan and the recipe she cooks to win over meat-eaters. Related episodes: To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution, Start with the “Lowest-Hanging Fruit,” Says Wellness Coach & Cookbook Author Jo Bakal Pure Vegan Cakes CEO Sira Garib on Baking Tabitha Brown’s Birthday Cake and Showing Up for Herself How “Fab the Vegan” Dropped 150 Pounds, Reversed Diabetes & Became a Plant-Based Influencer Former “Real Housewife” Ana Quincoces on Her New Cookbook, “Modern Cuban”

For many of us, food is one of life's great pleasures. But what happens when that joy gets taken away, and can we get it back? When Mallary Tenore Tarpley lost her mother at eleven years old, she wanted to stop time. If growing up meant living without her mom, then she wanted to stay little forever. What started as small acts of food restriction soon turned into a full-blown eating disorder. Mallary shares her story in a powerful new memoir titled Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. The book blends Mallary's own compelling story with her research about eating disorders.  Mallary teaches journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Before that, she spent 10 years living in Florida, including working at the Tampa Bay Times, where she and Dalia were both cub reporters. Dalia recently caught up with Mallary to discuss the book. Mallary will return to the Sunshine State on her book SLIP tour. Catch her on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, in conversation with the city’s poet laureate, Gloria Muñoz. Related episodes: Dietitian Deanna Wolfe on Wellness Trends, Disordered Eating and Finding Food Freedom For Pastry Chef Shayla “Chez Shay” Daniels, Life Is Bittersweet WUSF’s Lisa Peakes on Her Love of Radio, Fitness & Why She’s Kept a Food Diary for 20 Years

It’s our steamiest episode yet. But get your mind out of the gutter. We’re talking about cooking with steam. Earlier this year, The Zest teamed up with Adalay Interiors to host a cooking demonstration. Adalay is a kitchen and bath showroom in Tampa where you can see and even test out your dream appliances, countertops, flooring and wall coverings. Note: Adalay is a sponsor of The Zest.  One of the brands Adalay carries is Miele, whose kitchen appliances, laundry machines and vacuum cleaners are prized for their modern technology and elegant designs. We’d heard so many good things about Miele’s steam ovens that we wanted to experience one for ourselves. Join Dalia in the kitchen with Adalay owner Tom Knotts and Vicki Robb of Miele Appliances. Related episodes: 10 Tips for Cooking with Kids How to Prepare Restaurant-Quality Meals at Home: Advice from Chef Dennis Littley Yes, You Can: Pickling and Canning 101 with John Barbie of Tip Top Canning Co.

Florida’s official hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30. But things really ramp up during peak season, which is between mid-August and late-October, according to the Florida State University’s Florida Climate Center. So if your hurricane kit isn’t quite ready for a major storm, fear not. There’s still time to stock up on supplies. And when it comes to food, this week’s guest can help you think outside of the soup can. This week we're revisiting our 2022 conversation with Janet Keeler. She teaches journalism at Eckerd College and writes about cookbooks on her Instagram account, The Measured Cup. You can view Janet's list of 20 tips for a better hurricane food kit here.

Today, we’ll get alfresco dining tips from Lauren Gay, better known online as Outdoorsy Diva. On her popular blog and social media channels, the Florida-based travel influencer shares her adventures, from hiking and horseback riding to kayaking and swimming with manatees. Since we first spoke with Lauren in 2021, she has contributed to the Lonely Planet book Women Travel Solo, which even got a nod of approval from Oprah. Here are Lauren’s tips for eating in the great outdoors: Camping: “For me, the go-to is those foil packet meals that you can prep beforehand and just keep in your cooler on ice,” Lauren says. For dinner, prepare packets of shrimp, potatoes, veggies and seasonings. For breakfast, think frozen hash browns, sausage and cheese. “Then just throw that puppy on the grill when you’re ready to eat,” Lauren says. Beach or boating: “I think one of the easiest things, which is totally in right now, is charcuterie life,” Lauren says. She likes to prep a board full of strawberries, grapes, olives, cheeses, salami, crackers, nuts and other nibbles. “And I’m frugal, honey. You can get all that fancy stuff from Aldi,” she notes. Avoid messy items like chocolate, which melts in the Florida heat. Backpacking: Lauren likes belVita breakfast biscuits for a portable snack. For longer trips, she recommends investing in a Jetboil portable cooking system to prepare coffee, oatmeal, chili and other hot foods.

Beach season is also book season. So we're revisiting Dalia's conversation with Terra Dunham, owner of Book + Bottle in St. Petersburg. It's a combination bookstore and wine bar. Whether you're relaxing on the beach with a juicy celebrity memoir or getting lost in an audiobook as you chill by the pool, you'll get some great recommendations for book and wine pairings. This conversation was recorded in 2022.

She’s a familiar voice to thousands of us across West Central Florida. As the midday host for Tampa Bay’s NPR station, WUSF, Lisa Peakes keeps us company as we work, eat lunch, run errands, sit in the school carline or whatever else we happen to be doing in the afternoon.  Lisa reads the news, shares the weather report and tells us about local events, all in that friendly, soothing voice that’s become a constant companion. As her WUSF Public Media colleagues, we can tell you that Lisa is even more fascinating than the information she broadcasts. So in this bonus episode, we wanted to give you a chance to get to know the woman behind the microphone.    In this vulnerable conversation, Lisa reveals why radio became so important to her as a child. She also explains how she developed a passion for competitive fitness.  The St. Petersburg resident also reveals what she eats on a typical day, and recommends some of her favorite local restaurants for take-out. Thanks to The Zest’s brand manager, Alexandria Ebron, for suggesting this episode. If you have a suggestion for a Zest guest, please send it to: info@thezestpodcast.com. Related episodes: Dietitian Deanna Wolfe on Wellness Trends, Disordered Eating and Finding Food Freedom Giuliano Hazan Honors Mother Marcella Hazan’s Legacy Through Italian Cooking Classes in Sarasota and Italy Sunshine State Vanilla’s Stephanie Webb Spills the Beans on Florida Vanilla Symposium Cookbook Author & Cancer Survivor Rujel Buggs: “Don’t Wait” to Start Eating Right Pro Basketball Player (and Dalia’s Bonus Daughter!) Ariel Colón Reveals Her Slam-Dunk Diet How “Fab the Vegan” Dropped 150 Pounds, Reversed Diabetes & Became a Plant-Based Influencer How Gatorade Went from Gainesville to Global Brand

Earlier this month, The Splendid Table recorded a live episode all about Florida foods! Host Francis Lam and producer Erika Romero came to the New Tampa Performing Arts Center for an episode and meet-and-greet hosted by WUSF Public Media. If you're in West Central Florida, catch the broadcast on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 2 p.m. on WUSF 89.7 FM. Or listen anywhere, anytime at splendidtable.org. Guests included: Dalia Colón of The Zest Podcast Andrea Gonzmart Williams of Columbia Restaurant Group Megan Sorby of Pine Island Redfish Anthony Gilbert of Call Anthony In case you missed it, check out our convo with Francis when he was a Zest guest!

Juneteenth—June 19—commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021, but early celebrations date back to the 1860s. Today, Americans observe Juneteenth with festivals, family and of course, food. So we invited influencer Kiva Williams, a.k.a. the Fun Foodie Mama, to share some of her favorite Juneteenth culinary traditions. In this conversation, the Wesley Chapel resident and founder of Mahogany Kids Fine Arts Foundation explains the origins of Juneteenth. She also shares her family’s favorite celebratory foods and drinks, and recommends Juneteenth events to attend and offers advice on how everyone can enjoy the holiday, regardless of race. Kiva starts by explaining how she became a food influencer. For more ways to celebrate Juneteenth, check out the WUSF events calendar. Related episodes: Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller Will Headline the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Soul Food Inspires Artist Chris Friday’s Sarasota Art Museum Exhibition Gabrielle E.W. Carter & Dr. LaDonna Butler on Food as Rest & Resistance Second Helping: Toni Tipton-Martin Celebrates African-American Chefs in ‘Jubilee’ Dr. Fred Opie on the “Fascinating” African Roots of Florida Foods