In this heartfelt and timely episode of Snacky Tunes, host Darin Bresnitz delves into the early recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, including the Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. The culinary community, as always, is at the forefront of healing, offering food, love, and support to those in need.

This week’s lineup features three incredible guests:

• Mary Sue Milliken: The renowned chef and co-founder of Border Grill discusses her work with World Central Kitchen, her deep ties to LA, and how the culinary world comes together in times of crisis, like Re:Her & The James Beard Awards.
• Andy Valdez from HomeState: Andy shares how the beloved Tex-Mex spot mobilized to deliver breakfast tacos to first responders and emergency workers, offering comfort through food in challenging times. Sign up here if you would like to volunteer. 
• Travis Hayden: Returning from last week’s episode, Travis reflects on how the fires have impacted him personally, as both a member of the culinary industry and a victim of the disaster.

This episode also includes a robust list of resources for listeners who want to support the recovery efforts, emphasizing the importance of financial aid, gift cards, and direct restaurant donations. Join us as we explore how LA’s food community is working tirelessly to rebuild, one meal at a time. Tune in, take action, and remember: Together, we can help restore what was lost.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

We recorded this episode on Tuesday, January 7th at 12:30pm.  A few hours later, Travis Hayden, chef of Bar Etoile, would lose his house to the Palisades Fire and my family would lose our house to the Eaton Canyon Fire. Our communities have been devastated, but also beyond supportive and full of so much love. We wanted to share the episode we had put together for the start of the year to have something normal and regular.

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, Darin sits down with Julian, Jill, and Travis of Bar Etoile to chat about their recent opening and all of the amazing success from the jump. They talk about their journey to starting the restaurant, why they wanted to build a neighborhood spot, and which dish of theirs was named one of the best in LA.  Then we hang out with Andrew Dost of Metal Bubble Trio, who talks about and plays tracks from his new album, Cucumber.  We talk about his love for food, his creative process and how music & art has helped shape his life.

If you are looking to feed the community who was effected by the LA fire, please donate to WCK.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

This episode of Snacky Tunes features host Darin Bresnitz wrapping up the year with a heartfelt thank-you to all the guests, engineers, and PR teams who made the show possible. He also shares exciting news about the return of new episodes and newsletter content in the new year. In this episode, he sits down with two key figures in the LA food scene, Bill Addison and Jenn Harris, for a deep dive into the annual L.A. Times 101 list. They discuss the evolution of the restaurant community over the past year, their collaborative process in crafting this year’s list, and what attendees can look forward to at the upcoming event. Tickets are still available at latimes.com/events.

To close out, Darin takes listeners back to the archives with a special segment featuring indie band Radical Dads. From their 2013 performance on Snacky Tunes, they reflect on their soda zine, pizza blog, and what drew them to the intersection of food and music.

As the holidays approach, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Xander Soren, the founder and Chief Wine Operator of Xander Soren Wines.  They chat about his time at Apple, working on game-changing programs like GarageBand, his deep affinity for Japanese culture, and he shares some of his playlists that pair perfectly with his pinot.  Then we dip into the archives when singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe swung by to share stories and songs from the latest EP, SMUT.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

To kick off the holiday season, Darin is joined by Mackenzie Hoffman, Harley Wertheimer, and Caroline Leff of Stir Crazy, and Kat Turner and Cary Mosier of Highly Likely for a live roundtable chat at the Snacky Tunes Salon. They share their favorite seasonal traditions, what it means to host the community this time of year, and finally agree on if Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not.

A huge shout out to our presenting sponsors for the event, Square and ChowNow, along with support from Jumbo Time Wines, Skyduster Beer, and American Water.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Andrew Lawson, the GM and co-owner behind LA’s latest hotspots, Ètra and Café Telegrama. They chat about Lawson’s roots growing up in LA, his game-changing years in NYC's restaurant scene, and how he teamed up with some stellar partners to create two of the most buzzed-about spots in Los Angeles. And for a little throwback treat, Darin digs into the archives to feature a performance from one of Brooklyn’s favorites, Erika Spring of Au Revior Simone and NAF. It’s a tasty trip back to Roberta’s shipping containers and a reminder of all the magic made there.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, Darin sits down with Ashley and Colby Frey of Frey Ranch Distillery, a farm-to-glass whiskey farm that's truly one of a kind. They dive into what it means to be fifth-generation farmers, the music they listen to while crafting their spirits, and how they bring a thoughtful, farming-first approach to their delicious bourbon, rye, and other spirits. It’s a lively conversation that captures the essence of their craft.

Later in the episode, Darin digs into the archives, featuring a performance from The Spring Standards, who stopped by to share their folk tunes and offer their thoughts on the Philadelphia Flyers.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Steven Clarke, VP of Marketing at Golden Krust, the iconic Jamaican fast-casual restaurant celebrating its 35th anniversary. They chat about his journey into the family business, the enduring appeal of Jamaican cuisine, and how Steven balances his professional life with his passion for DJ'ing.

Plus, the episode features a throwback to May 2015 with singer-songwriter Lily McQueen, who shares tracks from her EP and talks about her musical influences, life in the city, and her favorite studio snacks.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with our good pal all the way from Melbourne, Australia; Ben Shewry, whose new book Uses for my Obsessions: A (Chef’s) Memoir is a fantastic, unique look into his journey through the culinary world. He offers up a lot of personal philosophies, a lot of great stories, and shows how Fugazi helped him learn Thai cooking. We've also included a link to one of the playlists that is included in his book.

And then we dip into the archives for a legendary performance from Sinkane, who has some new music out now and whose last album We Belong has been in heavy rotation at our house.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin is in the DC / Virginia metro area for an all new episode today. First up, he sits down with co-owner and executive chef of Ama, Johanna Hellrigl. She talks about being born into the restaurant industry, her coming up and cooking through the DC scene, and how Italian love inspired her new restaurant.

Then we head down to Virginia to hang out with Jeff and Jake of Illiterate Light, whose new album Arches will be out November 1st. They perform some live songs from the album, talk about the difference of their eating habits at home and recording in Hollywood, and how they brought the community into their new recording session.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.