Foodie Friday with BT & Lydia

Who makes the best cookies in the area? Sure, you want to defend your Grama's honor, but our votes go to Toni Tamm and her crew at Cookies by Design! And longtime food guy, lifestyle expert and entrepreneur Ross Sveback brings his high level of sass to Foodie Friday.

Opening a restaurant is tough. Closing one is heartbreaking. We hear some revealing thoughts and emotions from Chef Michael Larson, who is tee'ing up his newest shop, "Parella," for a mid-June start in Calhoun Square. And what makes a finance guy decide to switch it all up and move into the food world, let alone with his own "on-a-stick" creation? Ryan Gasca reveals the motivations behind his new venture and creations.

What is YOUR favorite go-to hangover food? We learned the answer to that question, and many others on a laugh (and beer) filled Foodie Friday, with Lydia Haines, Co-founder and VP of Everything at Bauhaus Brew Labs in NE Mpls, and Dan Schwarz, Co-founder and CEO of Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater. Beer Lovers, Unite!

Stimulating conversation! Delicious food at the hands of Krista Aspinwall, who along with her husband, Steve, is the proprietor of Velvet Bees Gourmet Honey Butter. And the founder of Kill Kancer, Mary Beth Mueller, wants to make us all healthier by encouraging better eating - and it all comes with a rock and roll undercurrent. The episode is filled with great stories and a lot of love.

Guests are Larry Brenner, owner of Vino in the Valley and Nate Beck, owner & proprietor of Natedogs! A hilarious episode with two sincerely fun guys talking about the makings a good hotdog, Midwest wine, the end of Modern Cafe, how it takes a village to build a food or wine brand, and find out if #ChristineNumber3 is goin' viral. Intriguing conversation with some good ole' local boys. Enjoy!

Newest Foodie Friday podcast comin' in hot! Guests Barb Abney of Go963MN, formerly The Current, and Nicky Metchnek, Event Sales Director at Create Catering & The Dining Studio. We talk the foodie travesty that is Peeps Milk, Minneapolis-St.Paul Magazine's seemingly controversial March cover, REAL Cincinnati Chili, and what it's like to manage sales for a busy dining & catering outfit. Extremely entertaining stories all around!

Guests Marcus Dorn, co-owner of Darby's Pub, Brian Turner, Executive Chef at The Loon Cafe, and Bick Smith, video producer and proprietor of Gangsterland Coffee chat with us about the North Loop and Warehouse District neighborhoods. They also share their thoughts on the 1930s gangster scene in St. Paul, and how that inspired a line of locally roasted coffee.