On this day before Easter, we decided to hop (get it?) up to Bob’s Steak & Chop House at the Omni Tucson National Resort for this weekend’s broadcast!

Jeffrey White, Matt Russell, Andrea Bravo, Chef Jonathan Stutzman & Nathan Ares

Our celebrity co-host was Nathan Ares, partner with Prep & Pastry, who shared some news about a new restaurant that he is opening in early summer. It’s called Commoner & Co., and it will bring modern comfort food to the corner of Sunrise & Kolb. We then got the latest details on the upcoming Centurions event with two guys working to make this the biggest and best one yet, Tony Poe and Ben Korn. Then the drinks arrived, and the Omni’s Andrea Bravo and Jeffrey White treated us to some lovely spring libations. The Black Cherry Sour and the Adult Arnold Palmer quenched our seasonal thirst beautifully. Our featured guest was Omni’s executive chef, Jonathan Stutzman, who discussed his big and bold brunch plans for Easter and Mothers Day. There was still room left on the show, and in our bellies, for some prime tenderloin of beef, prepared to a turn, which jumped to the top of our list of favorite filets!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:18 — 26.2MB)

With spring taking center stage, this week’s broadcast came to you live from the Spring Artisans Market on the beautiful grounds of the Tucson Museum of Art!

Karyn Zoldan, Matt Russell, Laura Cortelyou, Deb Santos & Frankie Santos

Our celebrity co-host for this show was Karyn Zoldan, food blogger with Circle of Food. Karyn shared some of her favorite headlines from the local food and beverage scene, and teased an upcoming redesign of CircleofFood.com. John McNulty of TMA joined us to talk about the history of the artisans market (this is his 55th!), and TMA executive director Robert Knight and development director Alba Rojas-Sukkar got us current with all the action on the upcoming CRUSH festival. With all of the springtime entertaining that our listeners are surely planning, we caught up with Deb Santos of Frankie’s Catering who had some delicious ideas for bringing the flavors of Philly and beyond to your next event (and Deb’s hubby, Frankie Santos of Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks, stopped by with his ever-entertaining commentary). Deb and Frankie are in the happy business…and business is good!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 27.3MB)

When Borderlands Brewing Company announced that it was going to host a Beerlympics event, of course we needed to be there…live!

Justin Kent, Matt Russell, Mike Mallozzi & Sarah Ritchie

This was a suds-filled show on the sidelines of Borderlands new Beer Garden. Celebrity co-host Sarah Ritchie, known throughout the galaxy as Craft Beer Betty, got things started by getting us current on all of her latest adventures. We then welcomed Justin Kent to the show, curator of the impressive craft beer menu at Arizona Pizza Company on Sabino Canyon Road, for a conversation about building a beer menu that will please the masses. Our featured guest was Borderlands own Mike Mallozzi, who walked us through his seasonal line-up of brews that were fueling all of the day’s Beerlympics athletes! Fun in the spring sun at Borderlands!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:57 — 27.4MB)

Cigar Madness was upon us again this weekend, and what a delight it was to return to our destination of choice for premium puros, Jerry’s Cigars!

Melinda Dickinson, Brandon Puckett, C.J. Hamm, Matt Russell, Clay Roberts & Joel Schwartz

Our celebrity co-host this week was C.J. Hamm, writer with Tucson Foodie, who gave us a glimpse into the delicious stories he’s been working on. We then turned our attention to the show’s resident Jack Daniel’s authority, Melinda Dickinson of Alliance Beverage, for a little Jack Talk. Our Lynchburg, Tennessee history lesson was accompanied by a flight tasting of some spectacular Jack spirits, including the Old Number 7, Gentleman Jack, Jack Single Barrel, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Honey, and the exquisite Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select. We’re not worthy! Some cigar industry celebs were in the house as well, and we got the latest from Brandon Puckett (Crowned Heads Cigars), Clay Roberts (Alec Bradley Cigars) and Joel Schwartz (Tatuaje Cigars). We wrapped up by sinking our teeth into some righteous ribs and other smoked meats lovingly prepared by Jonathan Hebert of Mr. Cookman’s Food Truck! Wait until you hear him describe the Nawlins inspiration behind his killer ‘cue! Cigars, whiskey, and BBQ. Enough said.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:49 — 27.4MB)

The countdown to St. Patrick’s Day has begun, and this week’s broadcast came to you live from the epicenter of all things Irish, Pastiche!

Pat Connors, Chef Tim Moore, Mike Cavers, Matt Russell & Dan Gibson

Our celebrity co-host was Dan Gibson of Visit Tucson, who shared how the organization’s “Free Yourself” attitude is great context for a delicious meal and a killer cocktail. We also sat down with Mike Cavers of Pernod Ricard, the company behind Jameson Irish Whiskey and a host of other leading spirit brands, who walked us through the wisdom of triple distillation. He also treated us to a sampling of some truly showstopping Irish whiskeys. Freddy Valencia of Jerry’s Cigars joined us as well, with information on his upcoming Cigar Madness event. Our featured guests were Pastiche’s own Pat Connors and Chef Tim Moore, who unveiled some of the dishes they’ve planned for the big day at Pastiche, otherwise known as Paddy’s Irish Pub every March 17! Potato-crusted salmon, steak with a Guinness gravy, and Guinness chocolate cake? Lucky us! Must be the luck of the Irish!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:36 — 26.8MB)

Matt was on assignment in Flagstaff this weekend, and fellow foodie from Maya Tea Company Manish Shah was the man behind the mic for this delicious broadcast.

Danny Perez, Renee Kreager, Manish Shah & Maria Mazon

Manish was joined by celebrity co-host Renee Kreager of Renee’s Organic Oven, who just rolled out a new breakfast menu, including breakfast boards, breakfast pizzas, and breakfast cocktail flights. Maria Mazon of Boca Tacos y Tequila joined the conversation as well, talking about Boca’s upcoming 5-year anniversary, as well as a new A.M. Taco with hash browns, fried egg, and a basil cilantro crema. Finally, Danny Perez of the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort got us current on the resort’s restaurant line-up, including a new wine class series and winemaker dinner at Primo. Such great fun, great food, and great friends!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:43 — 27.3MB)

So much to eat, drink and talk about this weekend, and so little time, but we covered it all in this delicious broadcast from the Power Talk 1210 studio!

Iron Chef John Hohn, Matt Russell, George Jenson & Laura Reese

Our celebrity co-host was fellow foodie, software designer, web architect and Mardi Gras maven George Jenson of Jenson Consulting. After sharing some fun tales from the tech trail, George gave us his credentialed advice for how to make the most out of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. We also sat down with publicist Laura Reese of the Tucson Craft Beer Crawl for some hot news about the upcoming event. Layrd Mahler of Sonoran Brewing Company phoned in from Phoenix with a tease on what he’ll be pouring at the Crawl, and Chef Jim “Murph” Murphy of Kingfisher and Bluefin unveiled his plans for Fat Tuesday. Our featured guest was Iron Chef John Hohn of Gringo Grill & Cantina, who discussed his Iron Chef twists on classic Sonoran cuisine. We sampled a lovely sous vide pear Sonoran salad, fried guacamole with a chipotle aioli and quesadillas with kale, apples and bacon! All hail Iron Chef!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:49 — 27.4MB)

On a beautiful day in the high 70s, we thought al fresco would be a nice touch for our broadcast this weekend, and Nox Kitchen & Cocktails got the nod!

James Diedrich, Matt Russell, Laura Reese & Dennis Arnold

Our celebrity co-host was publicist Laura Reese, producer of the upcoming Tucson Craft Beer Crawl, who shared everything we needed to know about this sudsy event scheduled for February 21 in downtown Tucson.   We also heard from Dennis Arnold of Barrio Brewing Company, one of the event participants, who talked about the brews that are trending at Barrio these days. Our featured guest was Nox general manager James Diedrich, who told the Ernest Hemingway-inspired story of Nox and how it’s manifest on the plate and in the glass. He also unveiled his gorgeous Valentine’s menu that will make any couple fall in love all over again. We heart Nox!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:13 — 27.1MB)

For those who think that wine makes the world go ’round, this was the show for you.

Jon Herrera, Jamie Slone, Matt Russell & Jason Blackburn

We came to you live this weekend from Tavolino Ristorante Italiano, with celebrity co-host Jamie Slone of Jamie Slone Wines! Jamie shared a bit of his personal journey, from the driver’s seat of a stock car to the vineyards of Santa Barbara County, and revealed what’s behind his early success in the wine business. We also had the opportunity to taste his scrumptious 2012 Pinot Noir, 2013 Aloysius Chardonnay, and a Super Tuscan that he hasn’t yet released. Wow. We were then joined by Tavolino bar man Jon Herrera who discussed some of his Italian-inspired cocktails, including one made with rye whiskey, Demerara, Madeira and a pipe tobacco tincture! Our featured guest was Tavolino manager Jason Blackburn who teased us a bit on his Valentine’s menu. How about heart-shaped ravioli filled with ricotta, mascarpone and spinach, served with brown butter, balsamic and toasted walnuts? Love is in the air at Tavolino!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:54 — 29.7MB)

With Super Bowl just one week away, we convened a roundtable of local foodies to talk about not only football food, but wine, whiskey and all of the things that get us excited this time of year.

Melissa D’Auria, Jason Machamer, Matt Russell, C.J. Hamm & Chef Jamie Eldredge

Our celebrity co-host was C.J. Hamm, food writer with Tucson Foodie, who talked about his latest adventures on the culinary and cocktail circuit. We also checked in with Melissa D’Auria of the Tucson Botanical Gardens, who told us everything we needed to know about the upcoming Savor Food & Wine Festival. She also brought along Chef Jamie Eldredge of Noble Hops, who shared some of his plans and strategies for the delicious event. Our featured guest was Jason Machamer of Trident Grill, who spoke with great confidence and passion about football fare in the countdown to Super Bowl XLIX! Brat burgers, steamed shrimp and habanero-jerk wings were the order of the day, and they surely belong on your Super Bowl table!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:46 — 27.4MB)