Munching on Molecules

Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas
  • 4.8 (4)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to Munching on Molecules, your portal to the world of culinary delights, food science, and global gastronomy. Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas explore and share the latest in food discoveries and trends from our Canadian backyard and around the world, fostering a delicious food community for enthusiasts and experts alike. Approachable, inspiring, fun introduction to the world of food technology, science and culinary research. - **What can listeners expect to hear?** - Cutting-edge food technologies - Food scientists and culinary mavens perspectives

  1. Episode 53: Bread, Business, and Family: Bill DeBlois and the Buns & Things Story

    2025-12-30

    Episode 53: Bread, Business, and Family: Bill DeBlois and the Buns & Things Story

    We wrap up our action-packed PEI mini-series with Bill DeBlois, owner of Buns & Things Bakery. Bill shares how his parents scaled a franchise into a thriving bakery operation, and what it’s taken to keep that momentum going. From near-bankruptcy beginnings to running a high-volume scratch bakery operation, this episode is full of lessons in leadership, resilience, and staying curious. Highlights include: The franchise origins behind Buns and ThingsChallenges and Insights of Operating a high-volume scratch bakeryLessons in leadership, legacy, and local resilience from a second-generation entrepreneur Tune in to hear Bill’s grounded, generous insights and the hilarious behind-the-scenes 70 foot lobster-roll baking story! Trust us, you don’t want to miss this story.   Resources: https://www.bunsandthings.ca   Christine and Lara's additional eats and culinary stops from their PEI road trip: · Frothy Coffee Bar · PEI Handpie Company · Cow's

    42 min
  2. Episode 52: Inside Canada’s Smartest Kitchen with Chef Krista MacQuarrie

    2025-12-07

    Episode 52: Inside Canada’s Smartest Kitchen with Chef Krista MacQuarrie

    In Part 2 of our PEI road trip series, Christine and Lara tour Canada’s Smartest Kitchen (CSK) and sit down with Chef Krista MacQuarrie, a culinary veteran turned product development expert helping food businesses bring bold ideas to market. With 15+ years in restaurant kitchens and another 15 years at the intersection of food and innovation, Chef Krista shares what it takes to turn great recipes into scalable, shelf-ready products that resonate with consumers. Highlights from the episode: Krista’s journey into culinary innovation, from restaurant chef to product development collaboratorHow Canada’s Smartest Kitchen helps brands accelerate development with real-world testing and sensory scienceAdvice for food professionals and students looking to build their product development careers  Whether you're in product development, culinary strategy, or curious about what it means to design food for market impact, this episode offers thoughtful insights. Resources: https://smartestkitchen.ca   Chef Krista's recommendations:- Richard's Fresh Seafood- Cork & Cast- Ada's Culinary Grab & Go  Christine and Lara's PEI eats and culinary stops from their island road trip:- Slaymakers - Leonhard's Cafe & Restaurant- Founder's Food Hall

    11 min
  3. Episode 51: Scalable, Safe and Shelf-Ready: The Role of BioFoodTech with Joy Shinn

    2025-12-01

    Episode 51: Scalable, Safe and Shelf-Ready: The Role of BioFoodTech with Joy Shinn

    We’re kicking off our PEI tour in Charlottetown. In the first stop of our three-part series, Lara and Christine visit BioFoodTech, a hub for food innovation and commercialization in Atlantic Canada. At BioFoodTech, companies receive essential support in product development, food safety, labelling, and scale-up, all under one roof. Our guest is Joy Shinn, (now retired) food scientist, who supported various food and beverage companies and helped bridge the gap between benchtop and marketplace. In this episode, we explore: The role of BioFoodTech in Canada’s food innovation ecosystem Why labelling and safety are foundational for product success What scale-up really looks like for startups and SMEs How regional infrastructure fuels national food innovation Whether you're developing your first SKU or scaling your fiftieth, this behind-the-scenes episode offers valuable insight. Learn more about BioFoodTech: biofoodtechpei.ca/about

    18 min
  4. Episode 50: Consumer Trust & Protecting Brand Integrity with Deleo de Leonardis, CEO & Co-Founder of Purity-IQ

    2025-11-24

    Episode 50: Consumer Trust & Protecting Brand Integrity with Deleo de Leonardis, CEO & Co-Founder of Purity-IQ

    What does it really take to protect consumer trust and brand integrity in today’s complex, global marketplace? This week on Munching on Molecules, Lara and Christine visit the lab at Purity-IQ to speak with Deleo de Leonardis, co-founder and CEO, and a seasoned retail executive with over three decades in Canadian food and drug retail. From her time as VP of Private Label at one of Canada’s largest supermarket chains leading the charge in innovation, Deleo brings a powerful perspective on what it means to maintain trust at the shelf level and beyond. Episode highlights include: • How Purity-IQ is revolutionizing brand protection with DNA and NMR technology • Why authenticity matters more than ever in a globalized, clean-label world • The real value of verified supply chains for consumers and companies alike • What “standardized authenticity testing” looks like and why it’s the future If you’re in quality assurance, private label, supply chain, or brand development, this is one to bookmark. Link to Purity-IQ: Purity-IQ | ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Authenticity Testing Photo credits: Left to Right Gerald Amantea, PhD (food safety consultant), Phil Chang (This Commerce Life), Deleo de Leonardis (Purity-IQ), Lara Tiro (Munching on Molecules), and Christine Farkas (Munching on Molecules)

    35 min
  5. Episode 49: At the Crossroads of Nutrition, Policy & Innovation with Christopher Marinangeli, PhD, RD.

    2025-11-17

    Episode 49: At the Crossroads of Nutrition, Policy & Innovation with Christopher Marinangeli, PhD, RD.

    This week on Munching on Molecules, we sit down with a guest whose roots in food run deep, both personally and professionally: Christopher Marinangeli, PhD, RD. Christopher grew up immersed in the food world, dating back to his great-grandparents, and his grandfather who famously got his driver’s license in exchange for bananas in Toronto, to his own executive roles in CPG. Food isn’t just a career for Christopher, it’s in his DNA. Christopher brings close to two decades of experience navigating the complex intersections of food regulations, nutrition science, and market strategy. From shaping policy in the Canadian agri-food sector to guiding innovation at major CPG brands, he’s a sought-after expert on how evidence-based nutrition can drive competitive advantage. Now serving as Director of the Centre for Regulatory Research and Innovation at Protein Industries Canada (PIC), Christopher is on a mission to modernize food regulations and unlock the full potential of plant-based protein innovation. In this episode: - The power of nutrition science in strategic product development - How PIC is helping and supporting Canada's SMEs, starting with plant protein - What’s next for innovation for plant-based proteins and Canada’s Ag sector This one’s for the changemakers at the crossroads of science, policy, and food product design. Resources: https://www.proteinindustriescanada.ca/crri

    35 min

  6. 2025-10-16

    Episode 48: CHFA Now Toronto Recap

    Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas are back from CHFA NOW Toronto (Sept 19–21, 2025) with stories, insights, and plenty of laughs from Canada’s biggest natural and organic trade show. From co-hosting Launchpad to firing off rapid-fire questions with emerging founders, the duo dives into what it really takes to stand out: 💡 How do you share your business story?👥 Who are your customers—really?🌟 What makes your brand special? It’s a behind-the-scenes recap of innovation, hustle, and heart from the CHFA floor—where Canada’s next food and wellness leaders take the stage. 🎧 Tune in for bite-sized reflections, founder wisdom, and a taste of what’s next for the natural products scene.

    11 min
  7. Episode 47: Celebrating 85 Years of Food in Canada with Editor, Nithya

    2025-09-25

    Episode 47: Celebrating 85 Years of Food in Canada with Editor, Nithya

    We chat with Nithya, editor of Food in Canada magazine, Canada’s longest-standing national publication serving the food and beverage industry. As Food in Canada proudly marks its 85th anniversary, we discuss how the magazine continues to adapt while maintaining its trusted voice in a rapidly evolving sector. Nithya takes us through the magazine's more recent history: its acquisition by Annex Business Media in 2021, and a pivotal change in March 2024, when Annex transitioned into a 100% Employee-Management Partnership. Now, every employee shares in ownership and profit, and importantly, helps shape decision-making and priorities.  We dive into: How to submit your story to Food in Canada: What editors look for, what kind of narratives resonate, and how to maximize your pitch’s chance of being featured. Current trends in Canada’s food landscape: We cover shifts in the supply chain, rising consumer demands for transparency and sustainability, and how brands are responding. The ongoing role of industry-focused trade publications like Food in Canada in giving a platform to both emerging and established voices in the food processing sector. Whether you are leading a startup, building a heritage brand, or just tuned into the pulse of Canada’s food industry, this episode delivers both actionable advice and a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a publication that’s shaped nearly nine decades of Canada’s food story. Resources:https://www.foodincanada.com Submit your story pitch: NCaleb@annexbusinessmedia.com

    24 min
  8. Episode 46: CHFA NOW Toronto, September 19 - 21, 2025

    2025-09-18

    Episode 46: CHFA NOW Toronto, September 19 - 21, 2025

    Episode 46 is your behind-the-scenes pass to all things CHFA NOW Toronto, happening September 19–21, 2025. Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas, run through what’s ahead, including: 💚 Not one but two Thursday mixers on Sept 18: BDC x B Local Ontario x CHFA gathering and the COTA Organic Month Mingler, because the real networking starts before the show even opens. 💚 Their very first time co-hosting CHFA Launchpad on Friday, Sept 19 at 5pm, where emerging brands and big ideas take center stage. 💚 What’s buzzing at this year’s conference workshops and panels. It’s a bite-sized session filled with tips, laughs, and a little nervous excitement. Tune in to hear what they’re most looking forward to this week. Whether you’re attending or just curious what CHFA NOW is all about, this one’s worth a listen. Full schedule: https://www.chfanow.ca/toronto/schedule

    16 min
See All (53)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Munching on Molecules, your portal to the world of culinary delights, food science, and global gastronomy. Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas explore and share the latest in food discoveries and trends from our Canadian backyard and around the world, fostering a delicious food community for enthusiasts and experts alike. Approachable, inspiring, fun introduction to the world of food technology, science and culinary research. - **What can listeners expect to hear?** - Cutting-edge food technologies - Food scientists and culinary mavens perspectives

Information

  • Creator
    Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas
  • Show Website
    Munching on Molecules