The Perfect Bite

Sarah Perkins
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  • FOOD
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Your fusion of food and entrepreneurship, The Perfect Bite brings you inspiring conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, CPG brand founders, food tech founders, and more in the food and beverage industry, highlighting their experiences and how they've cooked up something new. From emerging brands to established business owners, you'll learn from the best entrepreneurs in food, beverage, hospitality, and agriculture about how they started their businesses, what problems they're solving, the tough times they've overcome, and their best advice for entering these industries or starting your own business. We end each episode with the world's best and hardest question: What is your perfect bite?

  1. A Better Vegan Butter | How Susannah Schoolman Engineered Plant-Based Ingredients for Professional Kitchens

    2D AGO

    A Better Vegan Butter | How Susannah Schoolman Engineered Plant-Based Ingredients for Professional Kitchens

    What does it actually take to build a better ingredient for professional kitchens? In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Susannah Schoolman, founder of Tourlami, to unpack how deep culinary experience can become a real competitive advantage in entrepreneurship. Susannah shares how her background as a classically trained pastry chef revealed a major gap in the plant-based market: vegan butters that simply didn’t work in professional baking and kitchen environments. Instead of settling for “good enough,” she spent years testing, iterating, and engineering two plant-based butters designed specifically for lamination, pastry, and high-heat applications in professional kitchens. This conversation explores: How lived kitchen experience can uncover real product-market fitWhy Tourlami offers multiple functional butters, not a single catch-all solutionThe five-year R&D journey behind building a credible food ingredientThe mindset shift from chef to founderWhy early-stage founders should prioritize performance over branding This episode is a must-listen for food founders, chefs considering entrepreneurship, and anyone building a product meant to perform under real-world conditions. You can learn more about Tourlami at www.tourlami.com. You can purchase Tourlami for your own kitchen at Chef’s Warehouse locations across the U.S and Canada and on Webstaurant Store. You can follow Tourlami on social media @tourlami and Susannah at @itsschool_man.  Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    48 min
  2. From Rock Bottom to Pastry Queen: How Mindy Crosato Built Decadent Creations & A Commissary Kitchen

    JAN 29

    From Rock Bottom to Pastry Queen: How Mindy Crosato Built Decadent Creations & A Commissary Kitchen

    What does it really take to build a food business from the ground up — and keep it alive for over 16 years? In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Mindy Crosato, founder of Decadent Creations, Collective Kitchen, and Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon. Mindy shares her raw, honest entrepreneurial journey — from a personal rock-bottom moment at age 20 to becoming a “Chopped” champion, bakery owner, and the largest private employer in downtown Hillsboro. Mindy opens up about: Why getting fired, failing out of school, and a breakup pushed her to trust herselfStarting a bakery business at farmers markets with just $500How winning Chopped accelerated her growth overnightThe realities of scaling a handmade food businessWhy she built a commissary kitchen to help other food entrepreneurs succeedHow community, mentorship, and persistence matter more than perfection This conversation is a masterclass in food entrepreneurship, creative risk-taking, and building businesses that serve both people and place. If you’re a baker, chef, maker, or aspiring founder — this episode will leave you inspired to start before you feel ready. You can learn more about Decadent Creations at www.decadentcreations.com and visit the bakery and the Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon.  You can follow Decadent Creations @decadentcreationspdx, Collective Market @collectivemarketpdx, and Mindy @mindcrosato. Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    48 min
  3. MINI BITE—Inside Food Venture Capital: Nate Cooper on Investing in the Next Generation of CPG

    JAN 22

    MINI BITE—Inside Food Venture Capital: Nate Cooper on Investing in the Next Generation of CPG

    This week’s episode is our first ever MINI BITE! You get to learn so much in a shorter episode length. Enjoy! Building a food or CPG company is never easy—and finding the right investors can be just as challenging. On this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Nate Cooper, founder and managing partner of Barrel Ventures, to talk about what it really takes to build, fund, and scale successful food and beverage businesses. Nate shares his journey from growing up in a food-industry family to helping launch LYFE Kitchen, co-founding Wise Apple, and eventually becoming an early investor in brands like Olipop. Along the way, he breaks down how founders should think about fundraising, why not everyone needs to love your product, and how venture capital actually works behind the scenes in food and CPG. This conversation covers: How Nate transitioned from operator to food-focused venture capitalistLessons learned from building and shutting down a startupWhat makes a food or CPG brand investableWhy niche audiences matter more than mass appealThe future of functional beverages, CPG consolidation, and emerging categoriesHow founders should approach investors—and what not to doWhy resilience, network, and long-term vision matter more than perfection Whether you’re building a food brand, exploring venture capital, or just curious how investment decisions are made in CPG, this episode offers a candid, insider look at the business of food. You can connect with Nate on LinkedIn or email him at nate@barrelvc.com. You can learn more about Barrel Ventures and its portfolio companies at www.barrelvc.com.  Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    31 min
  4. Setting the Table for Success with Kira Corbin

    JAN 15

    Setting the Table for Success with Kira Corbin

    Thanks for being a supporter of The Perfect Bite! I’m gathering info about what you love about the show on this quick survey—I’m picking 5 random recipients for a $10 Starbucks gift card through Tuesday, January 20, 2026! You can fill it out here. Thanks!  Now back to the episode! Setting a table is about more than plateware and linens—it’s about intention, connection, and creating a sense of place. In this episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Kira Corbin, founder of Standard Affair, to explore how a lifelong love of food, prop styling, and visual storytelling evolved into a modern homewares brand rooted in sustainability and timeless design. Kira shares her journey from working on food and lifestyle shoots for major publications to launching Standard Affair, a line of ceramic dinnerware and linens designed to elevate everyday meals while reducing waste. The conversation covers everything from the emotional power of the table to the realities of entrepreneurship, creative pivots, and why persistence matters more than perfection. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Kira transitioned from prop styling and magazine shoots to founding Standard AffairWhy table settings play a powerful role in hospitality and connectionHow sustainability and recycled materials shape Standard Affair’s production processWhat it takes to pivot careers and “kill your darling” to make space for growthTips for creating meaningful, intentional dinner parties at homeWhy persistence—not talent—is often the key to entrepreneurial success Whether you’re a creative founder, food-media professional, or someone who loves gathering around the table, this episode offers inspiration for building something beautiful and meaningful. You can purchase Standard Affair and learn more at www.standardaffair.com. TPB listeners can get 10% off your purchase with code ‘PERFECTBITE10’! You can see more of Kira’s work at www.kiracorbin.com.  You can follow Standard Affair on Instagram @standardaffair and Kira @kiracorbin.  Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    1h 2m
  5. Why Non-Alcoholic Drinks Deserve Complexity with Five Corners’ Benno Nelson

    JAN 8

    Why Non-Alcoholic Drinks Deserve Complexity with Five Corners’ Benno Nelson

    What if non-alcoholic drinks were just as complex, cultural, and satisfying as craft cocktails? On this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Benno Nelson, co-founder of Five Corners Beverage Company, a Chicago-based brand crafting deeply flavored, globally inspired non-alcoholic canned drinks for adults. Benno shares how his journey into sobriety — paired with a lifelong love of food, beverage, and global storytelling — sparked the idea for Five Corners. Rather than creating sugary substitutes or imitation cocktails, Five Corners honors traditional non-alcoholic drinks from around the world, focusing on the five foundational tastes: salty, sour, bitter, savory, and sweet. This episode explores the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, why Chicago is the perfect testing ground for innovative drinks, and how intentional flavor design can create true alternatives—not compromises. In this episode, we discuss: Why non-alcoholic drinks deserve depth, culture, and storyBenno’s sobriety journey and how it shaped Five CornersThe inspiration behind flavors like Salted Lemonade and SangritaHow global beverage traditions influenced Five Corners’ recipesBuilding a beverage startup intentionally and locally in ChicagoWhy non-alcoholic menus are additive — not cannibalistic — for restaurantsLessons in entrepreneurship, patience, and community-driven growth To learn more about Five Corners or order your own packs around the country, head to www.fivecornersbev.com. Get 10% off your online order with code ‘BITE’! You can purchase and experience Five Corners Beverage at retailers, restaurants and venues throughout the Chicago area.  You can follow Five Corners on Instagram @fivecornersbev. Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    55 min
  6. Designing Experiences That Build Belonging with Maryam Ahmed

    2025-12-18

    Designing Experiences That Build Belonging with Maryam Ahmed

    What makes a restaurant, winery, or culinary space truly memorable? It’s not just the food — it’s the experience. In this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Maryam Ahmed, founder of Maryam + Company and partner at PLAYTE Kitchen, to explore how experience design, community, and equity intersect across the food and beverage industry. Maryam shares her journey from hospitality operations and wine education to founding a consulting firm focused on inclusive, impactful experiences. From her work at the Culinary Institute of America’s Copia campus to launching hands-on culinary programming in Napa at PLAYTE Kitchen, Maryam breaks down how thoughtful design can foster connection, belonging, and long-term sustainability in hospitality. This conversation dives into food as a unifying force, the future of experiential hospitality, and what it truly takes to build spaces where everyone feels welcome. In this episode, you’ll learn: How experience design shapes guest connection in food and beverageWhy community and equity must be embedded into hospitality systemsThe role of education in creating meaningful culinary experiencesHow PLAYTE Kitchen is reimagining hands-on cooking classesWhy authentic and diverse leadership matters in food, wine, and hospitality You can visit PLAYTE Kitchen in Napa, California and sign up for classes at www.playtekitchen.com. You can follow PLAYTE Kitchen on Instagram at @playtekitchen. You can learn more about Maryam + Company at www.maryamandcompany.com. You can follow Maryam + Company on Instagram @maryamandcompany and Maryam @goodfriendsgoodfood. Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    1h 4m
  7. Building a Better Frozen Waffle with Emily Groden

    2025-12-11

    Building a Better Frozen Waffle with Emily Groden

    On this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Emily Groden, founder and CEO of Evergreen waffles, the better-for-you frozen waffle brand now sold in more than 8,500 grocery stores nationwide.  Emily’s story is anything but traditional. After graduating from Yale and Harvard Law School, she became General Counsel for The Alinea Group—one of the most innovative and prestigious restaurant groups in the world. But it was pregnancy, motherhood, and a podcast on frozen waffles that sparked an idea that would change her career — and the breakfast aisle — forever. In this episode, Emily shares how she built Evergreen waffles from her home kitchen into a nationally distributed CPG brand, all while staying true to real ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and steadfast business and nutrition values. In this episode, we discuss: • How Evergreen waffles was born from motherhood and necessity • The leap from corporate law to food entrepreneurship • Lessons Emily learned working at The Alinea Group and Tock • Building a frozen CPG brand with real, whole-food ingredients • Scaling manufacturing, retail distribution, and supply chain • Why shooting your shot — even with a cold email — matters • The challenges and rewards of building a Midwest-based CPG brand Perfect Bite listeners—get 15% off your Evergreen order on eatevergreen.com with code ‘TPB15’!  Visit www.eatevergreen.com to shop, learn more, and find store locations with product near you.  You can follow Evergreen on Instagram at @eatevergreen.  Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    48 min
  8. Why AI Can Never Replace the Innate Creativity of Chefs with Paul Liebrandt

    2025-12-04

    Why AI Can Never Replace the Innate Creativity of Chefs with Paul Liebrandt

    On today’s episode of The Perfect Bite Podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with globally renowned chef Paul Liebrandt — the boundary-breaking culinary artist known for plates that blend British punk attitude with Michelin-level precision. Liebrandt became a media and industry legend early — earning three stars from The New York Times at age 24, starring in an Emmy-winning HBO documentary, and redefining fine dining with an unmistakable creative identity. In this deep and unfiltered conversation, Paul opens up about: 🍽 How English boarding school, Chinatown markets, and early memories shaped his palette 🔥 Why chefs must protect creativity in the age of social media & AI 🤖 His stance on technology vs. the irreplaceable “human intuition” of culinary craft 📈 What most restaurant operators misunderstand about marketing today 🧠 The psychology of taste and why diners are really coming to fine dining restaurants 🌍 His experience working across London, Paris, New York and Asia — and where the industry is heading next Whether you’re a chef, founder, hospitality professional, or creative of any kind, this episode is a masterclass in artistry, excellence, resilience, and staying true to your voice — even in a noisy world. You can learn more about Crumpet Management and Paul’s work at www.paulliebrandt.com.  You can follow Paul on Instagram at @paulliebrandt.  Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

    52 min
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About

Your fusion of food and entrepreneurship, The Perfect Bite brings you inspiring conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, CPG brand founders, food tech founders, and more in the food and beverage industry, highlighting their experiences and how they've cooked up something new. From emerging brands to established business owners, you'll learn from the best entrepreneurs in food, beverage, hospitality, and agriculture about how they started their businesses, what problems they're solving, the tough times they've overcome, and their best advice for entering these industries or starting your own business. We end each episode with the world's best and hardest question: What is your perfect bite?

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Perkins
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Perkins
  • Show Website
    The Perfect Bite