The Zest

WUSF
  • 4.5 (10)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Because it’s strange and beautiful and hot, people from everywhere converge on Florida and they bring their cuisine and their traditions with them. The Zest celebrates the intersection of food and communities in the Sunshine State.

  1. 1D AGO

    TikTok Star, Cookbook Author & Yacht Chef Abby Cheshire: “It’s Like Below Deck, without the Drama”

    For most of the year, Abby Cheshire teaches culinary arts for Florida Virtual School. And when school lets out, she works her summer job.  But she’s not delivering groceries or leading arts and crafts at daycamp like many teachers. The Brevard County native works as a chef on a private yacht. She shares her high-seas adventures with her more than 1 million TikTok followers, who know her as Abby in the Galley. And now she’s sharing her recipes, too. Chef Abby’s new cookbook is Passport to Flavor: 100 Global Dishes You can Make Anywhere. And she literally means anywhere. When she’s aboard the yacht, Abby is limited to working with whatever food and equipment she has on hand.  Abby recently chatted with us about the highs and lows of cooking on the high seas.

    23 min

  2. 3D AGO · BONUS

    Tapping into the Past, Present and Future of Tampa's Beer Scene

    This bonus episode comes courtesy of our friends at Florida Matters Live and Local.

    13 min

  3. JAN 8 · BONUS

    Tapping into the Past, Present and Future of Tampa's Beer Scene

    This bonus episode comes courtesy of our friends at Florida Matters Live and Local.

    13 min

  4. JAN 1 · BONUS

    Lettuce Begin: Tips for Going Plant Based in the New Year (Plus a Free Online Event for Zest Listeners!)

    Happy new year! If you’ve resolved to eat with more intention, then you’ll love these two things: First: Cookbook author and former Zest guest Kerstin Decook has a cool offer exclusively for Zest listeners. On Jan. 3, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST, join the free, live online event New Year, Fresh Flavors: How to Cook for Yourself with Confidence and Joy. Register here. Secondly: If you’re leaning into a plant-based lifestyle this year, then you’ll enjoy Dalia’s conversation with Mauria Hall, host of In the Meantime with Mauria. Dalia was recently a guest on the ITMWM, discussing vegetarianism with host Mauria Hall, an on-again-off-again vegetarian. This conversation is part practical advice, part low-key therapy session. We hope this bonus episode inspires you, whether you need practical advice for going plant-based or even just a pep talk for cooking more meals at home, with or without meat.

    53 min

  5. 12/24/2025 · BONUS

    On the “Tampa’s Table” Podcast, Dalia & Jeff Houck Can’t Stop Gushing About Our Local Food Scene

    What do you get when you put two foodies in the same room with a microphone? Tampa’s Table! It’s a podcast produced by Visit Tampa Bay and hosted by friend of the pod Jeff Houck. The show explores Tampa Bay’s food scene with chefs, restaurant developers, food influencers and—recently, Dalia Colón. So take a seat at the table, and enjoy this bonus episode.

    30 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Holiday Potluck: Cake Catastrophes, Nut Nostalgia and… Is Turkey Overrated?

    On the season 12 finale of The Zest Podcast, the team offers their hot takes on holiday foods. Executive producer and host Dalia Colón is joined by editor Andrew Lucas and brand manager Alexandria Ebron. From traditional family favorites to which holiday dishes are overrated, things are heating up in the Zest kitchen.

    21 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    From Heritage to Haute Cuisine: Caribbean-Inspired Spice Society Supper Club with Chef Khadeem Charles

    Picture this: you roll through a bright blue gate onto a sprawling property lined with ancient oaks, lush gardens bursting with color and a quiet pond where a few friendly farm animals wander by. Live music drifts through the air, tropical flowers spill across the outdoor tables, and before you is a Caribbean-inspired feast that looks almost too beautiful to eat. Welcome to Spice Society Supper Club—a night of music, storytelling, craft cocktails and unforgettable food. The experience pops up periodically at Mill Pond Estate, a picturesque wedding venue in Seffner. And the menu is dreamed up by the estate’s own chef, Khadeem Charles. Drawing on his Trinidadian and Panamanian roots, Chef Khadeem is dedicated to taking Caribbean cuisine to new heights and giving it the fine-dining spotlight it deserves. The best part? Spice Society Supper Club is open to the public, as are several of the estate’s other community events, from fancy tea parties to outdoor yoga sessions. Kahdeem recently visited our studios at WUSF in Tampa. In this conversation, he dishes on Spice Society Supper Club, a food trend coming your way in 2026 and tips for cooking during the holidays, whether you’re hosting four people or 400.

    25 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Tide to Table: Here’s Your Preview of Tampa Oyster Festival

    Once the holiday hoopla fades, we all need something delicious to look forward to. Luckily, we’ve got just the thing: the Tampa Oyster Festival. Happening Jan. 10, this event checks all the boxes. It’s outdoors during Florida’s best weather. It’s packed with fresh seafood, live music and the kind of friendly crowd that makes you glad you came hungry.  Bonus: It all supports a great cause—Frameworks of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit helping kids build emotional intelligence and the life skills they’ll lean on for years to come. Joining us for a sneak peek is festival one of its organizers, Bill Murphy. He’ll share his favorite ways to enjoy oysters—and even dive into the ethics of eating them.

    19 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Because it’s strange and beautiful and hot, people from everywhere converge on Florida and they bring their cuisine and their traditions with them. The Zest celebrates the intersection of food and communities in the Sunshine State.

Information

  • Channel
    WUSF
  • Creator
    WUSF
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WUSF Public Media. University of South Florida. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Zest

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