Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders

Charlie DeSando
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is an interview and cooking show where we talk about our guests’ work in the community, cook something, and then enjoy the meal together. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

  1. 4d ago

    Sofrito & Education Solutions: Vincent Lyles on Community, Education, and Arroz con Ganduless

    On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders,  host Charlie sits down with Vincent Lyles, Executive Director of Milwaukee Succeeds. They discuss his Milwaukee roots, varied career, and the organization’s focus on improving early childhood education across the city.   The episode ends in the kitchen as Vincent prepares a vegan-friendly arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), sharing cooking tips and community stories over a shared meal.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/Trujb-q3qvE    The recipe can be found here-    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

    32 min
  2. The Blocks of Becher Street: From Gummy Bears to a Foodie Empire

    Jun 5

    The Blocks of Becher Street: From Gummy Bears to a Foodie Empire

    On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits West Allis to meet Mark Lutz, the owner behind a cluster of connected food businesses on Becher Street. Known as the Blocks of Becher, they include West Allis Cheese & Sausage, Becher Meats, Archie's Flat Top, Scratch Ice Cream, The Bake Sale, and Station No. 6.   The episode follows how childhood memories grew into an integrated food destination—touring kitchens, pop-up events, and the people who helped revitalize the neighborhood into a must-visit Milwaukee spot.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/L3N-uJRYaFw    “Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.   We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

    32 min

  3. May 30

    Coq au Vin with Charlie & Julia Child — A French Classic

    Join Charlie and guest Julia Child as they take you through coq au vin, a classic French chicken braised in red wine. This episode of International YouTube Club highlights France and walks viewers through a comforting, flavorful recipe.   The hosts season and brown the chicken in bacon fat, sauté the pearl onions and mushrooms, flame the cognac, then add red wine, beef stock, thyme, bay leaves, and tomato paste. The sauce is finished with a butter-and-flour thickener, combined with the braised chicken, and served with the mushrooms and onions.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/CnY8K6aJmq4    You can find the recipe here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/30/coq-au-vin-with-charlie-julia-child/    “Local Chef Go International” podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network (https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/).

    17 min

  4. May 28

    Los Tres Golpes: Marianne Jimenez’s Dominican Mangú and Mission

    On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie talks with Marian Jimenez, a BMO Harris treasury consultant and Latino community advocate. Marian shares her journey from the Dominican Republic to Canada and Milwaukee, and discusses her work advancing diversity, mentoring employees, and supporting small businesses. That work earned her a spot on the Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 list.   In the kitchen, she prepares mangú (green plantains) with fried Dominican salami, fried cheese, and fried eggs—Los Tres Golpes—sharing family memories, practical cooking tips, and how food connects to community and culture.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/5ROdatiVZNI    You can get Marian's recipe for Mangu here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/29/mangu-iconic-dominican-recipe/    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

    25 min
  5. Chillwaukee on the Milwaukee Riverwalk: Free Pops, Multiple Flavors & Community Vibes

    May 24

    Chillwaukee on the Milwaukee Riverwalk: Free Pops, Multiple Flavors & Community Vibes

    On this episode of Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie chats with Sam Wisneski, co-owner of Chillwaukee, a Milwaukee-based bicycle-powered popsicle and shaved ice business. They discuss Sam’s entrepreneurial beginnings, how he and his wife bought Chillwaukee, and the company’s community-focused, vegan-friendly menu.    The episode features a lively Riverwalk pop-up where they give away free popsicles, meet local customers, and highlight Chilwaukee’s busy seasonal schedule of festivals, farmers markets, and catering events.  https://chillwaukee.com/    You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/JHtC2kzOqUc    “Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.   We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

    31 min

  6. May 19

    Ego the Artist Cooks: Tuscan Lamb, Murals & Community

    On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie sits down with Terrell Morgan, aka Ego the Artist, to discuss his journey from Milwaukee's 53206 neighborhood to becoming a renowned community artist and mentor. They cover his murals, work with local festivals and schools, and explore the creative drive behind his activism.   Joined by Ego in the studio kitchen, they cook Tuscan lamb chops with garlic, Parmesan Garlic Potatoes, and asparagus, blending artful storytelling with a delicious meal.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/NNZnn7NKZXM    You can find the recipe on our recipe website here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/24/tuscan-lamb-chops-and-garlic-parmesan-potatoes/    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

    33 min
  7. Heirloom’s Burrata: From Food Truck to Bayview Favorite

    May 14

    Heirloom’s Burrata: From Food Truck to Bayview Favorite

    On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits Bayview’s Heirloom Restaurant to talk with co-owners Jess and chef Pete Ignatiev. They discuss their farm-to-table restaurant and popular food truck. They discuss seasonal menus, local farm partnerships, and their signature house-made burrata.   In the kitchen, Chef Pete shows step-by-step how he makes Heirloom's signature burrata from scratch. Fresh mozzarella curds are washed twice, filled with a ricotta/cream mixture, and served over a bed of arugula, with strawberries, pistachios, and much, much more.   The episode covers the couple’s path from a food truck during the pandemic to opening a restaurant, overcoming a truck fire, and why their rotating seasonal dishes and community connections make Heirloom a Milwaukee favorite. https://www.heirloommke.com/    You can see the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/XDtWgiZDXmw    “Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.   We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

    33 min

  8. May 12

    Spam, Cheese Whiz & Community Care: Puerto Rican Party Classics

    Live from Studio D, host Charlie chats with Shary Pérez, Community Health and Research Director at United Community Center, and Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. They discuss Shary’s journey from Puerto Rico to a public health career in Milwaukee and her community-engaged research work at UCC.   In the kitchen, Shary prepares Puerto Rican party favorites: sandwichitos de mezcla (Spam, Cheese Whiz, cream cheese, and roasted peppers) and a Puerto Rican potato salad with apples and a touch of mustard. The episode blends local leadership, culture, and comforting recipes.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/ZSEIPBuMoJM   You can find the recipes on our website here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/14/sandwichitos-de-mezcla-puerto-rican-potato-salad/    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network (https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/). This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

    29 min
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Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders is an interview and cooking show where we talk about our guests’ work in the community, cook something, and then enjoy the meal together. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

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