CookPod Peter Barrett

This week I talk to Ashton Zubal from Farmstock Farm in Kingston, a collaboration between four idealistic young former professionals who left the big city to get back to the land. We discuss their motivations, their plans, and how far they've come in their first year. Enjoy!

This week I talk to Christopher Williams, head distiller at Coppersea Distillery in New Paltz. He brought whiskies to taste, and we discussed many things having to do with the making and drinking thereof. If you enjoy a wee dram, or have dabbled in brewing or distilling, or are interested in terroir and the Hudson Valley, this show will be a treat. Cheers!  

This week I talk to Megan Denver of Hudson Valley Bee Supply in Kingston. Bees are a critical part of our food supply, and she's doing terrific work as a business owner, educator, and activist. We had a lively and engaging conversation and I think you'll enjoy hearing what she has to say. Sweet!

This week I talk with Avinash Jeff Barnes, the executive chef at the KTD monastery in Woodstock, New York. We discuss the long and winding path that brought him here, and the ways in which he has managed to combine cooking with music and spirituality to form a rich and fulfilling life. He's got some great stories, and I really enjoyed getting to know him. I hope you do too.

This week I've got a double header from my trip to Seattle at the end of April. I spent my time there with Andrew Rubinstein, who has just launched Rubinstein Bagels after a couple of years perfecting his recipe and finding the right business partners. He and I went to grad school together and I went out there to see his first solo show and also do some geeky bagel recipe development for future specials. I also got to meet my old food blogger friend Brittany Bardeleben for the first time in real life, and we had a lovely chat about her life as a pastry chef. Enjoy!

This week I talk with Mark Bittman, long-time columnist at the New York Times and author of nearly 20 books. We talk about his history as a writer, and specifically the his practice and evolution as an advocate for home cooks, as well as Heated, his new venture with Medium. This was a fun one, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.