Our New York Table

Diane Bezucha

The podcast about food, the people who make it, and what brings all of us to the table.

  1. Layer by Layer: Building Communtiy Through Persian Food with Saba Hamidi

    2D AGO

    Layer by Layer: Building Communtiy Through Persian Food with Saba Hamidi

    Community isn’t always built in public spaces — sometimes it begins in kitchens, around simmering pots, shared stories, and the foods and traditions we carry with us. In this episode, we gather with friends in Harlem, in Saba Hamidi’s cozy apartment, where she teaches us to make some of her favorite Persian dishes. As we cook and eat, Saba talks about her journey from Iran to the U.S. as a Bahá’í refugee — and how she’s using food to build community and give back. Read more about what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2018) “Kamancheh & Persian Instruments Harmony” by SoundBin Studio “Soul of Dubai” by PineAppleMusic “Upbeat Together Worldbeat Emotional World Uplifting Music” by REDproductions “Periodicals” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut, (2018) “Cooking Food Music” by BackgroundMusicForVideos “Sage the Hunter” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Landsman Duets, (2018)

    40 min
  2. “It Was Always Tacos”: Flavor, Fun, and the Story Behind Taqueria Ramirez

    FEB 10

    “It Was Always Tacos”: Flavor, Fun, and the Story Behind Taqueria Ramirez

    When his photography studio stalled during the pandemic, Giovanni Cervantes turned back to his first love: tacos. What began as impromptu lunches and parties with friends slowly revealed itself as something more. In this episode, I sit down with Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar, the duo behind Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint and Carnitas Ramirez in the East Village. We talk about growing up in Mexico, surviving New York City, and making the leap from photography to food. Read more about what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2018) “Background latin house. Dance music for short video. Funny reggaeton” by White_Records “Classic Mariachi” by Jimena Contreras 80x Lo-fi Jazz by SigmaMusicArt “Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut, (2018) “Cooking Food Music” by BackgroundMusicForVideos “Love in Mexico” by Carmen María and Edu Espinal “Too Good For Punk (positive funk)” by Kulakovka “Periodicals” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Takeout at the Taco Truck” by TokyoRifft “Filing Away” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Crab Shack, (2018)

    43 min
  3. Grandma's Gursha: Food as Care

    JAN 27

    Grandma's Gursha: Food as Care

    As a child in Addis Ababa, Hibist Legesse used to dread the impossibly large gurshas her grandmother would feed her. Years later, she came to understand just how much can be communicated in a single bite. In this episode, I share a platter with Hibist Legesse, owner of Bati Ethiopian Kitchen in Brooklyn. We talk about her journey to the United States and the Ethiopian traditions — like gursha and mahaber — that have shaped her relationship to food, community, and caring for others. Read more about what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2018) "80x Lo-fi Jazz" by SigmaMusicArt "Ethiopia Groove" and "Addis Jazz" by u_98673jp944 “Cooking Food Music” by BackgroundMusicForVideos “Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut, (2018) Sprinkle of Trouble_Medium (Comedy) by Grand_Project “Periodicals” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Too Good For Punk (positive funk)” by Kulakovka “Upbeat Together Worldbeat Emotional World Uplifting Music” by REDproductions Ethiopian Worldbeat by soundoffreedom “City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) Lo-Fi Lullaby by LP-Studio-music Smooth Jazz Blues Groove by Tunetank “Lahaina” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Cloud Harbor, (2016)

    41 min
  4. A Place to Linger: Food as Art and Atmosphere at Benyam Ethiopian Cuisine

    JAN 13

    A Place to Linger: Food as Art and Atmosphere at Benyam Ethiopian Cuisine

    When Benyam Ethiopian Cuisine first opened in Harlem, people weren’t always sure whether they’d walked into a restaurant or an art gallery. And in some ways, that was exactly how owner Beniam Asfaw and his siblings wanted it. In this episode, I sit down with owner Beniam Asfaw to talk about his journey to New York City, berbere basics, and how food, art, and atmosphere come together to create a place meant for lingering. Read more about what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Music “Addis Jazz” by u_98673jp944 “Cooking Food Music” by BackgroundMusicForVideos “Too Good For Punk (positive funk)” by Kulakovka “Jazz Background Music” by HitsLab “Upbeat Together Worldbeat Emotional World Uplifting Music” by REDproductions “Periodicals” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Grey Grey Joe” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album TinyTiny Trio, (2016)

    36 min
  5. You Are What You Cook: Palestinian Food with the King of Falafel and Shawarma

    12/30/2025

    You Are What You Cook: Palestinian Food with the King of Falafel and Shawarma

    When Fares Zedeia left Palestine as a teenager, he believed he’d return. Instead, he had to watch from afar as his homeland was torn apart. For years, he searched for his place in the world — a search that eventually led him to a food cart on a New York City sidewalk. In this episode, I sit down with Fares “Freddy” Zedeia, the King of Falafel and Shawarma himself. Over a platter of his signature falafel, juicy shawarma, and tender kebab, we talk about his journey from cab driver to king — and how food becomes identity and a way to survive when home is far away. Read more about what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2017) “Somewhere in Punjab” by SergeQuadrado Cooking Food Music by BackgroundMusicForVideos Upbeat Together Worldbeat Emotional World Uplifting Music by REDproductions “Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut, (2017) “Watermarks” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Crab Shack (2018) “City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Armenia” by SergeQuadrado

    44 min
  6. What it Takes: The Craftsmanship of Vietnamese Cooking

    12/16/2025

    What it Takes: The Craftsmanship of Vietnamese Cooking

    When friends John Nguyen and Chef Nhu Ton first jumped into the restaurant world, they were in over their heads. Way over. Today, they run one of the hottest Vietnamese spots in New York City. In this episode, I sit down with John and Nhu, the team behind Manhattan’s Bánh Anh Em. Over bánh mì and bún chả, we talk about their journey from hole-in-the-wall beginnings to the Michelin Guide — and the craftsmanship that transforms simple ingredients into unforgettable dishes. See what we ate! ----more---- EPISODE CREDITS Produced & Edited by Diane Bezucha Additional editing by Christina Mitchell Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2017) “Cast in Wicker” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Aeronaut, (2017) “Periodicals” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY (2015) “Filing Away” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Crab Shack (2016) Cảnh Ruộng Đồng Quê Bên Bờ Đê - Vietnam Bamboo Flute by Asian_Background_Music Mysteries of Son Doong - Vietnam Travel by Asian_Background_Music Cooking Food Music by BackgroundMusicForVideos Luỹ Tre Xanh Ngát Đầu Làng (Guzheng) - Vietnam BGM by VPRODMUSIC_Asia_BGM

    39 min
  7. Em Bistro: Love, Noodles, and the Ingredients that Matter

    12/02/2025

    Em Bistro: Love, Noodles, and the Ingredients that Matter

    Patrick Lin calls Hu Tieu “the noodle soup of his ancestors.” So when Ly Nguyen made a version that was better than his mom’s, he knew she was the one. In this episode, I sit down with Patrick and Ly — owners of Brooklyn's Em Vietnamese — to talk about how they fell in love with each other and with Vietnamese cooking. Over a feast of Ly’s best dishes, we explore the ingredients, stories, and traditions that give this cuisine its incredible freshness and depth. Check out everything we ate!   ----more----Episode Credits Hosted, Produced, and Edited by Diane Bezucha Additional Editing by Christina Mitchell Music “Coronea” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Marisala, (2017) “Lahaina” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Cloud Harbor, (2016) Cảnh Ruộng Đồng Quê Bên Bờ Đê - Vietnam Bamboo Flute by Asian_Background_Music Cooking Food Music by BackgroundMusicForVideos Euphoric Streams Of Vietnam - Nhạc Nền Video by AudioBay_BGM Huế Thương Dịu Dàng - Vietnam Bamboo Flute by VPRODMUSIC_Asia_BGM Luỹ Tre Xanh Ngát Đầu Làng (Guzheng) - Vietnam BGM by VPRODMUSIC_Asia_BGM Mysteries of Son Doong - Vietnam Travel by Asian_Background_Music Tiếng Đàn Tranh Dưới Bóng Cây Đa (Đàn Tranh) - Nhạc Nền Video by VPRODMUSIC_Asia_BGM

    40 min

  8. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Our New York Table - Season 2 Trailer

    We're back with season 2 of Our New York Table, the podcast about food, the people who make it, and what brings all of us to the table. In this season, we'll hear from chefs and restaurant owners about the experiences that shaped them, the dreams they brought to New York City, and the risks they took to make them happen. New season coming December 2025.

    2 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

The podcast about food, the people who make it, and what brings all of us to the table.

Information

  • Creator
    Diane Bezucha
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Our New York Table