That Ate

Justin Burke
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

That Ate is a queer food podcast serving up the stories you don’t always hear. Hosted by pastry chef and cookbook author Justin Burke, the show digs into how we cook, eat, and connect. Through honest, story-driven conversations with the people shaping queer food culture, That Ate explores how we reshape, reclaim, and rewrite the traditions that define our lives.

Episodes

  1. Episode 6: That Ate with Casey Elsass

    1D AGO

    Episode 6: That Ate with Casey Elsass

    This episode is a little different. Queerness in food isn’t explicitly unpacked; yet it’s present. Host Justin Burke sits down with cookbook writer and recipe developer Casey Elsass for a conversation that’s part behind-the-scenes, part catch-up, and entirely shaped by a shared experience. Both Justin and Casey wrote and published their first cookbooks at the same time. For Casey, after helping bring nearly 20 cookbooks to life as a ghostwriter and co-author, What Can I Bring? marks his first solo book. Together, they dive into what it actually takes to write a cookbook: the long timelines, the testing, the figuring-it-out-as-you-go. They also unpack Casey’s path as a “cookbook doula” and explore the difference between ghostwriting and co-authoring. More than anything, this episode captures what happens when two people move through the same process at the same time, and how that shared journey can turn into something more. It’s very queer food. If you’ve ever thought about writing a cookbook, or just want a closer look at how they come together, this conversation offers both insight and connection. Get to Know the CommunityThe foundation of That Ate is community; supporting the people doing the work, sharing resources, and keeping the queer food community connected. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Casey Elsass - connect on Instagram or visit him at www.caseyelsass.comWhat Can I Bring? - If you haven’t yet, get your copy here Queer Food Stars Casey wants you to know: Erik PiepenburgDining OutLiz AlpernQueer Soup NightDeVonn Francis Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    53 min
  2. Episode 5: That Ate with Jaya Saxena

    MAR 18

    Episode 5: That Ate with Jaya Saxena

    What is queer food writing, and where is it going? In episode five of That Ate, Justin Burke is joined by award-winning food writer Jaya Saxena to dig into exactly that. Because food writing isn’t just about what we're eating; it’s how we talk about people, culture, politics, identity, and the world around us. They talk about Jaya’s path into food writing, how she found her voice, and what it means to approach food through a queer and trans lens. They also get into the future of queer food writing, moving beyond trauma and joy into nuanced, lived-in stories that reflect real life. Plus, they dig into her James Beard–nominated Eater essay “The Food That Makes You Gay”, and the very real (and slightly wild) reactions people have to something as simple as eating a banana, ice cream, and even soup. 😵‍💫 If you’re into food writing, queer storytelling, and conversations that go beyond the plate, this episode is for you. Get to Know the CommunityThe foundation of That Ate is community; supporting the people doing the work, sharing resources, and keeping the queer food community connected. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Jaya Saxena - connect on Instagram or visit her at www.jayasaxena.comJaya’s article mentioned in this episode - The Food That Makes You Gay, EaterBooks mentioned in this episode - Dining Out by Erik Piepenburg, What is Queer Food? by John Birdsall, and Queers at the Table by Alex D. Ketchum & Megan J. Elias Queer Food Stars Jaya wants you to know: Meghan McCarronDave’s Lesbian BarCake Zine (not explicitly queer, but a supporter of queer stories and queer writers) Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    51 min
  3. Episode 4: That Ate with Sana Javeri Kadri + Asha Loupy

    MAR 4

    Episode 4: That Ate with Sana Javeri Kadri + Asha Loupy

    How much do you really know about your spices? In Episode Four of That Ate, Justin Burke is joined by Sana Javeri Kadri, founder of Diaspora Spice Co., and Asha Loupy, the company’s recipe editor and co-author of The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook. They talk about disrupting the traditional spice trade, paying farmers an average of four times the commodity price, and cutting a seven-step supply chain down to three: farmer, Diaspora, you. But this conversation goes further. They dig into how queerness shapes Diaspora’s business model — from leadership to accountability — and how their new cookbook, The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook, connects recipes to the people who grow the spices. It’s about labor, identity, community, and what it means to build a values-driven food company that actually lives its values. If you’ve ever wondered where your spices really come from — or how business can be rooted in equity and queerness — this episode is for you. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Sana Javeri Kadri - connect on InstagramAsha Loupy - connect on InstagramDiaspora Spice Co. - learn more about the company here and add their spices to your kitchen, or connect on InstagramThe Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook - get your copy of the book today Queer Food Stars Sana + Asha want you to know: John BirdsallHAGSLil’ Deb’s OasisTony OrtizRebekah Peppler Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    46 min
  4. Episode 3: That Ate with Adam Roberts

    FEB 18

    Episode 3: That Ate with Adam Roberts

    What does it look like to build a creative life before algorithms and stay true to yourself as everything changes? Justin Burke chats with Adam Roberts, the voice behind The Amateur Gourmet and now the author of the debut novel Food Person. Long before food blogging was an industry, Adam was writing into the void. That blog led to Food Network, a writers’ room on The Real O’Neals, two cookbooks, and now fiction. They talk about the early days of food media, writing before SEO drove content, and the freedom of finding your voice without having to optimize it. But they also talk about queerness; not as performance, not as branding, but as something steady. Present. And in Food Person, Adam shares what it means to write characters, especially queer characters, who feel human and specific, not symbolic. This is a conversation about staying curious, staying human, and letting queerness exist in all its forms. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Adam Roberts - connect on InstagramThe Amateur Gourmet - check it out here, or subscribe to SubstackFood Person - Get your copy here Queer Food Stars Adam wants you to know: Jeremy SalamonAgi’s Counter, Pitt’sJeremy’s cookbook, Second GenerationRenato PoliafitoCiao, Gloria, Pasta NightRenato’s cookbook, Dolci! Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    47 min
  5. Episode 2: That Ate with Telly Justice + HAGS

    FEB 4

    Episode 2: That Ate with Telly Justice + HAGS

    What if fine dining didn’t come with exclusivity, hierarchy, or a single way to belong? Justin Burke sits down with Telly Justice, co-owner and chef of HAGS, a trans-owned, queer-focused fine dining restaurant in New York City’s East Village that’s redefining what fine dining can be—and who gets to belong. Built on care, access, and intention, HAGS makes sliding-scale meals a core part of its model, proving that excellence and equity can coexist. Telly shares how queerness and transness shape HAGS’ approach to food, creativity, and survival; the importance of chosen family; and building a restaurant culture rooted in mentorship, softness, and collective care. This conversation explores power, hospitality, and what it truly means to feed people well while treating people well. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Telly Justice - connect on InstagramCamille Lindsley - connect on Instagram HAGS - learn more, make a reservation at HAGS, and follow on InstagramJohn Birdsall - subscribe to John’s Substack, Shifting the Food Narrative, follow on Instagram, or visit John’s website. Queer Food Stars Telly wants you to know: Luna VelaNeighborhood MolinoSilver IocovozziNeng Jr’s Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    55 min
  6. Episode 1: That Ate with Vanessa Parish + Queer Food Foundation

    JAN 21

    Episode 1: That Ate with Vanessa Parish + Queer Food Foundation

    Did you know there’s an organization dedicated entirely to queer food workers? Justin Burke sits down with Vanessa Parish, co-founder + Executive Director of the Queer Food Foundation. Vanessa reflects on coming up in the food industry during the early, rule-less days of food media, what it meant to be publicly queer in that moment, and the real costs of visibility. Together, they unpack why the Queer Food Foundation (QFF) exists, how lived experience shaped its mission, and the resources QFF is building to support the queer and trans community across the food industry today. Plus, they get a little nerdy (in their feels) and talk about what queer comfort food looks like. This first episode sets the tone for That Ate: queer food, real stories, and community care! A Note From Justin: This episode reflects on the Big Queer Food Fest, where Vanessa and I first met—a gathering that also included the incredible Elle Simone Scott. We honor her memory and the lasting impact she had on the culinary industry, food media, and our community, which she held with such care. Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s): Queer Food Foundation — learn more at www.queerfoodfoundation.org and follow on Instagram.Vanessa Parish — connect on Instagram. Queer Food Stars Vanessa wants you to know: Kareem “Mr. Bake” QueemanD AndersonSelasie DotseBABE Wine Bar Go follow, support, and spread the love. That Ate: Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode.Follow Justin on InstagramWant to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

    43 min
  7. Episode 0: What is That Ate?

    JAN 7

    Episode 0: What is That Ate?

    Welcome to That Ate, a queer food podcast hosted by pastry chef and cookbook author Justin Burke. So what is That Ate, and what exactly is queer food anyway? Episode 0 lays it all out. This podcast lives where queer identity meets food culture, shining a light on stories that don’t always get the spotlight and the lived-in experiences of queer and trans folks across the food world. It’s personal, it’s conversational, and yes, it’s about food, but also about identity, community, memory, and the traditions we inherit and the ones we get to rewrite. Episode 0 gives a taste of the voices and stories coming in Season One: the people shaping queer food culture today, and the ones we’re just getting to know. Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode. Or, follow Justin on Instagram.

    5 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

That Ate is a queer food podcast serving up the stories you don’t always hear. Hosted by pastry chef and cookbook author Justin Burke, the show digs into how we cook, eat, and connect. Through honest, story-driven conversations with the people shaping queer food culture, That Ate explores how we reshape, reclaim, and rewrite the traditions that define our lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Burke
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Justin Burke
  • Show Website
    That Ate

You Might Also Like