Mastering Venezuelan Arepas with Chef Greg Leon at Amilinda

Charlie visits Chef-owner Gregory Leon at Amilinda Restaurant (https://amilinda.com/) for the International Cooking Collab featuring Venezuelan cuisine. Greg shares his Venezuelan roots and guides the making of classic arepas and a shredded beef (carne mechada) filling.

The episode covers mixing arepa dough from white cornmeal, cooking on a griddle and finishing in the oven, and preparing the savory beef filling with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spices. They taste the finished arepas and discuss Venezuelan food traditions and variations.

Recipe details and collaborator links are in the description; join next month's episode exploring Japan.

You can watch the YouTube Video here - https://youtu.be/QWa5zHSmpJ8

A Global Feast, Crafted Locally Milwaukee’s culinary scene is brimming with talent, creativity, and heart. Each month, we will invite one of the city’s finest chefs. They will showcase flavors from around the world, right here at home. The bustling street food of Caracas introduces a vibrant experience. The comforting stews of Europe offer warmth and tradition. Every event is a passport to new tastes and traditions.

This monthly series celebrates cultural exchange through food, highlighting how local chefs interpret international dishes with their own unique flair. You could be a seasoned foodie. You might be simply curious to try something new. In either case, you’ll discover that Milwaukee’s kitchens are as global as they are local.

Join us for an unforgettable combination of flavor, storytelling, and community—because the best way to travel the world is one bite at a time.

On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie sits down with Catherine "Cat" Rabenstine, the new CEO of the American Red Cross in Wisconsin.

They discuss her journey from Pennsylvania to leadership roles in Chicago and Milwaukee, the Red Cross's disaster response work (including recent Milwaukee flooding), and the power of volunteers and community support.

The episode also features a hands-on cooking segment where Cat prepares Pennsylvania Dutch red beet deviled eggs, a simple recipe that highlights food as a way to comfort and bring people together.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/kKoe-00teVI

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." 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.

Munching Around Milwaukee host Charlie sits down with Teresa Balistreri-Warsh, co-owner of Sala - Modern Sicilian Dining on Milwaukee’s east side, to celebrate the restaurant’s 25th anniversary and share the story behind its Sicilian-inspired menu.

They discuss family recipes like the signature sugo and meatball sauce, the addition of pizza, and the role of seasonal specials and art in the dining room.

The conversation covers Sala’s neighborhood roots, the early days of converting a coffeehouse space, outdoor dining innovations, and how the restaurant adapted with carryout and community support during the pandemic. The episode highlights Sala’s balance of tradition and modern touches and invites listeners to experience the food and atmosphere for themselves.

Sala - Modern Sicilian Dining - https://saladining.com/

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/32k7OsHaFsM

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. 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.

On this week’s episode of Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie interviews community leader Theresa “Rese” Schneider about her nonprofit background and work in Milwaukee, including her time at Discovery World.

Teresa shares the emotional story of her daughter Stella’s cancer diagnosis and recovery, and how that inspired her promise to build an inclusive Stella’s Playground at Reservoir Park. The community-driven project has raised over $1 million toward a $2 million goal and will feature a purple dragon-themed play area, pavilion, basketball court, art elements, and accessible spaces for all ages.

The episode closes with a kitchen segment where Rese demonstrates an easy red lentil soup, and viewers are directed to the episode description for a link to support Stella’s Playground.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/IgquergbfQg

You can find the recipe on our website -

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." 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.

On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie interviews Taqwa Obaid, chef-owner of Taqwa’s Bakery and Restaurant in Milwaukee. Taqwa shares her journey from Jordan to opening an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant during the pandemic, and how she built a business that includes catering and school meal programs.

The episode highlights signature dishes such as taboon bread, manakish, hummus, baba ghanoush, makloba, and baklava, and emphasizes Taqwa’s focus on homemade recipes, community connection, and introducing diverse flavors to Milwaukee.

Taqwas Bakery - https://taqwasbakery.com/

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/MGxyDegZZaQ

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We discuss the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so unique. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie sits down with Kathryn Dunn, the new President and Chief Visioning Officer of WWBIC, to discuss her Milwaukee roots, long career in philanthropy, and vision for expanding access to capital and business training.

They also prepare a fresh tomato-and-pepper pasta with Italian sausage, sharing the personal story behind the recipe.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/x2hUC7jEMTo

You can find the recipe for Pasta Rustica here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/01/11/pasta-rustica-al-vino-rosso/

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." 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.

Host Charlie visits Kegel's Inn in West Allis to sit down with owner Julian Kegel and explore the restaurant's 100‑year history, Julian’s unexpected journey from guiding and photography to running the family business, and the couple's efforts to modernize the menu while keeping the German tradition alive.

They discuss bold community projects—closing 59th Street for a beer garden and winter ice rink, growing Oktoberfest into major city events, and focusing on scratch‑made food and longtime staff—to show how Kegel's blends heritage, innovation, and local engagement.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/K8vo9qOSD5A

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. 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.

City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump joins host Charlie to discuss his journey from Milwaukee neighborhoods to Duke University and the Mayor's Cabinet, his work leading city development and housing initiatives, and his approach to public-private partnership for community impact.

The episode also features lighthearted moments—karaoke memories—and a step-by-step, easy paella recipe. Lafayette cooks on the show, blending Spanish chorizo, shrimp, Arborio rice, and saffron.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/N9CUfGDcuxA

You can see the recipe for Easy Paella here on our recipe website - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/12/31/easy-paella-quick-and-tasty/

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." 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.