You may recognize Chef Henry Awayan from his appearance on the Food Network show Bakers vs. Fakers. Those in the San Francisco Bay Area may also know him as the talent behind the award-winning bakery Whisk Cake Creations in Alameda.

Chef Awayan's new book, The Ube Baking Book, celebrates his lifelong passion for baking alongside his Filipino heritage, showcasing a wide range of recipes that highlight the beloved Filipino ingredient ube in both traditional and fusion preparations.

In this episode, we chat about how he found his way into baking, what makes ube such a meaningful and versatile ingredient, and how he hopes this book helps readers better understand and appreciate the culture behind the flavors

Learn more about Chef Henry Awayan at whiskcakecreations.com and follow on Instagram @whiskcakecreations.

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/the-ube-baking-book-henry-awayan

Chef Pyet DeSpain made history as the first-ever winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, where she showcased her Mexican lineage and her cultural heritage as a proud member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Today, she continues to honor and preserve Indigenous foodways through her cooking and storytelling, including her PBS food-streaming series, Spirit Plate. Her debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native and Mexican Cooking, reflects that same deep connection to land, culture, and community.

In this episode, we chat about how family and community shaped her approach to cooking, the importance of keeping Indigenous food traditions alive, foraging and seasonal cooking, and how food can spark meaningful conversation and connection at the table.

Learn more about Pyet at pyetsplate.com and follow her on Instagram @chefpyet.

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/rooted-in-fire-chef-pyet-despain

Rachel Riggs is a San Diego-based former specialty food shop owner who experienced a life-altering diagnosis, which forced her to overhaul her diet in favor of more nutrient-dense, allergen-aware recipes.

She has written for Bon Appétit and Camille Styles and has now published a new cookbook: In Good Health: Uncomplicated, Allergen-Aware Recipes for a Nourished Life.

In this episode, we chat about how chronic illness transformed her relationship with food, why nutrition matters more than ever in today's world, her love of dark chocolate, and more!

Learn more about Rachel at rachriggs.com and follow her on Instagram @the.rachel.riggs.

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/in-good-health-rachel-riggs

Calling all bakers! In this episode, I chat with the one and only Dorie Greenspan. Dorie is a five-time James Beard Award winner, two-time IACP Cookbook of the Year recipient, longtime New York Times bestselling author, and a beloved voice in home baking. Her most recent book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes, features 100 recipes devoted to simple, comforting cakes and serves as a love letter to everyday baking.

In this episode, we chat about how cake can anchor memory and connection, why the simplest cakes are often the most meaningful, and how baking can bring love and joy to daily life.

Learn more about Dorie at doriegreenspan.com and follow her on Instagram @doriegreenspan.

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/anytime-cakes-dorie-greenspan

As a native New Yorker, Chef Tara Punzone brought her Italian American roots and love of vegan cooking to Los Angeles, where she opened Pura Vita in West Hollywood—the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant in the country.

She has teamed up with acclaimed writer Gene Stone, whom you may know from Forks Over Knives, 72 Reasons to Be Vegan, How Not to Die, and many other bestselling books he has written or co-written. Together, they’ve created Vegana Italiana: Traditional Italian the Plant-Based Way, a celebration of Italian classics reimagined without meat or dairy, and without ever sacrificing flavor.

In this episode, we chat about how they joined forces to write the book, Chef Tara’s journey to vegan Italian cooking, and the process of turning instinct-driven recipes into something home cooks can follow with ease.

Learn more about Chef Tara at puravitalosangeles.com

Follow Chef Tara on Instagram: @cheftarapunzone

Learn more about Gene Stone at http://www.genestone.com/

Follow Gene on Instagram: @genestone2022

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/vegana-italiana-with-chef-tara-punzone-and-gene-stone

I recently welcomed back Gesine Bullock Prado to the podcast. You may remember our first conversation in Episode 66, where we explored her love of baking, life in Vermont with its six distinct seasons, and her journey as a pastry chef, baking instructor, author, and television personality.

Gesine has now released her newest book, My Harvest Kitchen: 100+ Recipes to Savor the Seasons, a heartfelt guide to embracing the rhythm of the year through cooking, preserving, and stories from her Vermont homestead.

In this episode, we chat about the beauty and challenges of living seasonally, Gesine’s honest philosophy on “half-assed homesteading,” the inspiration behind My Harvest Kitchen, and her favorite ways to cook, grow, and preserve with joy rather than perfection.

Learn more about Gesine at gesine.com

Follow Gesine on Instagram: @gesinebp

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/my-harvest-kitchen-with-gesine-bullock-prado

Raised in a Lebanese-American family in Michigan, Maureen Abood’s passion for cooking, baking, and storytelling shines through her work—whether on her website, in her first cookbook Rose Water and Orange Blossoms (an IACP Award finalist), or in her New York Times features on Middle Eastern cuisine.

Now, she’s released her newest book, Lebanese Baking: More than 100 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Baked Goods. Her book is the first cookbook to fully explore the depth and breadth of Lebanon’s baking traditions, blending classic recipes with thoughtful American adaptations.

In this episode, we chat about her journey into food writing, how she worked to preserve and celebrate Lebanese baking in her new book, her memories of cooking within a tight-knit family community, and her best tips for home bakers.

Learn more about Maureen at maureenabood.com

Follow Maureen on Instagram @maureenabood

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/lebanese-baking-with-maureen-abood

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Auyon Mukharji, who is a musician, writer, and culinary historian. Together with his mother, Jyoti Mukharji, who is a chef, teacher, and retired physician, Auyon co-authored Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.

From their home in Kansas City, Heartland Masala takes you on a culinary journey through regional Indian flavors with an American Midwestern twist. The result is a book that blends history, humor, and heart, inviting readers to explore Indian cooking through its deep cultural roots and modern evolutions.

In this episode, we chat about how Auyon and his mother collaborated to bring their family’s recipes and history to life, the ever-changing landscape of Indian cuisine, and how storytelling and scholarship shaped Heartland Masala.

Learn more about Heartland Masala at heartlandmasala.com

Follow Heartland Masala on Instagram: @heartlandmasala

Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/heartland-masala-with-auyon-mukharji