Episodes

  • S3 - Episode 10 - Brett Anderson, NY Times food writer

    S3 - Episode 10 - Brett Anderson, NY Times food writer
    Jul 1 2025
    What Is Great Hmong Food? These Chefs Have the Answer" wrote New York Times food reporter Brett Anderson. So what got Anderson interested in Minneapolis chefs Yia Vang and Diane Moua, and their restaurants Vinai and Diane's Place? He was born in Minnesota, has family here, and spent 5 years talking to these chefs about "an extremely rare occurrence in American culinary arts: the emergence of a cuisine virtually unknown outside its own immigrant community, stewarded by chefs trained in Western-style restaurant kitchens - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/dining/hmong-minnesota-food.html
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    33 mins
  • S3 - Episode 10 - Quang Restaurant

    S3 - Episode 10 - Quang Restaurant
    Jun 26 2025
    The road to Minnesota's most recognized Vietnamese restaurant started with a St. Cloud family sponsoring a refugee couple and their 7 children. Lung Tran escaped Vietnam during the War with her husband Quang Truong. Her daughter Heather Mandanas and her grandson Andrew Truong share their family's story through food and through our conversation. Quang opened with just a few tables in 1989, today it's busy, it's successful, and it's legacy.
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    40 mins
  • S3 - Episode 9 - Yia Vang

    S3 - Episode 9 - Yia Vang
    Jun 18 2025
    Keep Moving Forward Together: advice from Yia Vang's father's experience fleeing war-torn Laos that he uses to run his restaurant, Vinai in Minneapolis. Yia talks with Jason just days after his TPT show "Relish" won a James Beard Foundation Media Award in the lifestyle visual media category. We talk about awards, about inspiration, about his restaurant - and how the Minnesota is now a center of global cuisine.
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    47 mins
  • 'Is this who we are?' Reaction to political shootings in Minnesota, plus the latest on how the killing spree unfolded

    'Is this who we are?' Reaction to political shootings in Minnesota, plus the latest on how the killing spree unfolded
    Jun 16 2025
    A detailed 20-page complaint filed by federal prosecutors reveals chilling details about the actions by Vance Boelter, the suspect in targeted, political shootings that left former Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife seriously injured. Here's reaction from local hosts on WCCO in Minneapolis, plus commentary on our overly hot political climate in the US, and how we can prevent this from happening again.
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    39 mins
  • S3 - Episode 8 - WineFest

    S3 - Episode 8 - WineFest
    May 13 2025
    How a Chicago man went from making wine in his dad's basement to living the Sonoma County dream: Justin Harmon gives us the lowdown on his Argot Winery, and find out why his most famous wine is named "Bastard Tongue." Justin is in Minnesota for a fundraiser for M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, and man-about-town and University of Minnesota Foundation Sr. Director of Development - Strategic Partnerships and Signature Philanthropy Nick Engbloom explains how WineFest is critical to support research in a time when federal funding is threatened. Nick and Jason also discuss the state of wine when it comes to new Minnesota wine bars and a younger generation with different tastes.
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    31 mins
  • S3 - Episode 7 - Fellers Ranch

    S3 - Episode 7 - Fellers Ranch
    Apr 22 2025
    What is American Wagyu beef? Fellers Ranch, based in southern Minnesota, is trying to elevate American beef and sell premium cuts directly to restaurants and consumers. Troy Kopischke grew up on a farm and partnered with Conger Meats butcher shop owner Jeremy Johnson to help Fellers grow. Minnesota ranchers raise American Wagyu beef, and it's processed in Conger and sent all over the upper midwest. Troy and Jeremy talk with Jason about Wagyu, beef in Minnesota, the trade and tariff environment, and the future of farming in small town Minnesota
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    36 mins
  • S3 - Episode 6 - Gavin Kaysen

    S3 - Episode 6 - Gavin Kaysen
    Apr 10 2025
    A conversation with Minnesota-based and nationally known chef Gavin Kaysen. The chef and owner of Spoon and Stable, Demi, Bellecour and Mara is sharing stories about mentoring in his new book “The Synergy Series.” 25 chefs who came to Minneapolis to cook talking about their stories, their philosophies and sharing recipes. Gavin talks about his own journey, as well as looks at the state of dining right now.
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    48 mins
  • S3 - Episode 5 - William H. Macy

    S3 - Episode 5 - William H. Macy
    Mar 26 2025
    You know William H. Macy as an actor. But he's also in the whiskey business. He's in Minnesota on behalf of the Woody Creek Distiller and joins Jason for DeRusha Eats!
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    26 mins