What do you get when you combine Michelin-starred culinary training with a hint of whimsy? Duck Sel, the private dining concept from Chef Donald Young. It's hard not to smile when you have a bite from Duck Sel, paired with dry ice and equally magical storytelling.

Don has always been creative and someone who pushes against the grain, a fan of heavy metal and studded belts. But it took going back to the kitchen time and time again to really enjoy food and expand his palate under the mentorship of famed Chef Roland Liccioni. Donald fell in love with French cuisine, even completing his culinary school internship in France, but knew he wanted to take classical technique and turn it on its head. Donald ended up becoming one of the youngest chefs to earn a Michelin star at Temporis, and he finally decided to strike out on his own with Duck Sel. The universe kept calling him back to his private dining concept—and it’s calling to you to book your experience ASAP!

To learn more about Duck Sel and to book tickets to the private dining experience in Chicago, you can visit www.ducksel.com. You also can book your spot at Duck Sel on Tock.

You can follow Duck Sel on Instagram @duck_sel and Donald at @donaldduckconfit.

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You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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Nothing screams summer more than BBQ! How about barbecue from a Michelin-trained chef? Now that’s even better.

I loved catching up with Chef D’Andre Carter and Heather Bublick, co-owners of Soul & Smoke. These two really cook and work from the soul—elevated barbecue, but also from all they do for their community to keep bellies full. It’s like getting the perfect home-cooked meal at your favorite new hot spot. You won’t want to miss the incredible flagship location opening in Evanston, IL soon!

Heather and D’Andre met when they both started interning at the famed Moto in Chicago, one of the first restaurants to focus on eccentric, trompe l’oeil platings by the late Chef Homaro Cantu. They built a catering business from there, combining their fine dining backgrounds with food that equally fed the soul. Now, they’re building an empire across Chicagoland—and don’t count out nationwide one day!

You can visit Soul & Smoke’s outposts throughout Chicagoland in Evanston; the Avondale neighborhood; Accenture Tower; and at Soldier Field.

To learn more about Soul & Smoke or to purchase their sauces and rubs, head to www.soulandsmoke.com or www.hereheremarket.com.

You can follow Soul & Smoke on Instagram @soulandsmoke, along with Heather at @heatherbublick and D’Andre at @chefdandrecarter.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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Calling all wine lovers!

This is our first episode with a winemaker extraordinaire. I was so happy to catch up with Janie Brooks Heuck, Managing Director of Brooks Wine, to talk about how she entered the winemaking business, the importance of biodynamic farming (keeping people and our planet healthy!), and balancing a B. Corp certification with the tough realities of the wine industry. The winery’s incredible product is why Brooks has been named one of the Top 50 Wineries in the WORLD!

I loved learning more about how special Brooks Wine is being made in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and that Riesling doesn’t have to mean too sweet to drink! Janie’s helping to spread the word about farming and making wine sustainably and responsibly—she’s even got a new wine club called Wine Atlas Collective working only with sustainable wineries around the country! Now that’s something to raise a glass to.

Her story is one of legacy, heart, and determination—she’s as dynamic and giving as they come.

You can visit Brooks Wine in Amity, Oregon. To learn more about Brooks Wine, and to sign up for their wine club and the nationwide Wine Atlas Collective, head to www.brookswine.com.

You can follow Brooks Wine on Instagram @brookswinery and Janie @janiebrooksheuck.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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Have you ever tried Nam Prik Pao?

It’s maybe one of the greatest condiments EVER! Palita Sriratana is the founder of Pink Salt Kitchens, making it easy to get your hands on this gorgeous Thai chili jam anywhere throughout the U.S.

I’ve loved watching Palita and Pink Salt Kitchens grow—she truly is a testament to never giving up and pivoting to keep going. She’s making Thai food and flavors accessible to all, providing a sense of culture and care through this delectable sauce you won’t be able to stop drizzling on everything.

Listen as Palita and I chat through her multiple iterations of Pink Salt Kitchens to reach where she is today—including a stint on Chopped last fall!

To learn more about Pink Salt Kitchens and Nam Prik Pao, head to www.pinksaltkitchens.com.

You can buy Nam Prik Pao and have it shipped nationwide on www.hereheremarket.com.

You can follow Palita at @hi.palita and Pink Salt Kitchens @pinksaltkitchens on Instagram.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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When I first moved to Columbus, I was curious if I'd find any local spots that were akin to my favorite haunts in Chicago. Special, but relaxed and accessible, with absolutely fantastic food. Lo and behold, there's a Columbus chef who's doing just that, building an empire that reflects good food, good values, and good times.

His was the name I heard over and over again: BJ Lieberman. BJ is the chef and owner behind Chapman’s Eat Market (recognized as a Top 50 restaurant in America by New York Times), Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge, and now, Metsi’s Wood-Fired Italian. BJ has taken his Michelin-starred past in Washington, DC and brought it to Columbus, making the city a bonafide foodie destination.

We chat through his culinary and entrepreneurial journey, along with how he focuses on a sense of timelessness, honoring history and culture through each of his venues.

You can visit Chapman’s Eat Market in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus. You can visit Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge and Metsi’s Wood-Fired Italian in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus.

You can follow BJ Lieberman on Instagram @bjlieberman; Chapman’s Eat Market @eatchapman’s; Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge @gingerrabbitjazz; and Metsi’s Wood-Fired Italian @eatmetsis.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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It's no secret our modern society demands convenience. And in the case of food that means what we want, when we want it—but at what cost? Today's guest is leading the flavor revolution, a call for us to go back to basics, to source the most delicious and nutritious produce.

Franco Fubini has been working on this mission for over 20 years with his company Natoora, which focuses on global capillary food supply chains to fix our food system so we can source the best produce for ourselves and for our planet. He’s even recently written a book on it all called “In Search of the Perfect Peach.”

I loved learning from Franco and I know you will too!

To learn more about Natoora and sign up for its services, visit www.natoora.com/en-US.

You can follow Natoora on Instagram @natoora and Franco Fubini @franconatoora.

You can buy “In Search of The Perfect Peach” online and at major bookstores.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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 Here's a not-so-secret secret for you: I have a huge sweet tooth. Anytime and place that I can find a pastry that's made with love and care and safety for my food allergies is such a huge win.

I am so lucky that when we moved to Columbus last year, I not only found a mecca of pastries, but a modern and cozy spot of community that we visit on a weekly basis: Fox in the Snow. I sat down with owner of Fox in the Snow, Lauren Culley, to chat through her journey from publishing world to pastries, meeting and falling in love with her husband during the early days of Blue Bottle (who became her co-owner!), and how they’ve built third spaces throughout Columbus that are the perfect example of great food, great people, and great vibes. Lauren and Jeff bring a strong growth and founder mentality to Fox in the Snow, and I won’t be surprised when they start expanding outside the Columbus metro area.

You can visit Fox in the Snow at its locations throughout Columbus, including: Dublin, German Village, Italian Village, and New Albany. Visit www.foxinthesnow.com to learn more and pre-order a large order.

You can follow Fox in the Snow on Instagram at @foxinthesnowcafe.

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review The Perfect Bite anywhere you listen to podcasts.

You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and visit our site www.theperfectbitepod.com.

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