On this week's episode of Food Farms And Chefs Radio Show we centered our focus on a particular cause, the fast rising foodie event which benefits the Fight on Makenna Foundation. We opened the show with Chef Brian Duffy, who discussed his involvement in the Bite for the Fight event's headliner celebrity chef. Our host learned that during the event, Chef Duffy performed cooking demonstrations and meet-and-greets for his fans. After sharing his background in the food industry and the significance of how much it meant to be involved with Bite for the Fight, Chef Duffy helped introduce our listeners to the Founder of the event and Fight On Makenna Foundation's Founder, Rich Massi.

The show then focused on Fight on McKenna Foundation's mission to support families facing pediatric cancer through various programs, including their signature Bite for the Fight Food Festival which raises significant funds for families who rely on Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) integral cancer treatment services. The conversation concluded with details about the foundation's ongoing initiatives and opportunities for supporters to get involved through donations, social media, and event participation

White Dog Cafe - Glen Mills and Executive Chef Michael Selser

Host Amaris Pollock spoke with White Dog Cafe's Executive Chef Michael Selser regarding their upcoming wine dinner happening inside the Glen Mills location. The exclusive dinner will pair a signature menu from White Dog Cafe to pair with a variety of Pennswood Wines, an event that will sell out fast and is happening on Wednesday September 24th 2025 at 6pm. Chef Selser explained that attendees will enjoy a 5-course tasting menu paired with 5 local wines from Pennswood, including their new White Dog Red vintage. They plan to educate guests about the pairings and local ingredients while providing a unique dining experience. The dinner, priced at $70 per person, will culminate with a steak dish meant to highlight their new vintage of the White Dog Red blend. https://whitedog.com/glenmills/

Wilder - Center City Philadelphia and Executive Pastry Chef Russ Johnson

Our host next chatted with the Executive Pastry Chef for Wilder, located in the heart of Philadelphia's center city. We first learned about Chef Johnson's career path and the creative and technical aspects of pastry making. After learning about Chef Johnson, we turned a page to find out about Wilder's upcoming tasting event coinciding with author Leni Zumas' new book, "Wolf Bells." The tasting event, happening on September 23rd, 2025 at 6:30pm, highlights dishes inspired by excerpts from the book and sales of the event benefit the non-profit organization: Savage Sisters. Additionally, Chef Johnson discussed the fall dessert menu that he is currently developing, incorporating seasonal ingredients like muscadine grapes and granny smith apples. And stay tuned till the end to find out about even more exciting new opportunities happening with Wilder! https://www.wilderphilly.com

Riamede Farm - Chester, PA and Owner Ashley Asdal

Amaris and Ashley Asdal, who is the owner of Riamede Farm, discussed the history behind Riamede Farm which is located in Chester, NJ. The farm has been producing apples on its orchard for many years, and Ashley shared her unexpected journey from a career in the Navy to becoming the farm's owner. After taking over ownership of Riamede, Ashley has been expanding upon what they have to offer, including summer vegetable picking, spring blossom festivals, and fall activities like pumpkin picking and line dancing. She highlighted the farm's history as the first pick-your-own orchard in 1973 and its community-oriented approach, offering educational classes and events throughout the year. Ashley also mentioned that she has started hosting weddings and other large events in her barn and is excited about her first wedding this fall. Feel free to begin your plans to visit Riamede Farm this Fall, as they'll be open from August 1st to November 5th, 9am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Sunday, with live music and food offerings on weekends. https://www.riamedefarm.com

Fearless Restaurant Group's "Dining Out for the Dogs"

Jamie Blackburn, who is the Director of Public Relations for Fearless Restaurants discussed the upcoming 8th annual "Dining Out for the Dogs" event at White Dog Cafe on August 4th. The event benefits Alpha Bravo Canine, a nonprofit organization which provides service dogs to veterans. The event will be held at suburban locations and will feature special menu items, including a popular hot dog flight, puppy kissing booths, and Tito's cocktail offerings. Blackburn emphasized the importance of reservations, especially for the VIP dog-friendly tables, and highlighted the opportunity for community members to volunteer as puppy raisers for the service dog program.

Farina Pasta Bar

Our host next sat down with husband and wife team Dan and Taylor Lee who own Farina Pasta Bar, located in Philadelphia. Dan shared his journey in the culinary industry to starting his business, eventually meeting his wife and business partner. The couple now runs both a food truck and a brick-and-mortar restaurant, balancing their busy schedules while inspiring others with their delicious dishes.

Dan and Amaris discussed the concept of a pasta restaurant, where customers can build their own pasta dishes by choosing sauces and shapes. Dan explained that they make fresh pasta in-store, offering four main shapes, and plan to expand to include flavored pastas in the future. They discussed the differences between American and Italian dining portions, with Dan noting that their restaurant aims for a casual, lunch-focused concept with reasonable portion sizes. Dan also discussed Farina's customizable menu options for private events, including pasta, sauces, and gelato, as well as their unique pasta salads. He explained that their Rittenhouse location at 132 South 17th Street offers both in-store dining and takeout, and they can be found online at farinaphl.com and on Instagram @farina.phl.

Revolution Bees

Lastly, Steve Occiolini and Walter Talunas discussed their journey into creating Revolution Bees. Steve and Walt are both beekeepers, with Steve starting his process of beekeeping to enhance his garden's productivity, while Walt was drawn to the hobby after reading a blog about beekeeping. They both emphasized the importance of bees in pollinating crops, with Walt noting that honeybees are responsible for 30-60% of all crops. They have been successful beekeepers for over 20 years, with Walt now maintaining over 40 hives.

Mead Production and Flavor Experimentation
Amaris and Walt discussed the process of creating mead, a honey-based alcoholic beverage along with a number of other products that their company creates. After chatting about the process of what the honey goes through for the various products, Steve and Walt shared the history and process on mead-making, ending with where you can purchase their products and find them in person, including farmers markets, Renaissance fairs, and wine festivals. For more information and where to find them, please visit revolutionbees.com.